Apple Peel & Mistletoe: Boosting Muscle Health

Researchers investigated the potential benefits of mistletoe and apple peel extracts for enhancing muscle health and endurance in a recent study that was published in Nutrients.

Their research could have ramifications for the creation of affordable, all-natural supplements that promote muscle growth. These supplements could be used in sports to address age-related muscle loss and the development of young muscles.

Background

Maintaining physical health and a high quality of life require both muscle strength and endurance. But after the age of 30, skeletal muscle mass declines by 3-8% every decade, and this decline quickens beyond the age of 60.

Although automation and modern technology have led to a drop in activity levels, physical activity is still necessary to maintain muscle mass.

Research shows that in 2016, fewer than 30% of adults globally failed to fulfill recommended levels of physical exercise each week, which raised their risk of chronic illness. It’s possible that insufficient physical exercise causes more deaths in Europe than obesity.

Natural plant components like resveratrol (found in red grapes), catechin (found in tea), and curcumin (found in turmeric) may help enhance muscle health in addition to physical activity. Rich in bioactive chemicals, extracts from mistletoe have been demonstrated to improve muscle strength and endurance, even surpassing the effects of resveratrol.

On the other hand, mistletoe can be costly and difficult to gather, and excessive amounts might have negative effects. In an effort to solve these problems, scientists are investigating the possibility of combining mistletoe extract with apple peel extracts, which are inexpensive, safe, and high in nutrients and beneficial polyphenols.

About the Study

The fruits, stems, and leaves were mashed and blended to create mistletoe extract, which was then centrifuged, filtered, and freeze-dried after being stirred for sixteen hours. The dried apple peels were blended, ethanol was used for extraction, the mixture was filtered, and the apple peels were freeze-dried. The extracts’ levels of flavonoids and polyphenols were tested.

Male mice were used in the animal trials, and they were split into six groups. Over the course of four weeks, the mice were given varying dosages of apple peel, mistletoe, and creatine. Following the treatment, their grip strength and treadmill endurance were assessed.

A force gauge was used to measure each mouse’s grip strength five times, and endurance tests were run on a treadmill at progressively faster speeds until the mice were exhausted.

Subsequently, the researchers examined the muscle tissue to determine the protein content of the tissue and to comprehend the genetic processes linked to muscle function.

Results
Researchers discovered that mistletoe extraction methods are more advanced than those for extracting apple peels, with 60% ethanol for 12 hours yielding the best extraction outcomes.

Apple peel extract was found to have 0.65 mg/mL of flavonoids and 1.08 mg/mL of polyphenols, according to an analysis of the extracts. Apple peel and mistletoe extract combined produced higher quantities of flavonoids (0.98 mg/mL) and polyphenols (2.21 mg/mL).

After four weeks of treatment with apple peel, mistletoe, or a combination of the three extracts, there was no discernible change in the groups’ calorie consumption or body weight.

On the other hand, when compared to control groups, those who received combined extracts shown a considerable increase in muscle strength. In the endurance tests, they also demonstrated a 233–258% increase in running time in comparison to the control groups.

Subsequent examination revealed that animals administered the mixed extracts also exhibited larger muscular fibers.

Together, the abstracts show a significant decrease in genes associated with protein breakdown and an increase in genes associated with muscle growth and protein synthesis. The combined groups had increased rates of activation of several proteins associated with muscle growth.

Additionally, there was a notable increase in mitochondrial content and gene expression associated with mitochondrial biogenesis as a result of the combined extracts. Genes linked to mitochondrial fusion were upregulated while those related to fission were downregulated.

Mice administered with a combination of mistletoe and extracts demonstrated an increase in endurance-related muscle fibers. Comparing the mice in the treatment groups with those given mixed extracts at half the concentration, improvements in muscle fiber were also observed.

In conclusion
The purpose of the study was to determine whether combining apple peel extract and mistletoe extract may enhance muscle strength and endurance more than using each extract alone.

Both extracts have a high polyphenol concentration, but the flavonoid content of apple peel is higher, according to the researchers. The combined effects of the apple peel and mistletoe extracts improved muscle strength and endurance more than either extract alone.

Greater muscle protein synthesis and decreased protein breakdown are associated with the combined group’s larger muscle fiber cross-sectional areas and higher mitochondrial density.

The effects found were probably influenced by flavonoids in apple peel and phenolic acids in mistletoe. Compounds like quercetin (in apple peel) and chlorogenic acid (in mistletoe) were discovered for improving muscle strength and lowering inflammation.

Longer study periods are required to produce more data, even though these findings are encouraging. To ascertain the effectiveness, ideal dosage, and safety of these extracts for enhancing muscular function, human trials are required.

For more information: Synergistic Effects of Korean Mistletoe and Apple Peel Extracts on Muscle Strength and Endurance, Nutrients, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193255