Sarcopenia- or cachexia-related muscle atrophy is due to imbalanced energy metabolism and oxidative stress-induced muscle dysfunction. Monoterpenes play biological and pharmacological reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging roles. Hence, we explored the effects of camphene, a bicyclic monoterpene, on skeletal muscle atrophy in vitro and in vivo. We treated L6 myoblast cells with camphene and then examined the ROS-related oxidative stress using Mito Tracker^TM Red FM and anti-8-oxoguanine antibody staining. To investigate lipid metabolism, we performed real-time polymerase chain reactions, holotomographic microscopy, and respiratory gas analysis. Rat muscle atrophy in in vivo models was observed using ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and immunocytochemistry. Camphene reversed the aberrant cell size and muscle morphology of L6 myoblasts under starvation and in in vivo models. Camphene also attenuated E3 ubiquitin ligase muscle RING-finger protein-1, mitochondrial fission, and 8-oxoguanine nuclear expression in starved myotubes and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-treated cells. Moreover, camphene significantly regulated lipid metabolism in H₂O₂-treated cells and in vivo models. These findings suggest that camphene may potentially affect skeletal muscle atrophy by regulating oxidative stress and lipid metabolism.

Lee KP, et al. Nutr Res Pract. 2014 Jun;8(3):267-271. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2014.8.3.267