Rule 1 – Pre LIFT
Dr Francesca Alves, PhD
When it comes to pre-workout supplements, what's in the mix can make all the difference between smashing personal bests or fizzling out before the finish line. But with so many ingredients listed on the label, often with names of patented compounds, it can be hard to know what's really worth the hype. Rule 1’s latest Pre LIFT has over 20 active compounds, including the pre-workout classics like caffeine, L-citrulline, and an electrolyte blend. In this article, we'll shed light on Senactiv®—one of the patented compounds that gives Rule One Pre LIFT an added edge.
Senactiv® (Panax notoginseng Extract, Rosa roxburghii Extract)
Senactiv® claims to be the first senolytic sportsceutical. Senolytics are a category of drugs that reduce the impact of cellular senescence [1]. But what exactly is cellular senescence? Cellular senescence in skeletal muscle is a process where muscle cells (myocytes) stop dividing and regenerating. This usually happens as a response to age-related damage or stress. When these cells enter this "senescent" state, they can no longer repair themselves or grow, leading to muscle wastage. Additionally, senescent cells are associated with increased chronic inflammation and reduced energy capacity [2, 3] —key factors that diminish exercise performance and recovery. These senescent cells are not just taking up space; they are actively producing harmful products that can compromise the overall function of the muscle. Think of them as a freeloading housemate who leaves the dishes to pile up—the best strategy is to clear them out! Thankfully, scientific research has shown that treatment with a senolytic can reverse the molecular signs of senescence and increase muscle strength [4].
At this point, it's important to note that "aging" and muscle wasting don't suddenly happen at a certain age. In fact, some studies report that age-related decline in muscle strength can start as early as the third decade of life [5]. Since most 30-year-olds are probably not considering senescence as a roadblock to building and maintaining muscle mass, Rule 1 decided to do everyone a favour by sneaking Senactiv®, a senolytic compound, into their latest pre-workout, Rule 1 Pre LIFT.
Senactiv® incorporates both Panax notoginseng Extract and Rosa roxburghii Extract to help activate the body’s pathways to clear senescent cells, allowing for new muscle cell generation. Ginseng and the Rosa roxburghii fruit have been alleged to have performance-enhancing properties for thousands of years [6-8]. Senactiv® data shows that its consumption leads to increased senescent cell clearance, increased activation of muscle stem cells, decreased inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, increased mitochondrial activity, and improved glycogen recovery [9]. As a result, Rule 1 Pre LIFT goes above and beyond a simple caffeine burst and muscle pump, making it especially recommended for athletes and gym-goers over 30 years old—or anyone wanting to kick-start the fight against age-related muscle loss!

References
1. Power, H., et al., Strategies for senolytic drug discovery.Aging Cell, 2023. 22(10): p. e13948.
2. Kirkland, J.L. and T. Tchkonia, Senolytic drugs: from discovery to translation. J Intern Med, 2020. 288(5): p. 518-536.
3. Hernandez-Segura, A., J. Nehme, and M. Demaria, Hallmarks of Cellular Senescence. Trends Cell Biol, 2018. 28(6): p. 436-453.
4. Zhang, X., et al., Characterization of cellular senescence in aging skeletal muscle. Nature Aging, 2022. 2(7): p. 601-615.
5. Janssen, I., et al., Skeletal muscle mass and distribution in 468 men and women aged 18-88 yr. J Appl Physiol (1985), 2000. 89(1): p. 81-8.
6. Xu, J., et al., Nutritional constituents, health benefits and processing of Rosa Roxburghii: A review. Journal of Functional Foods, 2019. 60: p. 103456.
7. Bucci, L.R., Selected herbals and human exercise performance. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2000. 72(2): p. 624S-636S.
8. ENGELS, H.-J., et al., Effects of ginseng supplementation on supramaximal exercise performance and short-term recovery. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2001. 15(3): p. 290-295.