Hesperetin but not ellagic acid increases myosin heavy chain expression and cell fusion in C2C12 myoblasts in the presence of oxidative stress.

Introduction: Skeletal muscle regeneration is impaired in elderly. An oxidative stress-induced decrease in differentiation capacity of muscle satellite cells is a key factor in this process. The aim of this study is to investigate whether orange polyphenol hesperetin and pomegranate polyphenol ellagic acid enhance myoblast differentiation in the presence and absence of oxidative stress, and to explore underlying mechanisms.