Kencur Supplementation Modulates Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in Response to Muscle Damage Following Eccentric Exercise
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2025.2.06Keywords:
eccentric exercise, ROS, inflammation, immune responseAbstract
Background. Intense or unaccustomed exercise can cause muscle damage and tissue injury, leading to temporary muscle dysfunction and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and free radicals. These factors may result in muscle protein breakdown, impaired nutrient absorption, and hindered recovery.
Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Kencur supplementation on plasma IL-6 and CRP levels following eccentric exercise.
Materials and methods. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a double-blind, placebo-controlled design was conducted with 40 male recreational students from the State University of Surabaya — Universitas Negeri Surabaya (age: 19.65 ± 1.09 years, BMI: 21.10 ± 1.16 kg, body fat percentage: 22.14 % ± 2.14 %). Participants were randomly assigned to either the Kencur group (200 mg/day) or the placebo group (corn starch 100 mg/day) for a period of 14 days. On the experimental day, participants performed 100 countermovement jumps (CMJ). Blood samples were collected immediately after, 24 hours, and 48 hours post-exercise to measure IL-6 and CRP levels. Repeated Measures ANOVA with Bonferroni Post-hoc tests were used to analyze the data.
Results. The Kencur group showed a significant reduction in plasma IL-6 and CRP levels post-exercise at all time points (p < 0.05), while the placebo group exhibited no substantial changes (p > 0.05).
Conclusions. The findings indicate that Kencur supplementation significantly reduces the inflammatory response by lowering IL-6 and CRP levels following eccentric exercise.
Downloads
References
Aoi, W., Naito, Y., Takanami, Y., Kawai, Y., Sakuma, K., Ichikawa, H., Yoshida, N., & Yoshikawa, T. (2004). Oxidative stress and delayed-onset muscle damage after exercise. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 37(4), 480-487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.05.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.05.008
Suzuki, K. (2018). Cytokine response to exercise and its modulation. Antioxidants, 7(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox7010017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox7010017
Wilke, J., & Behringer, M. (2021). Is “Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness” a False Friend? The Potential Implication of the Fascial Connective Tissue in Post-Exercise Discomfort. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(17), 9482. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22179482 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22179482
Hotfiel, T., Freiwald, J., Hoppe, M., Lutter, C., Forst, R., Grim, C., Bloch, W., Hüttel, M., & Heiss, R. (2018). Advances in Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): Part I: Pathogenesis and Diagnostics. Sportverletzung · Sportschaden, 32(04), 243-250. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0753-1884 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0753-1884
Lin, C.-H., Lin, Y.-A., Chen, S.-L., Hsu, M.-C., & Hsu, C.-C. (2021). American Ginseng Attenuates Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage via the Modulation of Lipid Peroxidation and Inflammatory Adaptation in Males. Nutrients, 14(1), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14010078
Bazzucchi, I., Patrizio, F., Ceci, R., Duranti, G., Sgrò, P., Sabatini, S., Di Luigi, L., Sacchetti, M., & Felici, F. (2019). The Effects of Quercetin Supplementation on Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage. Nutrients, 11(1), 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010205 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010205
Peake, J. M. (2019). Recovery after exercise: what is the current state of play? Current Opinion in Physiology, 10, 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2019.03.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2019.03.007
Lee, M., Shin, J., Kato, T., Kanda, K., Oikawa, S., Sakuma, J., Sugama, K., Kawakami, Y., Suzuki, K., & Akimoto, T. (2021). An acute eccentric exercise increases circulating myomesin 3 fragments. The Journal of Physiological Sciences, 71(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12576-021-00789-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12576-021-00789-y
Northeast, B., & Clifford, T. (2021). The Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Markers of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Human Intervention Trials. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 31(3), 276-291. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0282 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0282
Sonkodi, B. (2022). Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and Critical Neural Microdamage-Derived Neuroinflammation. Biomolecules, 12(9), 1207. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12091207 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12091207
