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. 2016 Mar 31;25(Suppl 1):119–124. doi: 10.1007/s10068-016-0108-5

Effect of silymarin on gluconeogenesis and lactate production in exercising rats

Eun-Ju Choi 1, Eun-Kyung Kim 2, Nam Ho Jeoung 3, Sang-Hyun Kim 4,✉
PMCID: PMC6049409  PMID: 30263496

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of silymarin (SM) on gluconeogenesis during exercise in rats. After 4 weeks of exercise, blood samples, liver, and skeletal muscle tissues were collected, and the levels of triglycerides (TG), lactate, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), and phosphorylated 5-AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) were measured. The TG and lactate level of the serum were reduced. In addition, the expression of Akt, PEPCK, and PPARγ in liver was decreased as well as the expression of AMPK in muscle. On the contrary, the level of PDK4 in muscle was increased. These results showed that that administration of SM ameliorated exerciseinduced gluconeogenesis and β-oxidation through the regulation of PPARγ, PEPCK, and PDK4. Thus, intake of SM during exercise may improve endurance by modulating of the metabolism of glucose, lipids, and lactate.

Keywords: silymarin, exercise, gluconeogenesis, β-oxidation

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