• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.231-235
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• 1984

Active principles for the anti-fatigue activity of Panax ginseng were studied in mice using the swimming performance method. Ginseng water extract maximized the prolongation of swimming time 18 hours after administration. The potencies of anti-fatigue activities were found as in the order of ether soluble fraction and butanol soluble fraction as those of antioxidant activities previously determined. The anti-oxidant components, maltol, salicylic acid and vanillic acid isolated from the ether soluble fraction of Panax ginseng strongly exhibited the antifatigue activities, where as highly purified crystalline ginsenoside $4Rb_1$, Re and $4Rg_1$ did not.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.328-332
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• 2002

Cordyceps is reputed for its broad biological activities and as a tonic for replenishing vital function in Chinese traditional medicines. As an attempt to obtain fundamental data for the development of new type Cordyceps, the effects of the fruiting bodies of cultivated fungus of Paecilomyces japonica grown on silkworm larvae on fatigue and hematotoxicity were investigated. The antifatigue activity of dongchongxiacao (Paecilomyces japonica) was studied in mice using weight loaded forced swimming performance method. The water extract of dongchongxiacao(25 mg/kg of body weight, intraperitoneal injection at 12 and 36 hours before irradiation and 30 minute and 24 hours after irradiation) showed a significant antifatigue effect in normal mice and radiation-induced fatigue mice (p<0.0005). In the experiment on the improvement of hematotoxicity, a significant difference from the irradiated controls was seen at day 3 of the group treated with dongchongxiacao and substantial differences from the irradiated controls at day 7 was also detected.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1993.09a
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• pp.164-170
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• 1993

Panax ginseng has been reported to protect animals or to help them recover from physical, chemical, or biological stress. The antistress effects of ginseng were evaluated through the measurement of adrenal ascorbic acid, rectal temperature, and plasma level of glucose. lipids and corticosterone. During the treadmill experiments of the antifatigue study, the groups of rats receiving P. ginseng or P. quinquefolius extracts were consistently found to leave fewer fecal boli on the wheel compared with controls. This phenomenon may be due to the reported antistress effects of ginseng. Another possibility could be that the Panax species examined produced anticholinergic effects which in turn inhibited the production of fecal boli. After an anticholinergic study. employing physostigmine and atropine as controls, anticholinergic effect was found not essential for the decrease of fecal boli number left on the wheels during antifatigue studies. The results were consistent with the antistress activity reported previously. Even though the active constituents responsible for the antistress effects of ginseng remained to be determined, the fecal boli counts for stressed rats can be employed as a new protocol for evaluating the antistress effects of ginseng.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Ginseng extract (GSE) and taurine (TR) are widely used antifatigue resources in functional foods. However, the mechanism underlying the antifatigue effects of GSE and TR are still unclear. Hence, we investigated whether GSE and TR have synergistic effects against fatigue in mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: L6 cells were treated with different concentrations of TR and GSE, and cell viability was determined using 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium. Oxidative stress was analyzed by immunocytochemistry using MitoTracker^TM Red FM and an anti-8-oxoguanine antibody. Respiratory gas analysis was performed to investigate metabolism. Expression of an activated protein kinase was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Gene expression of cluster of differentiation 36 and pyruvate dehydrogenase lipoamide kinase isozyme 4 was measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Mice were orally administered TR, GSE, or their combination for 30 days, and then fatigue-related parameters, including lactate, blood urea nitrogen, and glycogen, were measured after forced swimming. RESULTS: TR and GSE reduced oxidative stress levels in hydrogen peroxide-stimulated L6 cells and enhanced the oxygen uptake and lipid metabolism in mice after acute exercise. After oral administration of TR or GSE for 30 days, the fatigue-related parameters did not change in mice. However, the mice administered GSE (400 mg/kg/day) alone for 30 days could swim longer than those from the other groups. Further, no synergistic effect was observed after the swimming exercise in mice treated with the TR and GSE combination for 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data suggest that TR and GSE may exert antifatigue effects in mice after acute exercise by enhancing oxygen uptake and lipid oxidation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 1993

