Also known as: ActiGin, Panax notoginseng and Rosa roxburghii, Senescent cell clearance blend
Branded IngredientsEmerging evidence
A patented blend of notoginseng and chestnut rose, sold for clearing worn-out muscle cells and preserving glycogen. Interesting premise, small and single-source evidence base.
Typical dose
50.0–50.0 mg per day
Before training
What it is
Senactiv, previously sold as ActiGin, is a patented combination of Panax notoginseng and Rosa roxburghii, sometimes called chestnut rose. Both are used in traditional Chinese practice.
It is marketed on an unusual premise for a sports supplement: clearing senescent cells, meaning cells that have stopped dividing but persist in tissue and are thought to contribute to declining function.
The secondary claim concerns glycogen. It is proposed to preserve muscle glycogen during exercise and speed its replenishment afterwards, which is a more conventional and more testable performance claim.
How it works
The proposed mechanism involves promoting the clearance of senescent muscle cells and supporting the generation of new ones, alongside increasing blood flow to muscle tissue.
Improved blood flow is offered as the route to the glycogen effect, delivering more glucose to muscle during and after exercise.
Effects on inflammatory markers and on the oxidative stress produced by demanding exercise have also been reported. As with most branded blends, the mechanistic account is broader than the human data supporting it.
What the evidence shows
A small number of trials have reported preserved muscle glycogen, faster glycogen replenishment, reduced markers of muscle damage and improved time to exhaustion.
These trials are small, and essentially all of them are funded by or affiliated with the ingredient's producer. Independent replication is absent.
The senescent cell framing is scientifically fashionable and worth treating carefully, since it borrows credibility from a serious research field to support claims that field has not made about this product. The glycogen findings are the more grounded part of the case.
Dosing
The dose used in the research is 50 mg daily, taken before training.
It appears within pre-workout and recovery formulas rather than being widely sold alone.
As with the other branded ingredients here, its presence in a formula is not a strong reason to choose that product over another. If glycogen and recovery are the goal, adequate carbohydrate intake around training is the intervention with overwhelming evidence behind it.
At a glance
Common forms
Senactiv (within formulas), ActiGin (former name)
Half-life / duration
Not well characterised in humans
Timing
Before training
Competition status
Permitted — not on the WADA Prohibited List
Category
Branded Ingredients
Safety and side effects
Senactiv has been well tolerated in the trials conducted, with few adverse effects reported at the small dose used.
Panax notoginseng may affect how readily blood clots and may influence blood sugar, so those considerations carry over.
Long-term data is limited. Speak to your doctor before use if you take regular medication, particularly anything affecting blood clotting or blood sugar.
Who should avoid it
Speak to your doctor before use if you take regular medication, particularly anything affecting blood clotting or blood sugar. Stop before scheduled surgery. Not established at supplemental doses in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
This entry is provided for information only. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision.
