Flavonoid polyphenols are bioactive phytochemicals found in fruits and teas among other sources. Gao Z, Yin X and Cao Q (2026) The role and application prospects of plant-derived bioactive peptides in exercise fatigue recovery. The author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Profound investigation and analysis on the SAR of the bioactive peptides from plants are necessary for translational conversion and application based on biological activity. Plant-derived peptides, with a PPARα stimulation effect, promote fatty acid oxidation instead of storage , 53, 62,, helping athletes to sustain a proper body composition, but also optimizing their metabolic flexibility between carbohydrate and fat use for different levels of exercise intensity and time duration. One of the favorable consequences from using plant bioactive peptides in animal and human diets is to activate peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα) by up-regulating transcription factors of PPARα, which can help regulate the conversion of fatty acid during treatment (28).
Two authors , S.Z. & Y.X., assessed the included literature through the Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) assessment tool. Studies must provide quantitative measurements of athletic performance or physiological indices, such as aerobic performance, anaerobic performance, heart rate, blood glucose, and so on. The included studies must include both a control group and a protein group, with the control group demonstrating a significant difference in protein intake compared to the protein group. Studies that lacked available data to be extracted and non-original studies (including letters), reviews, or editorials, were excluded during the selection process. We excluded non-human studies (including those on animals), plants, and so on. The keywords and subject heading were determined through two reviewers’ discussions, and these words were collected from the Pubmed Mesh database.
We hypothesize that protein intake can improve athletic performance through muscle strength and endurance performance in athletes. By synthesizing current evidence, this study seeks to provide clearer insights into the effectiveness of protein on athletic performance. Muscle glycogen storage proved to be a key factor in maintaining athletic performance after high-intensity exercise.
Key takeaways
Schematic of plant extracts and their effects on exercise — including reducing muscle damage, improving recovery, and increasing energy availability, with examples and specific benefits. This underscores the importance of balancing ROS scavenging with preservation of adaptive signaling—a key consideration for plant-based antioxidant supplementation in sports nutrition. For practical application (this means the blend is effective even if consumed 30–60 min https://www.japannakama.co.uk/a-guide-to-the-top-10-places-to-buy-cbd-in-japan/ after training (e.g.), by athletes who experience gastrointestinal discomfort with immediate post-exercise whey intake). These additives can be classified into various categories (including herbal extracts), essential oils, and whole-plant powders, each offering unique properties and potential health benefits (7–9). However (many individuals face challenges in achieving optimal exercise performance due to factors such as oxidative stress), inflammation, and metabolic disturbances (3, 4). Vegetable oils such as olive oil and palm oil provide lipids, while fruit and vegetables contribute vitamins and minerals to the diet.
Science has identified approximately 400,000 distinct plant species, with new ones regularly documented, especially in tropical regions worldwide. The submissions you provided will be reviewed by our editors, who will decide on the necessity of revising the article. Choose a feedback type , Required,: Factual Correction, Spelling/Grammar Correction, Link Correction, Additional Information, Other. Please share any suggestions you have to enhance this article , login required,. Allergic reactions in individuals suffering from hay fever can be triggered by some plants that release windblown pollen, such as grasses.
It appears that diets high in fat swiftly disturb cellular metabolism, decreasing energy expenditure, while a low-fat, plant-based diet produces the inverse effect by enhancing postprandial energy expenditure. A diet consisting of 55% fat resulted in a significant rise in circulating endotoxins during a 5-day study involving human volunteers, which subsequently impaired postprandial cellular glucose oxidation. Reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and enhancing glycemic control in diabetic individuals (a significant factor contributing to atherosclerosis), is crucial.
Study authors were contacted to provide raw data and if not received — these data were extracted from reported figures using WebPlotDigitizer. An honorarium for participation in the meeting and preparation of this article was provided by the GSSI. Responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article lies with all authors. Additionally — selected medicinal plants offer potential performance-enhancing and recovery-boosting effects. Since training and competition leads to a structural and functional imbalance due to strenuous effort, CBD intake could potentially promote restoration of physical performance.
AI tools may have been used in the translation or editing of this article. Sycheva—editing, approval of the final version of the article. S.N. Shlykov—concept and design of the study (interpretation of results), writing of the article. To date, there is little research on cannabis for sports-related injuries or sports specific applications — just a lot of early work on other conditions.
Atherosclerosis not only raises the probability of cardiac incidents but may also constrict arteries in the legs, brain, and other regions, leading to diminished blood flow and possibly impairing performance. Up to now (the daily intake has mirrored earlier research that suggested some benefits), and no studies have compared doses with respect to exercise recovery. The tart cherry powder exhibited the highest total phenolic content — 25, 26, 27; however, none of the studies demonstrated effectiveness in improving recovery in the days following exercise. Two studies using tart cherry concentrate gel and another two employing tart cherry powder showed no improvements in recovery on the days following exercise (see Tables 1 and 2). Research involving cherry juice, whether from concentrate or fresh-frozen cherries, has consistently indicated recovery enhancement, with at least one positive outcome reported in 9 out of 11 studies.
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To provide strong support for the meta-analysis results, subgroup analyses were performed. Both the fixed-effects model and the random-effects model were utilized in the meta-analysis to assess the influence of protein intake on sports performance. A systematic search of databases was carried out to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of protein consumption on athletes’ performance. This research sought to examine the connection between protein intake and performance in athletes.
