Effect of orange peel and black tea extracts on markers of performance and cytokine markers of inflammation in horses

摘要

This study tested the hypothesis that orange peel (O) and decaffeinated black tea (T) extracts would alter markers of exercise performance as well as exercise-induced mRNA expression for the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Nine healthy, unfit Standardbred mares (age: 10 +- 4 years, --450 kg) were assigned to three treatment groups in a randomized crossover design where each horse was administered one of the following; placebo (O; 21 water), black tea extract in water (T; 21) ororange peel extract in water (W; 21), via a nasogastric tube. One hour later the horses completed an incremental graded exercise test (GXT) on a treadmill at a fixed 6% grade with measurements and blood samples obtained at rest, at the end of each 1 minstep of the GXT and at 2 and 5 min post-GXT. An additional set of blood samples for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) measurements of mRNA was obtained before exercise and at 5 and 30 min and 1,2,4 and 24 h post-GXT. The GXTs were conducted between 0700 and 1200h not less than 7 days apart. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in VO(2max), respiratory exchange ratio, run time, velocity at VO_(2max), core body temperature, haematocrit, creatine kinase (CK), plasma lactate concentrations, HR, right ventricular pressure (RVP) or pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) across treatments. A major finding was that orange peel extract significantly reduced post-exercise VO_2 recovery time (W = 112 +- 7, O = 86 +- 6, and T = 120 +- 11 s). There was a significant difference in plasma total protein concentration (TP) in the O runs compared with water and T. TNF-alpha mRNA expression was lower in the T runs compared with water and O trials. IFN-gamma mRNA expression levels appeared to be lower in both the T and O extractruns compared with the water trials. The mRNA expression of IL-6 was unaltered across treatment groups. These data suggest that orange peel and black tea extracts may modulate the cytokine responses to intense exercise. Orange peel extract reduced post-exercise recovery time and may potentially enhance the ability of horses to perform subsequent bouts of high-intensity exercise.