The effect of polyphenols on cytokine and granulocyte response to resistance exercise

The Use of Some Polyphenols in the Modulation of Muscle Damage and Inflammation Induced by Physical Exercise: A Review

Food bioactive compounds (FBC) comprise a vast class of substances, including polyphenols, with different chemical structures, and they exert physiological effects on individuals who consume them, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. The primary food sources of the compounds are fruits, vegetables, wines, teas, seasonings, and spices, and there are still no daily recommendations for their intake. Depending on the intensity and volume, physical exercise can stimulate oxidative stress and muscle inflammation to generate muscle recovery. However, little is known about the role that polyphenols may have in the process of injury, inflammation, and muscle regeneration. This review aimed to relate the effects of supplementation with mentation with some polyphenols in oxidative stress and post-exercise inflammatory markers. The consulted papers suggest that supplementation with 74 to 900 mg of cocoa, 250 to 1000 mg of green tea extract for around 4 weeks, and 90 mg for up to 5 days of curcumin can attenuate cell damage and inflammation of stress markers of oxidative stress during and after exercise. However, regarding anthocyanins, quercetins, and resveratrol, the results are conflicting. Based on these findings, the new reflection that was made is the possible impact of supplementation associating several FBCs simultaneously. Finally, the benefits discussed here do not consider the existing divergences in the literature. Some contradictions are inherent in the few studies carried out so far. Methodological limitations, such as supplementation time, doses used, forms of supplementation, different exercise protocols, and collection times, create barriers to knowledge consolidation and must be overcome.

Effects of Functional Phenolics Dietary Supplementation on Athletes' Performance and Recovery: A Review

In recent years, many efforts have been made to identify micronutrients or nutritional strategies capable of preventing, or at least, attenuating, exercise-induced muscle damage and oxidative stress, and improving athlete performance. The reason is that most exercises induce various changes in mitochondria and cellular cytosol that lead to the generation of reactive species and free radicals whose accumulation can be harmful to human health. Among them, supplementation with phenolic compounds seems to be a promising approach since their chemical structure, composed of catechol, pyrogallol, and methoxy groups, gives them remarkable health-promoting properties, such as the ability to suppress inflammatory processes, counteract oxidative damage, boost the immune system, and thus, reduce muscle soreness and accelerate recovery. Phenolic compounds have also already been shown to be effective in improving temporal performance and reducing psychological stress and fatigue. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the current knowledge on the effects of dietary phenolics on physical performance and recovery in athletes and sports practitioners. Overall, the reports show that phenolics exert important benefits on exercise-induced muscle damage as well as play a biological/physiological role in improving physical performance.

Tart Cherry Supplement Enhances Skeletal Muscle Glutathione Peroxidase Expression and Functional Recovery after Muscle Damage

INTRODUCTION

Montmorency cherry concentrate (MCC) supplementation enhances functional recovery from exercise, potentially due to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, to date, supporting empirical evidence for these mechanistic hypotheses is reliant on indirect blood biomarkers. This study is the first to investigate functional recovery from exercise alongside molecular changes within the exercised muscle following MCC supplementation.

METHODS

Ten participants completed two maximal unilateral eccentric knee extension trials following MCC or placebo supplementation for 7 days prior to and 48 hours following exercise. Knee extension maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVC), maximal isokinetic contractions, single leg jumps, and soreness measures were assessed before, immediately, 24 and 48 h after exercise. Venous blood and vastus lateralis muscle samples were collected at each time point. Plasma concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, C-reactive protein, creatine kinase, and phenolic acids were quantified. Intramuscular mRNA expression of SOD 1 and 3, GPX1, 3, 4 and 7, Catalase, and Nrf2 and relative intramuscular protein expression of SOD1, Catalase and GPX3 were quantified.

RESULTS

MCC supplementation enhanced recovery of normalized MVC 1 s average compared to placebo (Post- Exercise PLA: 59.5 ± 18.0% vs MCC: 76.5 ± 13.9%; 24 h PLA: 69.8 ± 15.9% vs MCC: 80.5 ± 15.3%; supplementation effect p = 0.024). MCC supplementation increased plasma hydroxybenzoic, hippuric and vanillic acid concentrations (supplementation effect p = 0.028, p = 0.002, p = 0.003); SOD3, GPX3, GPX4, GPX7 (supplement effect p < 0.05) and GPX1 (interaction effect p = 0.017) gene expression; and GPX3 protein expression (supplementation effect p = 0.004) versus placebo. There were no significant differences between conditions for other outcome measures.