We have examined the functional role of central dopaminergic processes on the behavioral pharmacological effects induced by psychotropics and red ginseng saponins of normal rats and compared with that of brain damaged rats. Desipramine and clomipramine produced, a significant depression of the locomotor activity in normal rats, but in brain damaged rats, they did not have any effect throughout the experimental period of 4 hours. Total saponin (50~200 mg/kg), PT (25~50 mg/kg), PD (25~50 mg/kg), $Rg_1$(12.5~25 mg/kg), $Rb_1$ (12.5~50 mg/kg) did not change, and high concentrations of PT (100 mg/kg), PD (100 mg/kg) and $Rg_1$ (50 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in the locomotor activity of one hour after administration but total saponin (100 mg/kg), PD (25~50 mg/kg), Rgl (12.5 mg/kg), $Rb_1$ (12.5 mg/kg) markedly increased the locomotor activity of four hour after administration in normal rats. On the other hand, total saponin (50 mg/kg), PT (100 mg/kg) and PD (100 mg/kg) Produced a prominent stimulation of the locomotor activity in brain damaged rats. These results suggest that the inhibition of the locomotor activity induced by antidepressants was not affected by the sensitivity of cerebral DA system, whereas red ginseng saponin showed antifatigue effect and also the stimulation of the locomotor activity induced by red ginseng saponin was mediated by the inhibition of cerebral DA system. These psychotropic action of red ginseng saponins could be responsible for the beneficial effects on conditions of fatigue and decreased alertness.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.129-137
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• 2020

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Ultrasonication-Assisted (UA) extraction on the functionality of the herbaceous biennial plant maca (Lepidium meyenii). The specific objectives include comparison of the antioxidant activities among various maca extracts, determination of the macamide B content of the extracts, and in vitro evaluation of maca on cell viability and creatine kinase (CK) activity. The antioxidant activities of the water, ethanol, and UA extracts were compared by determining the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the extracts. The macamide B content of maca extracts were analyzed by HPLC. The effects of the extracts on muscle cell viability and creatine kinase activity were also determined using C2C12 myoblasts. UA extraction significantly increased the total phenolic content (2.90 GAE ㎍/mg, p < 0.05), without affecting the flavonoid content. DPPH radical scavenging activity did not exhibit any statistical difference among the extracts. The ethanol and UA extracts exhibited significantly higher FRAP than the water extract (p < 0.05). The macamide B content of ethanol and UA extracts were 0.087 and 0.083 ㎍/mg, respectively. The water and UA extracts exhibited higher C2C12 muscle cell viability than the ethanol extract, and both extracts resulted in a significantly lower CK level than the H₂O₂-treated control group. This research suggests that the maca extract can protect muscle cells and serve as an antifatigue agent under oxidative stress conditions.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of LAB (Lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Streptococcus thermophilus) on detoxication of damaged liver in carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) and ethanol (25%)-treated rats. Rats had been daily (twice a day) pre-treated with saline (0.5 ml/kg: untreated group), $CCl_4$ (0.5 ml/kg: other groups) for 6 days. At seventh day, after treating rat with $CCl_4$ and then, mixture of LAB ($10^{11}$/0.5 ml: LAB group), saline (0.5 ml/kg: untreated group, $CCl_4$ group), and biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) (50 mg/kg: DDB group) were treated orally with $CCl_4$ for 8 days. Ethanol is treated as the same manner instead of $CCl_4$. To investigate the hepatoprotective effect, rats treated with $CCl_4$ and ethanol were analyzed with serum GOT and GPT level. The GOT and GPT levels of LAB group was lower than the level of $CCl_4$ and DDB group. Especially, compared with data of $CCl_4$ group, GPT activity showed statistically significant result in the significance level of p < 0.05. The LAB group treated with ethanol also showed lower level of GOT and GPT than the other control groups treated with ethanol. The triglyceride level of serum decreased more in a group treated special materials (DDB and LAB group) than ethanol group. As well, the effect of LAB on the antifatigue has been investigated. The animals (10/group) were divided into 4 groups (untreated group, Carrier group, Red-ginseng group, LAB group). Each group was given carrier (0.9 mg/0.2 ml), red ginseng extract (200 mg/kg), and mixture of LAB ($10^{11}$/0.2 ml). Special materials were given for three weeks. After finishing treating through oral, horizontal wire test, rotarod test, and forced swimming test were performed. The time of resistance to fatigue of the group, fed with mixture of LAB, was longer than the time when mice treated with red-ginseng that the effect was already revealed. The result of this study revealed that LAB could decrease hepatocelluar injury compared with rats treated orally with $CCl_4$ and ethanol, and could also decrease fatigue.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2016

