ABSTRACT Aim One of the effects of Cistanche herb is described in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as for lack of strength in muscles and bones. However, concrete evidence of this herb for muscle strength has been hardly reported. The present study aimed to clarify the effects of 30% ethanolic extract of Cistanche tubulosa fleshy stem on muscle strength and muscle mass in a wide range of doses. Methods Male ddY mice (10‐weeks‐old) were used. Muscle atrophy was induced via bilateral hindlimb immobilization by placing them in casts for 15 days. Thirty percent ethanol extract of C. tubulosa fleshy stem was orally administered from Day 2 to Day 15. Muscle strength was evaluated using an inclined wire mesh test. Wet weights of triceps surae and tibialis anterior and body weight were measured. Primary cultured skeletal myocytes were treated with acteoside or echinacoside, which are main constituents in C. tubulosa . Fiber‐like shaped myocytes were quantified by immunocytochemistry. Results Although hanging ability of wired mesh significantly decreased in cast‐attached hindlimbs atrophied mice, oral treatment of C. tubulosa fleshy stem extract dose‐dependently protected the grasping ability. At 100 mg/kg, extract remarkably protected. Lower doses of 1 and 10 mg/kg extract indicated partial protection. For protection of muscle mass, only 100 mg/kg extract was effective. Acteoside treatment increased fiber length in fiber‐like shaped mature myocytes in primary cultured myocytes, but echinacoside did not. Conclusion C. tubulosa fleshy stem extract has anti‐muscle weakening effect and anti‐muscle loss effect in disuse‐induced muscle atrophy. Acteoside has been shown to potentially activate muscle cells.
Jung et al. (Sun,) studied this question.