CONCLUSION

MCC supplementation conserved isometric muscle strength and upregulated antioxidant gene and protein expression in parallel with increased phenolic acid concentrations.

Diffusion tensor imaging indices of acute muscle damage are augmented after exercise in peripheral arterial disease

PURPOSE

Although it is known that peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with chronic myopathies, the acute muscular responses to exercise in this population are less clear. This study used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to compare acute exercise-related muscle damage between PAD patients and healthy controls.

METHODS

Eight PAD patients and seven healthy controls performed graded plantar flexion in the bore of a 3T MRI scanner. Exercise began at 2 kg and increased by 2 kg every 2 min until failure, or completion of 10 min of exercise. DTI images were acquired from the lower leg pre- and post-exercise, and were analyzed for mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy (FA), and eigenvalues 1-3 (λ1-3) of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and tibialis anterior (TA).

RESULTS

Results indicated a significant leg by time interaction for mean diffusivity, explained by a significantly greater increase in diffusivity of the MG in the most affected legs of PAD patients (11.1 × 10-4 ± 0.5 × 10-4 mm2/s vs. 12.7 × 10-4 ± 1.2 × 10-4 mm2/s at pre and post, respectively, P = 0.02) compared to healthy control subjects (10.8 × 10-4 ± 0.3 × 10-4 mm2/s vs. 11.2 × 10-4 ± 0.5 × 10-4 mm2/s at pre and post, respectively, P = 1.0). No significant differences were observed for the TA, or λ1-3 (all P ≥ 0.06). Moreover, no reciprocal changes were observed for FA in either group (all P ≥ 0.29).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that calf muscle diffusivity increases more in PAD patients compared to controls after exercise. These findings are consistent with the notion that acute exercise results in increased muscle damage in PAD.

Effect of Polyphenol-Rich Foods, Juices, and Concentrates on Recovery from Exercise Induced Muscle Damage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives. To determine the effects of consuming polyphenol-rich foods, juices and concentrates on recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Method. Eligibility criteria. Randomised and quasi-randomised placebo-controlled trials with a parallel or cross-over design evaluating the effects of consuming polyphenol-rich foods, juices and concentrates on recovery from EIMD in humans. Eligible studies included at least one of the primary outcome measures: maximal isometric voluntary contraction; MIVC, delayed onset muscle soreness; DOMS, or countermovement jump; CMJ. Information sources. AMED, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, PUBMED, SCOPUS (Elsevier), SPORTDiscus (EBSCO), and the UK Clinical Trials Gateway were searched from inception to September 2020. Risk of bias and quality of evidence. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. Synthesis of results. Random effects models were used to determine the effect of polyphenol supplementation on recovery from EIMD. Data are presented as standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. Included studies. Twenty-five studies were included; 15 had a parallel, and 10 had a cross-over design. A total of 527 participants (male: n = 425; female: n = 102) were included in the meta-analysis. Synthesis of results. Consumption of polyphenol-rich foods, juices and concentrates accelerated recovery of MIVC immediately post-exercise (SMD = 0.23, 95% CI 0.04, 0.42; p = 0.02; low-quality evidence), 24 h (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI 0.15, 0.62; p = 0.001; low-quality evidence), 48 h (SMD = 0.48, 95% CI 0.28, 0.67; p < 0.001; moderate-quality evidence), 72 h (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI 0.11, 0.46; p = 0.001; low-quality evidence) and 96 h post-exercise (SMD = 0.50, 95% CI 0.16, 0.83; p = 0.004; very low-quality evidence). DOMS was reduced at 24 h (SMD = −0.29, 95% CI −0.47, −0.11; p = 0.002; low-quality evidence), 48 h (SMD = −0.28, 95% CI −0.46, −0.09; p = 0.003; low-quality evidence) and 72 h post-exercise (SMD = −0.46, 95% CI −0.69, −0.24; p < 0.001; very low-quality evidence). CMJ height was greater immediately post-exercise (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI 0.01, 0.53; p = 0.04; low-quality evidence), at 24 h (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI 0.11, 0.83; p = 0.01; very low-quality evidence), 48 h (SMD = 0.58, 95% CI 0.24, 0.91; p < 0.001; very low-quality evidence) and 72 h post-exercise (SMD = 0.57, 95% CI 0.03, 1.10; p = 0.04; very low-quality evidence). Polyphenol supplementation did not alter creatine kinase, c-reactive protein, and interleukin−6 at any time points. At 72 h post-exercise, protein carbonyls (SMD = −0.64, 95% CI −1.14, −0.14; p = 0.01) were reduced. Discussion. Limitations of evidence. Risk of bias was high for 10 studies and moderate for 15. Sensitivity analyses excluding the high risk of bias studies reduced the SMDs for MIVC and DOMS, and for CMJ effects at 24 and 48 h were no longer statistically significant. Interpretation. Consuming polyphenol-rich foods, juices and concentrates accelerated recovery of muscle function while reducing muscle soreness in humans. Maximal benefit occurred 48–72 h post-exercise, however, the certainty of the evidence was moderate to very low. Supplementation could be useful when there is limited time between competitive events and impaired recovery could negatively impact performance.

