Gromwell (

Abstract

Sarcopenia, an age-related disease characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is a growing concern in the aging population. This study investigated the potential of Gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon, LE) to ameliorate sarcopenia in aged mice and the effect of lithospermic acid (LA), a bioactive compound found in LE, on cellular senescence in aged human skeletal muscle myoblast (HSMM) cells. Nineteen-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed a diet supplemented with 0.05% LE for 9 weeks. LE supplementation mitigated age-related loss of muscle mass and function, promoted the transition of muscle fiber type from type I to type II, and reduced markers associated with muscle atrophy. In vitro, LA treatment decreased β-galactosidase activity and senescence marker expression in senescent HSMM cells. These findings suggest that LE may serve as a valuable food resource for the prevention and mitigation of sarcopenia, with LA contributing to its effectiveness.