Protective Effect of Toraja Robusta Coffee (Coffee cane-Nora) against Muscle Damage Due to Exercise on Balb/C Mice

Excessive physical activity can increase oxidative stress, and oxidative stress has been identified as the primary cause of exercise-induced muscle damage. Coffee is a natural product that contains antioxidants that can mitigate oxidative stress. The study was aimed to test the protective effects of Toraja Robusta coffee against muscle damage, measured through Skeletal muscle Troponin I (sTnI) serum level, muscle histology, and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. Twenty-four 8-week-old mice with an approximate weight of 20 grams were randomly assigned into four groups: the Toraja robusta coffee treatment group and three control groups: normal, placebo, and N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) control groups. The results of this study showed that the sTnI levels in the blood serum of the coffee treatment group were significantly lower compared to the NAC control group (p = 0.017) and the placebo control group (p= 0.024) but not significantly different from the normal control group (p = 0.915) (p < 0.05). The activity of GPx was higher in the coffee and NAC-treated groups compared with the placebo group (p = 0.004). This study concluded that Toraja robusta coffee protects muscles against damage, which is characterised by low serum levels of sTnI. Additional research is needed to elucidate the mechanism(s) of skeletal muscle protection by coffee intake and its potential to prevent other health issues.