Flavonoid Containing Polyphenol Consumption and Recovery from Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Flavonoid polyphenols are bioactive phytochemicals found in fruits and teas among other sources. It has been postulated that foods and supplements containing flavonoid polyphenols may enhance recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) through upregulation of cell signalling stress response pathways, particularly the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate the ability of polyphenol treatments containing flavonoids to enhance recovery of skeletal muscle strength, soreness and creatine kinase post EIMD.

METHODS

Medline (Pubmed), Embase and SPORTdiscus were searched from inception to August 2020 for randomised placebo-controlled trials which assessed the impact of 6 or more days of flavonoid containing polyphenol ingestion on skeletal muscle recovery in the 96-h period following a single bout of EIMD. A total of 2983 studies were screened in duplicate resulting in 26 studies included for analysis. All meta-analyses were undertaken using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

The pooled results of these meta-analyses show flavonoid polyphenol treatments can enhance recovery of muscle strength by 7.14% (95% CI [5.50-8.78], P < 0.00001) and reduce muscle soreness by 4.12% (95% CI [- 5.82 to - 2.41] P = 0.00001), no change in the recovery of creatine kinase concentrations was observed.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that ingestion of polyphenol treatments which contain flavonoids has significant potential to improve recovery of muscular strength and reduce muscle soreness in the 4-day period post EIMD. However, the characterisation of polyphenol dosage and composition of study treatments should be prioritised in future research to facilitate the development of specific guidelines for the inclusion of flavonoid-rich foods in the diet of athletes and active individuals.

Exercise-induced muscle damage: mechanism, assessment and nutritional factors to accelerate recovery

There have been a multitude of reviews written on exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and recovery. EIMD is a complex area of study as there are a host of factors such as sex, age, nutrition, fitness level, genetics and familiarity with exercise task, which influence the magnitude of performance decrement and the time course of recovery following EIMD. In addition, many reviews on recovery from exercise have ranged from the impact of nutritional strategies and recovery modalities, to complex mechanistic examination of various immune and endocrine signaling molecules. No one review can adequately address this broad array of study. Thus, in this present review, we aim to examine EIMD emanating from both endurance exercise and resistance exercise training in recreational and competitive athletes and shed light on nutritional strategies that can enhance and accelerate recovery following EIMD. In addition, the evaluation of EIMD and recovery from exercise is often complicated and conclusions often depend of the specific mode of assessment. As such, the focus of this review is also directed at the available techniques used to assess EIMD.

