Ajuga Turkestanica as a Countermeasure Against Sarcopenia and Dynapenia

The effects of phytoecdysteroid supplementation on 20-month old male mouse skeletal muscle was tested. Three treatment groups were employed for the 28-day supplementation protocol: control (CT; vehicle only of 100% non-denatured ethanol), Ajuga turkestanica extract (ATE), and 20-hydroxecdysone (20E). Following 28 days of consecutive supplementation with ATE, 20E, or vehicle only (CT) each animal was tested for in vivo contractile function of the gastrocnemius-plantaris-soleus complex. Skeletal muscles and organs were then dissected and utilized for Western blot analysis, muscle and organ wet weights, or histological and cross-sectional area (CSA) analysis. Results demonstrated no significant differences (NSD) in body, muscle, or organ masses between treatments. NSD were found in protein synthesis signaling and non-contracted mitochondrial biogenesis signaling. Significantly larger fiber CSA was found in 20E-treated mice, compared to CT. Additionally, 20E-treated mice had significantly greater activation contraction-induced AMPK pathway signaling, compared to CT and ATE. In conclusion, these data suggest that 20E rescues the loss of muscle fiber size and increases the activation of contraction-induced AMPK pathway signaling in sedentary aged skeletal muscle.