Farias-Junior, L. F., Browne, R. A. V., Freire, Y. A., Oliveira-Dantas, F. F., Lemos, T. M. A. M., Galvão-Coelho, N. L., Hardcastle, S. J., Okano, A. H., Aoki, M. S., & Costa, E. C. (2019). Psychological responses, muscle damage, inflammation, and delayed onset muscle soreness to high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous exercise in overweight men. Physiology and Behavior, 199, 200-209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.11.028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.11.028
Sulistyarto, S., Irawan, R., Kumaat, N. A., & Rimawati, N. (2022). Correlation of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and Inflammation Post-exercise Induced Muscle Damage. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, 10(A), 1688-1694. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.10991 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.10991
Stožer, A., Vodopivc, P., & Križančić Bombek, L. (2020). Pathophysiology of exercise-induced muscle damage and its structural, functional, metabolic, and clinical consequences. Physiological Research, 565-598. https://doi.org/10.33549/physiolres.934371 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33549/physiolres.934371
Thirupathi, A., Wang, M., Lin, J. K., Fekete, G., István, B., Baker, J. S., & Gu, Y. (2021). Effect of Different Exercise Modalities on Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review. BioMed Research International, 2021, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1947928 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1947928
Tidball, J. G., & Villalta, S. A. (2010). Regulatory interactions between muscle and the immune system during muscle regeneration. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 298(5), R1173-R1187. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00735.2009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00735.2009
Fleckenstein, J., Neuberger, E. W. I., Bormuth, P., Comes, F., Schneider, A., Banzer, W., Fischer, L., & Simon, P. (2021). Investigation of the Sympathetic Regulation in Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: Results of an RCT. Frontiers in Physiology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.697335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.697335
Beba, M., Mohammadi, H., Clark, C. C. T., & Djafarian, K. (2022). The effect of curcumin supplementation on delayed‐onset muscle soreness, inflammation, muscle strength, and joint flexibility: A systematic review and dose–response meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytotherapy Research, 36(7), 2767-2778. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7477 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7477
Nieman, D. C., Davis, J. M., Henson, D. A., Walberg-Rankin, J., Shute, M., Dumke, C. L., Utter, A. C., Vinci, D. M., Carson, J. A., Brown, A., Lee, W. J., McAnulty, S. R., & McAnulty, L. S. (2003). Carbohydrate ingestion influences skeletal muscle cytokine mRNA and plasma cytokine levels after a 3-h run. Journal of Applied Physiology, 94(5). https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01130.2002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01130.2002
Hennigar, S. R., McClung, J. P., & Pasiakos, S. M. (2017). Nutritional interventions and the IL‐6 response to exercise. The FASEB Journal, 31(9), 3719-3728. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.201700080R DOI: https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.201700080R
Waskiw-Ford, M., Hannaian, S., Duncan, J., Kato, H., Abou Sawan, S., Locke, M., Kumbhare, D., & Moore, D. (2020). Leucine-Enriched Essential Amino Acids Improve Recovery from Post-Exercise Muscle Damage Independent of Increases in Integrated Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis in Young Men. Nutrients, 12(4), 1061. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041061 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041061
Batatinha, H. A. P., Biondo, L. A., Lira, F. S., Castell, L. M., & Rosa-Neto, J. C. (2019). Nutrients, immune system, and exercise: Where will it take us? Nutrition, 61, 151-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NUT.2018.09.019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2018.09.019
Brendler, T., Al‐Harrasi, A., Bauer, R., Gafner, S., Hardy, M. L., Heinrich, M., Hosseinzadeh, H., Izzo, A. A., Michaelis, M., Nassiri‐Asl, M., Panossian, A., Wasser, S. P., & Williamson, E. M. (2021). Botanical drugs and supplements affecting the immune response in the time of COVID ‐19: Implications for research and clinical practice. Phytotherapy Research, 35(6), 3013-3031. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7008
Kistner, T. M., Pedersen, B. K., & Lieberman, D. E. (2022). Interleukin 6 as an energy allocator in muscle tissue. Nature Metabolism, 4(2), 170-179. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-022-00538-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-022-00538-4
Peake, J. M., Neubauer, O., Walsh, N. P., & Simpson, R. J. (2017). Recovery of the immune system after exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology, 122(5), 1077-1087. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00622.2016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00622.2016
Torre, M. F., Martinez-Ferran, M., Vallecillo, N., Jiménez, S. L., Romero-Morales, C., & Pareja-Galeano, H. (2021). Supplementation with Vitamins C and E and Exercise-Induced Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness: A Systematic Review. Antioxidants, 10(2), 279. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10020279 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10020279
