Senactiv from NuLiv Science: Regenerate Senescent Cells and Perform Better

Understanding this new ingredient requires a dive into semantics. Senactiv falls into the broad category of senolytics. Senolytic compounds work by inducing cellular death. While cellular death sounds scary, it can be beneficial – so long as it’s operating on the correct cells. The human body contains many senescent cells, which are elderly cells that are deteriorating. Senolytics promote health by speeding up the breakdown of older cells while also encouraging the growth of new cells. Senactiv is a senolytic that functions at the level of the endothelial lining of skeletal muscle.

Panax notoginseng and Rosa roxburghii join forces

Before we get into the clinical data, it’s worth discussing where Senactiv comes from. The compound itself is a proprietary blend of Panax notoginseng and Rosa roxburghii, developed by NuLiv Science. Keen-eyed readers of PricePlow might recognize NuLiv as the geniuses behind AstraGin — one of the most popular bioavailability-improving ingredients in the industry. NuLiv empowers this blend of Panax notoginseng and Rosa roxburghii through a unique extraction and processing technology that allows for a higher purification and fractional extraction than that of the competition.

To summarize, Senactiv is a unique blend of Panax notoginseng and Rosa roxburghii that helps replace older endothelial cells with newer cells – and when used in pre workout supplements, amino acids, and proteins, it accomplishes extremely encouraging results.

NuLiv Science backs Senactiv via four human clinical trials and two in-vivo investigations. We see Senactiv as a supplement with two types of benefits: protective muscular damage benefits and senolytic benefits.

Ginseng at Work: Better Recovery, More Energy

The first trial took healthy young men that received either a five milligram capsule of Senactiv‘s ginseng extract or a placebo one hour before exercise. The researchers conducted muscle biopsies prior to, immediately after, and three hours after a 60 minute cycle exercise. The muVscle tissue exposed to the ginseng appeared to have enhanced glycogen replenishment and fewer markers of inflammation when compared to the placebo group.

While this may sound like word salad, the take-home message is that ginseng present in Senactiv helps reduce the proinflammatory state that exercise causes. Besides this anti-inflammatory benefit, the ginseng also appears to have improved VO2 max by 20% versus the control group!^[1] While it’s important to note that overall aerobic capacity did not improve, we will take a VO2 max boost any time!

Improved citric acid cycle status

The muscle biopsies taken during the first two trials allow us to define the mechanisms at play. The muscle tissue exposed to the ginseng extract had 47% more citrate synthase.^[1] Citrate is one of the first stops on the way for a cell to make ATP. So this increase in citrate may cause the bump in VO2 max noted during the cycling event. The treatment group muscle tissue also showed significantly fewer markers of lipid peroxidation, free radical damage, inflammation, and muscle damage compared to the placebo group.^[1-4]

One of the most important factors in recovering from exercise is sequestering glycogen back into muscle tissue. Senactiv appears to improve the rate of glycogen storage after exercise. The muscle biopsies taken 3 hours after exercise showed 2.7 times more glycogen accumulation compared to the control group.^[1] Senactiv’s ability to attenuate structural damage is likely behind this increase.^[1,2]

Out With the old, in with the new: Senolytic Benefits

Beyond its ability to boost cellular integrity and muscular glycogen accumulation, Senactiv appears to be a potent senolytic. As noted before, senolytics are compounds that help clear out old cells.

To measure this, we need a way of detecting old cells on a tissue sample. β-galactosidase is one of the most reliable and easy to detect signs of cellular age.^[5,6] Muscle samples taken before and after exercise shows that Senactiv supplementation resulted in significantly fewer amounts of detectable β-galactosidase-tagged cells. Less β-galactosidase means less old cells, which is senolysis at work!^[2]

• Improved macrophage markers

  This increase in senolysis may be mediated through an increase in macrophage infiltration of exercised muscle tissue. This idea is supported by increased levels of macrophage-specific markers found in the muscle tissue of the Senactiv treated group when compared to the placebo group.^[2] We can think of macrophages as cellular Pac-Mans that come in to chew up unwanted older cells. If you think of senescent cells as the pellets Pac-Man has to gobble up to get through a level, you have the right idea.

• Reduced P16ink4a supporting senolytic characteristics

  Another reliable marker of older muscle cells is P16ink4a, a protein only found in senescent cells. Macrophages target P16ink4a cells for destruction.^[6] Levels of this protein climb drastically after exercise as cells become worn out.

  

  The increased activation of P16ink4a three hours after exercise supports the senolytic characteristics of Senactiv.^[7]

  One trial showed Senactiv reduces the amount of detectable P16ink4a three hours after exercise.^[7] This finding supports the senolytic characteristics of Senactiv.

• Production of new cells

  Senactiv does more than just clear out old cells. It may even increase the production of new cells. As we know, exercise causes muscle damage, which eventually encourages muscular recovery and growth. For this to happen, the body relies on a protein called Pax-7 and the MYf5 gene. Pax-7 and MYF5 increase activation, growth, and maturation of muscular satellite cells.^[8] The thing to know here is that muscle tissue with more satellite cells have more ability to overcome physical challenges. Senactiv may rev up Pax-7 and MYF5 by 81%, according to a recent human trial published in the Journal of Functional Foods.^[8]

All told, Senactiv presents incredible benefits to a multitude of athletes — from endurance to bodybuilders — as well as those interested in anti-aging and longevity.

In terms of safety, Senactiv received the coveted US GRAS/NDI self-affirmation in 2015.^[9] This certification was based on a 28-day, repeated oral-dose toxicology report in rats. The doses went to 600 milligrams per kilogram of body weight for 24 hours, which is far more than NuLiv is recommending. Since you can feel Senactiv in a dose as low as 50 milligrams a day, the safety profile appears to check out, since you don’t need to come anywhere near the tested doses.

In addition, Senactiv is an “Informed Ingredient” as certified by Informed Choice, which means that it is regularly tested and known to be free of banned substances.^[10] This allows those of us who compete in drug-tested athletes to have nothing to fear when using it.

The PricePlow team has taken a liking to Senactiv, especially at the higher doses. Whether it’s more endurance in an intense lifting session, easier weight loss, or even just an easier time getting over the midday hump – we do notice a difference on days you take Senactiv. It feels “cleaner and clearer”, if that makes any sense. NuLiv is definitely onto something here.

The great thing about Senactiv is that anyone can reap the benefits. Even if your diet or recovery aren’t perfect, Senactiv can act in the background to help clean up the mess a bit. To this extent, we would love to see this ingredient integrated into more general health supplements and not just energetic pre workouts (although we of course love it there too). It could be a fantastic boon to any multivitamin, longevity, or preventative health products out there.

PricePlow fans will be relieved to find that many house-favorite brands are using Senactiv, and the lineup will certainly grow. This includes Ghost, a brand that has truly risen to a top-tier position in our rankings, and is consistently upgrading and testing improved formulas with ingredients such as this one. To try it in the higher doses where it really starts to shine, Like a Pro Supplements Glycotrix (intra workout supplement) has 50mg Senactiv, and Ghost Legend V2 will also have a strong dose.

Another popular pre-workout, Woke AF by DAS Labs (the company behind “Bucked Up”), features both AstraGin and Senactiv (25mg each), which could be an excellent way to feel how dominant NuLiv’s ingredients have become!

Pre-2021: Look for ActiGin

You can also find some earlier supplements containing ActiGin, Senactiv’s former name, although those will be transitioning from the market through 2021. One such example is EndurElite’s PerformElite X, a monstrously-dosed endurance-minded pre workout supplement.