Effects of Dietary Green Rooibos on Physical Endurance in Swimming Mice

Nakamichi Watanabe, Yurie Hara, Satomi Sakuda, Yoriko Mori, Yutaka Furuya, Tsuyoshi Watanabe

Department of Human Science and Design, Showa Women’s University, Tokyo, Japan.
Department of Human Sciences and Design, Graduate School of Showa Women’s University, Tokyo, Japan.
Tama biochemical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2014.52016                

Abstract

Green rooibos made from unfermented rooibos leaves contains high amounts of aspalathin. Dietary green rooibos is expected to increase physical endurance and decrease physical fatigue, because aspalathin has antioxidant activity and stimulates glucose uptake in muscle tissue. The aim of this study was to validate the effects of green rooibos and aspalathin by using a swimming mouse model. Dietary green rooibos and aspalathin tended to increase swimming time in mice. This beneficial effect might be induced by increased glycogen accumulation in the liver and skeletal muscles.

Keywords

Aspalathin; Fatigue; Glycogen; Physical Endurance; Rooibos

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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