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a well-known natural product with anticarcinogenic and antioxidant effects. We evaluated the antifatigue effect of KRG in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: Eighty patients with NAFLD were prospectively randomized to receive 3 wk of KRG or placebo in addition to counseling on healthy eating and regular exercise. Liver function test, proinflammatory cytokines, adiponectin, antioxidant activity, and fatigue score were measured and compared according to the body mass index between the KRG and placebo groups. Results: The liver function tests were significantly improved after 3 wk of treatment in both groups. The mean levels (at baseline and after treatment) of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ were $108.0pg/mL{\pm}54.8pg/mL$ and $92.7pg/mL{\pm}39.0pg/mL$ (p = 0.018) in the KRG group and $123.1pg/mL{\pm}42.1pg/mL$ and $127.5pg/mL{\pm}62.2pg/mL$ (p = 0.694) in the placebo group, respectively. There was a significant difference in change of adiponectin levels between the KRG ($7,751.2pg/mL{\pm}3,108.1pg/mL$ and $8,197.3pg/mL{\pm}2,714.5pg/mL$) and placebo groups ($7,711.6pg/mL{\pm}3,041.3pg/mL$ and $7,286.1pg/mL{\pm}5,188.7pg/mL$, p = 0.027). In patients with overweight, the fatigue score was significantly decreased in the KRG group ($35.0{\pm}13.2$ and $24.5{\pm}8.9$, p = 0.019). Conclusion: Our results show that KRG might be effective in reducing proinflammatory cytokine and fatigue in overweight patients with NAFLD, in addition to improvements in adiponectin levels.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2000

Cordyceps is reputed for its broad biological activities and as a tonic for replenishing vital function in Chinese traditional medicines. As an attempt to obtain fundamental data for the development of a new type Cordyceps, the effects of the fruiting bodies of cultivated fungus of Paecilomyces japonica grown on silkworm larvae on hyperglycemia induced by streptozotocin(STZ) and by epinephrine in rats and in mice as well as on immunological functions in mice were investigated. The 70% methanol extract of the fungus, when administered orally at 100 and 300 mg/kg in STZ-induced hyperglycemic rats, caused a significant decrease in blood glucose level 3hr after sample treatments. The methanol extract, when administered p.o. at the same dose levels in epinephrine-induced hyperglycemic mice, also caused a significant decrease in serum glucose levels as well as a significant reversal of the liver glycogen contents suggesting its hypoglycemic activity might be due to glycogen breakdown in the liver. Treatment of normoglycaemic mice with the methanol extract of the fungus exhibited a significant glucose tolerance up to 3hr after oral glucose load(2.0 g/kg). The methanol extract also showed immuno-stimulating activity as measured by carbon clearance in mice and a significant antifatigue effect as measured by weight loaded forced swimming performance in mice.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.201-208
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• 2017

Background: Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv. or Vietnamese ginseng (VG) is a recently discovered ginseng species. Studies on its chemical constituents have shown that VG is remarkably rich in ginseng saponins, particularly ocotillol saponins. However, the psychopharmacological effects of VG have not been characterized. Thus, in the present study we screened the psychopharmacological activities of VG in mice. Methods: VG extract (VGE) was orally administered to mice at various dosages to evaluate its psychomotor (open-field and rota-rod tests), sedative-hypnotic (pentobarbital-induced sleeping test), anti-stress (cold swimming test), anxiolytic (elevated plus-maze test), and cognitive (Y-maze and passive-avoidance tests) effects. Results: VGE treatment increased the spontaneous locomotor activity, enhanced the endurance to stress, reduced the anxiety-like behavior, and ameliorated the scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice. In addition, VGE treatment did not alter the motor balance and coordination of mice and did not potentiate pentobarbital-induced sleep, indicating that VGE has no sedative-hypnotic effects. The effects of VGE were comparable to those of the Korean Red Ginseng extract. Conclusion: VG, like other ginseng products, has significant and potentially useful psychopharmacological effects. This includes, but is not limited to, psychomotor stimulation, anxiolytic, antistress, and memory enhancing effects.