Fruit-Derived Polyphenol Supplementation for Athlete Recovery and Performance

Polyphenols are characterised structurally by two or more hydroxyl groups attached to one or more benzene rings, and provide the taste and colour characteristics of fruits and vegetables. They are radical scavengers and metal chelators, but due to their low concentration in biological fluids in vivo their antioxidant properties seem to be related to enhanced endogenous antioxidant capacity induced via signalling through the Nrf2 pathway. Polyphenols also seem to possess anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to enhance vascular function via nitric oxide-mediated mechanisms. As a consequence, there is a rationale for supplementation with fruit-derived polyphenols both to enhance exercise performance, since excess reactive oxygen species generation has been implicated in fatigue development, and to enhance recovery from muscle damage induced by intensive exercise due to the involvement of inflammation and oxidative damage within muscle. Current evidence would suggest that acute supplementation with ~ 300 mg polyphenols 1–2 h prior to exercise may enhance exercise capacity and/or performance during endurance and repeated sprint exercise via antioxidant and vascular mechanisms. However, only a small number of studies have been performed to date, some with methodological limitations, and more research is needed to confirm these findings. A larger body of evidence suggests that supplementation with > 1000 mg polyphenols per day for 3 or more days prior to and following exercise will enhance recovery following muscle damage via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The many remaining unanswered questions within the field of polyphenol research and exercise performance and recovery are highlighted within this review article.

Potential of Juniperus communis L as a nutraceutical in human and veterinary medicine

Plants have been used for thousands of years as medicine for treating variety of diseases and medical complaints by most of the civilizations. Juniperus communis L. is an evergreen aromatic shrub with high therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases in human and animals. The plant is rich in aromatic oils, invert sugars, resins, catechin, organic acid, terpenic acids, leucoanthocyanidin, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, gums, lignins, wax, etc. Juniper berries or extract of the plant has traditionally been used as diuretic, anti-arthritis, anti-diabetes, antiseptic as well as for the treatment of gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders. The essential oil and extracts of juniper have been experimentally documented to have antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities. Recent studies have also found anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of berries in experimental models. Further, the essential oil incorporation retarded lipid peroxidation in preserved meat due to its high antioxidant effect which not only improved meat product quality but also improved shelf life of the product. Thus natural antioxidant such as juniper can be used in place synthetic antioxidant for the preservation and improving self-life of meat products. New well designed clinical trials in human and animals using well-characterized J. communis extract or oil need to be conducted so that additional information is generated which can support the use of this natural product as a nutraceutical.

Resistance Exercise Selectively Mobilizes Monocyte Subsets: Role of Polyphenols

PURPOSE

To examine the impact of polyphenol supplementation on the recruitment, mobilization, and activation of monocyte subsets after resistance exercise.

METHODS

Thirty-eight recreationally active males (22.1 ± 3.1 yr; 173.9 ± 7.9 cm; 77.8 ± 14.5 kg) were assigned to 28 d of polyphenol blend (PPB) supplementation, placebo (PL), or control (CON). Blood samples were obtained before (PRE) postresistance exercise, immediately (IP) postresistance exercise, 1 h (1H) postresistance exercise, 5 h (5H) postresistance exercise, 24 h (24H) postresistance exercise, and 48 h (48H) postresistance exercise (PPB/PL) or rest (CON). Fine-needle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis at PRE, 1H, 5H, and 48H. Circulating concentrations of macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and fractalkine, as well as intramuscular MCP-1 were analyzed via multiplex assay. Changes in the proportions and expression of CD11b on monocyte subsets were assessed via flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Circulating MCP-1 increased in PPB and PL at IP with further increases at 5H. Intramuscular MCP-1 was increased at 1H, 5H, and 48H in all groups. Classical monocyte proportions were reduced in PPB and PL at IP, and increased at 1H. Nonclassical monocytes were increased in PPB and PL at IP, whereas intermediate monocytes were increased at IP, and reduced at 1H. Intermediate monocytes were increased in PPB at 24H and 48H. CD11b expression was reduced on PPB compared with PL and CON at PRE on intermediate and nonclassical monocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

Resistance exercise may elicit selective mobilization of intermediate monocytes at 24H and 48H, which may be mediated by tissue damage. Additionally, polyphenol supplementation may suppress CD11b expression on monocyte subsets at rest.

