Fermented red ginseng extract improves sarcopenia-related muscle atrophy in old mice through regulation of muscle protein metabolism

Abstract

This study investigated the potential ameliorative effects of fermented red ginseng (FRG) extract on sarcopenia-related muscle atrophy in old mice and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. Mice, aged five and twenty months, were divided into seven groups: young and old controls, and old mice treated with Schisandra chinensis extract (200 mg/kg/day), mixed ginsenosides (15 mg/kg/day), and FRG extract (50–200 mg/kg/day). Body weight and grip strength were assessed weekly. After six weeks of oral treatment, quadriceps, gastrocnemius, and soleus were photographed and weighed, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area was analyzed via hematoxylin-eosin staining. Additionally, the protein expression levels were measured using western blot analysis. FRG extract significantly improved muscle atrophy by activating the IGF-1/Akt/mTOR pathway, reducing degradation proteins FoxO3a, MuRF1, and Fbx32, and enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis-related proteins SIRT-1/PGC-1α. The findings suggest that FRG extract effectively mitigates age-related muscle atrophy through these molecular pathways, supporting its potential as a therapeutic agent for sarcopenia.