Kruk, J., Aboul-Enein, B. H., & Duchnik, E. (2021). Exercise-induced oxidative stress and melatonin supplementation: current evidence. The Journal of Physiological Sciences, 71(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12576-021-00812-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12576-021-00812-2
Gao, Y., Xu, Y., & Yin, J. (2022). Selenomethionine Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment, Decreases Hippocampal Oxidative Stress and Attenuates Dysbiosis in D-Galactose-Treated Mice. Antioxidants, 11(1), 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11010111 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11010111
Pham, H., & Spaniol, F. (2024). The Efficacy of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Athletes for Injury Management, Training Response, and Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review. Sports, 12(11), 302. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12110302 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12110302
Irawan, R. J., Sulistyarto, S., & Rimawati, N. (2022). Supplementation Of Kencur (Kaempferia Galanga Linn) Extract on Malondealdehyde (MDA) and IL-6 Plasma Levels Post Aerobic Training Activity. Amerta Nutrition, 6(1SP), 140-145. https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v6i1SP.2022.140-145 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v6i1SP.2022.140-145
Yao, F., Huang, Y., Wang, Y., & He, X. (2018). Anti-inflammatory diarylheptanoids and phenolics from the rhizomes of kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.). Industrial Crops and Products, 125, 454-461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.09.026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.09.026
Kiptiyah, S. Y., Harmayani, E., Santoso, U., & Supriyadi. (2021). The effect of blanching and extraction method on total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of Kencur (Kaempferia galanga. L) extract. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 709(1), 012025. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/709/1/012025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/709/1/012025
Zhang, X., Chen, X., Tang, Y., Guan, X., Deng, J., & Fan, J. (2022). Effects of medical plants from Zingiberaceae family on cardiovascular risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Food Biochemistry, 46(7). https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.14130 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.14130
Kimble, R., Jones, K., & Howatson, G. (2023). The effect of dietary anthocyanins on biochemical, physiological, and subjective exercise recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 63(9), 1262-1276. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1963208 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1963208
Bontemps, B., Vercruyssen, F., Gruet, M., & Louis, J. (2020). Downhill Running: What Are The Effects and How Can We Adapt? A Narrative Review. Sports Medicine, 50(12), 2083-2110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01355-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01355-z
Arazi, H., Eghbali, E., & Suzuki, K. (2021). Creatine Supplementation, Physical Exercise and Oxidative Stress Markers: A Review of the Mechanisms and Effectiveness. Nutrients, 13(3), 869. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030869 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030869
Heiss, R., Lutter, C., Freiwald, J., Hoppe, M., Grim, C., Poettgen, K., Forst, R., Bloch, W., Hüttel, M., & Hotfiel, T. (2019). Advances in Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) – Part II: Treatment and Prevention. Sportverletzung · Sportschaden, 33(01), 21-29. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0810-3516 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0810-3516
Uçar, N., Öner, H., Kuş, M. A., Karaca, H., & Fırat, T. (2024). The effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied at different muscle lengths on muscle architecture and sarcomere morphology in rats. The Anatomical Record, 307(2), 356-371. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.25240 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.25240
Barker, G. A., Parten, A. L., Lara, D. A., Hannon, K. E., McAllister, M. J., & Waldman, H. S. (2023). Astaxanthin Supplementation Reduces Subjective Markers of Muscle Soreness following Eccentric Exercise in Resistance-Trained Men. Muscles, 2(2), 228-237. https://doi.org/10.3390/muscles2020017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/muscles2020017
Nanavati, K., Rutherfurd-Markwick, K., Lee, S. J., Bishop, N. C., & Ali, A. (2022). Effect of curcumin supplementation on exercise-induced muscle damage: a narrative review. European Journal of Nutrition, 61(8), 3835-3855. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-02943-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-02943-7
Jakubczyk, K., Dec, K., Kałduńska, J., Kawczuga, D., Kochman, J., & Janda, K. (2020). Reactive oxygen species - sources, functions, oxidative damage. Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski : Organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego, 48(284), 124-127.
