To investigate the antifatigue effect and mechanism of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra aqueous extract on mice after exercise.

The aqueous extract of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra was acquired by water extraction and concentration, and the aqueous extract 1 ml was equivalent to raw material 0.022 g. The mice were randomly divided into blank control group, low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra aqueous extract, 12 mice in each group. In the low, medium and high dose groups of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra aqueous extract, 15, 30 and 45 ml/kg of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra aqueous extract were given by gavage, and the blank control group was given an equal volume of distilled water once a day. After intragastric infusion for 30 consecutive days, the antifatigue effect and mechanism of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra was evaluated by load swimming time, ATPase activity in muscle tissue, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level, the content of serum urea nitrogen and hepatic glycongen content, activity of serum lactate dehydrogenase and blood lactic acid content of the mice after exercise.

Compared with the blank control group, the load swimming time (661.35 ± 245.62 s vs. 412.23 ± 141.35 s) of the high dose group was significantly prolonged (P<0.05); Na⁺ -K⁺ -ATPase (4.73 ± 1.21 U/mg vs. 3.43 ± 1.07 U/mg) and Ca²⁺ -Mg²⁺ - ATPase activity (4.87 ± 1.54 U/mg vs. 3.98 ± 1.12 U/mg) in muscle tissues of the high dose group were both significantly increased (P<0.05); serum SOD level (102.54 ± 18.73 U/mlvs. 70.37 ± 8.69 U/ml) in high dose group was increased (P<0.05), and MDA level (8.36 ± 0.55 nmol/mlvs. 15.73 ± 1.18 nmol/ml) was decreased (P<0.05); serum lactate dehydrogenase activity (5 718.72 ± 716.35 U/Lvs. 4 824.91 ± 532.67 U/L) of the high dose group was increased (P<0.05), and hepatic glycogen content [(6 149.74 ± 1 236.65) mg/100 gvs. (4 696.27 ± 555.63) mg/100 g] of the high dose group was increased (P<0.05); the content of blood lactic acid (1.86 ± 0.52 mmol/L, 1.78 ± 0.46 mmol/Lvs. 2.89 ± 1.44 mmol/L) in the medium and high dose group were both significantly reduced (P<0.05) , and the area under the blood lactate curve (89.79 ± 17.81, 84.83 ± 14.87vs. 105.25 ± 22.44) were also significantly reduced (P<0.05).

Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra aqueous extract could prolong the load swimming time, increase liver glycogen accumulation, reduce blood lactic acid content, and enhance the ability to adapt the exercise load through anti-oxidation function.

Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra; Fatigue; ATPase; Liver glycogen; Lactic acid; Antioxidants (TCD); Mice