The acute supplementation of combination juice of yellow watermelon (citrullus lanatus thunb.) - plantain (musa paradisiacal var. Sapientum l.) suppress post-exercise blood lactic acid production in rats

Background: Yellow watermelon contains citrulline, which can suppress lactic acid production, while plantains contain potassium which is important for muscle performance. The yellow watermelon and plantain combination juice potential to be a natural sports drink that delays muscle fatigue by suppressing lactic acid production after exercise. Objectives: To determine the effect of yellow watermelon-plantain juice on lactic acid in rats after swimming test. Materials and Methods: This true experimental study used a post-test-only with controlled group design. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats, eight-week-old, male, were divided into five groups, namely positive control (C+), negative control (C-), dose 1 (P1), dose 2 (P2), and dose 3 (P3). The C (+) group received no juice and was not tested swimming, the C (-) group received no juice but was tested swimming, P1 received combined juice up to 1.8 g and tested swimming, P2 received combined juice up to 3, 6 g and tested swimming, P3 received combined juice up to 1.8 g with the addition of 0.27 g granulated sugar and tested swimming. The juice is given 30 minutes before the test. The swim test was performed for three minutes; after that, the blood was taken to test the lactic acid levels. The data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA and the advanced post-hoc with the least significant difference test. Results: The lactic acid levels in C (+), in C (-), P1, P2, and P3 groups after swimming test were 1.38 mMol / L; 7.14 mMol / L; 3.74 mMol / L; 1.66 mMol; and 2.91 mMol/L. There were differences in levels of lactic acid (p <0.05) in each group after the combination juice intervention was given. Conclusion: Combination juice of yellow watermelon-plantain has an effect on lactic acid levels after swimming test. Dose 2 (3.6 g) was the best because it produces the lowest lactic acid after the swimming test.