Lin, C.-H., Lin, Y.-A., Chen, S.-L., Hsu, M.-C., & Hsu, C.-C. (2021). American Ginseng Attenuates Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage via the Modulation of Lipid Peroxidation and Inflammatory Adaptation in Males. Nutrients, 14(1), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14010078 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14010078
Suzuki, K., Tominaga, T., Ruhee, R. T., & Ma, S. (2020). Characterization and Modulation of Systemic Inflammatory Response to Exhaustive Exercise in Relation to Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants, 9(5), 401. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9050401 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9050401
Tanabe, Y., Fujii, N., & Suzuki, K. (2021). Dietary Supplementation for Attenuating Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness in Humans. Nutrients, 14(1), 70. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14010070 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14010070
Amalraj, A., Divya, C., & Gopi, S. (2020). The Effects of Bioavailable Curcumin (Cureit) on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Induced By Eccentric Continuous Exercise: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Study. Journal of Medicinal Food, 23(5), 545-553. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2019.4533 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2019.4533
Jomova, K., Raptova, R., Alomar, S. Y., Alwasel, S. H., Nepovimova, E., Kuca, K., & Valko, M. (2023). Reactive oxygen species, toxicity, oxidative stress, and antioxidants: chronic diseases and aging. Archives of Toxicology, 97(10), 2499-2574. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-023-03562-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-023-03562-9
Fuller, O. K., Whitham, M., Mathivanan, S., & Febbraio, M. A. (2020). The Protective Effect of Exercise in Neurodegenerative Diseases: The Potential Role of Extracellular Vesicles. Cells, 9(10), 2182. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9102182 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9102182
Boukhris, O., Trabelsi, K., Abdessalem, R., Hsouna, H., Ammar, A., Glenn, J. M., Bott, N., Irandoust, K., Taheri, M., Turki, M., Ayadi, F., Bragazzi, N. L., Engel, F. A., & Chtourou, H. (2020). Effects of the 5-m Shuttle Run Test on Markers of Muscle Damage, Inflammation, and Fatigue in Healthy Male Athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12), 4375. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124375 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124375
Del Giudice, M., & Gangestad, S. W. (2018). Rethinking IL-6 and CRP: Why they are more than inflammatory biomarkers, and why it matters. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 70, 61-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2018.02.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2018.02.013
Fischer, C. P., Hiscock, N. J., Penkowa, M., Basu, S., Vessby, B., Kallner, A., Sjöberg, L.-B., & Pedersen, B. K. (2004). Supplementation with vitamins C and E inhibits the release of interleukin-6 from contracting human skeletal muscle. The Journal of Physiology, 558(2), 633-645. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2004.066779 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2004.066779
Nara, H., & Watanabe, R. (2021). Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Muscle-Derived Interleukin-6 and Its Involvement in Lipid Metabolism. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(18), 9889. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22189889 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22189889
Cerqueira, É., Marinho, D. A., Neiva, H. P., & Lourenço, O. (2020). Inflammatory Effects of High and Moderate Intensity Exercise—A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Physiology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01550 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01550
Costello, J. T., Rendell, R. A., Furber, M., Massey, H. C., Tipton, M. J., Young, J. S., & Corbett, J. (2018). Effects of acute or chronic heat exposure, exercise and dehydration on plasma cortisol, IL-6 and CRP levels in trained males. Cytokine, 110, 277-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2018.01.018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2018.01.018
Kawamura, T., & Muraoka, I. (2018). Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress and the Effects of Antioxidant Intake from a Physiological Viewpoint. Antioxidants, 7(9), 119. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox7090119 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox7090119
Mal’tseva, V. N., Goltyaev, M. V., Turovsky, E. A., & Varlamova, E. G. (2022). Immunomodulatory and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Selenium-Containing Agents: Their Role in the Regulation of Defense Mechanisms against COVID-19. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(4), 2360. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23042360 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23042360
Taherkhani, S., Suzuki, K., & Castell, L. (2020). A Short Overview of Changes in Inflammatory Cytokines and Oxidative Stress in Response to Physical Activity and Antioxidant Supplementation. Antioxidants, 9(9), 886. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9090886 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9090886
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Roy Januardi Irawan, Joesoef Roepajadi, Heri Wahyudi, Noortje Anita Kumaat, Abdul Rohim Tualeka, Nanda Rimawati, Adi Wijayanto
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