Polyphenol supplementation alters intramuscular apoptotic signaling following acute resistance exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 28‐days of supplementation with an aqueous proprietary polyphenol blend (PPB) sourced from Camellia sinensis on intramuscular apoptotic signaling following an acute lower‐body resistance exercise protocol and subsequent recovery. Untrained males (n = 38, 21.8 ± 2.7 years, 173.4 ± 7.9 cm, 77.6 ± 14.6 kg) were randomized to PPB (n = 14), placebo (PL; n = 14) or control (CON; n = 10). Participants completed a lower‐body resistance exercise protocol comprised of the squat, leg press, and leg extension exercises. Skeletal muscle microbiopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis preexercise (PRE), 1‐h (1HR), 5‐h (5HR), and 48‐h (48HR) post‐resistance exercise. Apoptotic signaling pathways were quantified using multiplex signaling assay kits to quantify total proteins (Caspase 3, 8, 9) and markers of phosphorylation status (JNK, FADD, p53, BAD, Bcl‐2). Changes in markers of muscle damage and intramuscular signaling were analyzed via separate repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Change in Bcl‐2 phosphorylation at 1H was significantly greater in PL compared to CON (P = 0.001). BAD phosphorylation was significantly elevated at 5H in PL compared to PPB (P = 0.015) and CON (P = 0.006). The change in JNK phosphorylation was significantly greater in PPB (P = 0.009), and PL (P = 0.017) compared to CON at 1H, while the change for PL was elevated compared to CON at 5H (P = 0.002). A main effect was observed (P < 0.05) at 1H, 5H, and 48H for p53 and Caspase 8, with Caspase 3 and Caspase 9 elevated at 48H. These data indicate that chronic supplementation with PPB alters apoptotic signaling in skeletal muscle following acute muscle‐damaging resistance exercise.

Nutritional and Supplementation Strategies to Prevent and Attenuate Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: a Brief Review

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) is typically caused by unaccustomed exercise and results in pain, soreness, inflammation, and reduced muscle function. These negative outcomes may cause discomfort and impair subsequent athletic performance or training quality, particularly in individuals who have limited time to recover between training sessions or competitions. In recent years, a multitude of techniques including massage, cryotherapy, and stretching have been employed to combat the signs and symptoms of EIMD, with mixed results. Likewise, many varied nutritional and supplementation interventions intended to treat EIMD-related outcomes have gained prominence in the literature. To date, several review articles have been published that explore the many recovery strategies purported to minimize indirect markers of muscle damage. However, these articles are very limited from a nutritional standpoint. Thus, the purpose of this review is to briefly and comprehensively summarize many of these strategies that have been shown to positively influence the recovery process after damaging exercise. These strategies have been organized into the following sections based on nutrient source: fruits and fruit-derived supplements, vegetables and plant-derived supplements, herbs and herbal supplements, amino acid and protein supplements, vitamin supplements, and other supplements.

Genoprotective, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory evaluation of hydroalcoholic extract of wild-growing Juniperus communis L. (Cupressaceae) native to Romanian southern sub-Carpathian hills

BACKGROUND

Juniperus communis L. represents a multi-purpose crop used in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industry. Several studies present the possible medicinal properties of different Juniperus taxa native to specific geographical area. The present study aims to evaluate the genoprotective, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory potential of hydroalcoholic extract of wild-growing Juniperus communis L. (Cupressaceae) native to Romanian southern sub-Carpathian hills.

METHODS

The prepared hydroethanolic extract of Juniperus communis L. was characterized by GC-MS, HPLC, UV-Vis spectrometry and phytochemical assays. The antioxidant potential was evaluated using the DPPH assay, the antifungal effect was studied on Aspergillus niger ATCC 15475 and Penicillium hirsutum ATCC 52323, while the genoprotective effect was evaluated using the Allium cepa assay. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in two inflammation experimental models (dextran and kaolin) by plethysmometry. Male Wistar rats were treated by gavage with distilled water (negative control), the microemulsion (positive control), diclofenac sodium aqueous solution (reference) and microemulsions containing juniper extract (experimental group). The initial paw volume and the paw volumes at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 24 h were measured.

RESULTS

Total terpenoids, phenolics and flavonoids were estimated to be 13.44 ± 0.14 mg linalool equivalent, 19.23 ± 1.32 mg gallic acid equivalent, and 5109.6 ± 21.47 mg rutin equivalent per 100 g of extract, respectively. GC-MS characterization of the juniper extract identified 57 volatile compounds in the sample, while the HPLC analysis revealed the presence of the selected compounds (α-pinene, chlorogenic acid, rutin, apigenin, quercitin). The antioxidant potential of the crude extract was found to be 81.63 ± 0.38% (measured by the DPPH method). The results of the antifungal activity assay (for Aspergillus niger and Penicillium hirsutum) were 21.6 mm, respectively 17.2 mm as inhibition zone. Test results demonstrated the genoprotective potential of J. communis undiluted extract, inhibiting the mitodepressive effect of ethanol. The anti-inflammatory action of the juniper extract, administered as microemulsion in acute-dextran model was increased when compared to kaolin subacute inflammation induced model.

CONCLUSION

The hydroalcoholic extract obtained from wild-growing Juniperus communis native to Romanian southern sub-Carpathian hills has genoprotective, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.

The effect of polyphenols on cytokine and granulocyte response to resistance exercise

This study examined the effect of resistance exercise on the production, recruitment, percentage, and adhesion characteristics of granulocytes with and without polyphenol (PPB) supplementation. Thirty‐eight untrained men were randomized into three groups: PPB (n = 13, 21.8 ± 2.5 years, 171.2 ± 5.5 cm, 71.2 ± 8.2 kg), placebo (PL; n = 15, 21.6 ± 2.5 years, 176.5 ± 4.9 cm, 84.0 ± 15.7 kg), or control (CON; n = 10, 23.3 ± 4.3 years, 173.7 ± 12.6 cm, 77.3 ± 16.3 kg). Blood samples were obtained pre (PRE), immediately (IP), 1 h (1H), 5 h (5H), 24 h (24H), 48 h (48H), and 96 h (96H) postresistance exercise (PPB/PL) or rest (CON). Fine‐needle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis at PRE, 1H, 5H, and 48H. Plasma concentrations and intramuscular content of interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), granulocyte (G‐CSF), and granulocyte–macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) were analyzed via multiplex assays. Changes in relative number of circulating granulocytes and adhesion receptor (CD11b) were assessed using flow cytometry. Intramuscular IL‐8 was significantly elevated at 1H, 5H, and 48H (P < 0.001). Area under the curve analysis indicated a greater intramuscular IL‐8 content in PL than PPB (P = 0.011). Across groups, circulating G‐CSF was elevated from PRE at IP (P < 0.001), 1H (P = 0.011), and 5H (P = 0.025), while GM‐CSF was elevated at IP (P < 0.001) and 1H (P = 0.007). Relative number of granulocytes was elevated at 1H (P < 0.001), 5H (P < 0.001), and 24H (P = 0.005, P = 0.006) in PPB and PL, respectively. Across groups, granulocyte CD11b expression was upregulated from PRE to IP (P < 0.001) and 1H (P = 0.015). Results indicated an increase in circulating CD11b on granulocytes, and IL‐8 within the muscle following intense resistance exercise. Polyphenol supplementation may attenuate the IL‐8 response, however, did not affect granulocyte percentage and adhesion molecule expression in peripheral blood following resistance exercise.

Mitodepressive, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects of wild-growing Romanian native Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae) and Veronica persica Poiret (Plantaginaceae)

The present study aims to evaluate the potential uses of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from Romanian native wild-growing plants. The hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained from the burdock roots and respectively the aerial parts of birdeye speedwell. The extracts were characterised by HPLC (quantifying 13 compounds in the V. persica extract, 6 compounds in the A. lappa extract and confirming the presence of arctiin and arctigenin in the burdock extract). The antioxidant potential of the crude extracts was evaluated using two methods: the DPPH assay (79.91% for speedwell extract, 76.23% for burdock extract) and the phosphomolybdate method (296.5 mg/g ascorbic acid equivalents for burdock, 324.4 mg/g for speedwell). The crude extracts were found to be active against both fungal lines used (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium hirsutum), inhibition zones - 17.1 mm and 13.1 mm against P. hirsutum, respectively ca. 22 mm for both extracts against A. niger. The cytogenetic effects (assessed using the Allium cepa assay) revealed a series of chromosomal aberrations and nuclear aberrations induced in the meristematic root cells. The anti-inflammatory effect, estimated in two inflammation experimental models, showed a significant effect, especially for the speedwell extract. The results recommend the evaluated extracts as promising sources of biologically-active compounds.