• 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 Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2019

Objectives: Cultivated wild ginseng (cWG), called SanYangSanSam, has been used clinically in patients with chronic fatigue in Korea. Little is known about effects of the ginseng distilled (volatile) components produced during evaporizaiton. Recently, we first identified one major component from cWG distilled extract, panaxydol, by using mass spectrometry. However, functional properties of cWG distilled extract and panaxydol remains elusive. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of cWG distilled extract or panaxydol on exercise-induced fatigue in rats. Methods: Fatigue was induced by forced swimming and the immobility time was analyzed in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals received intraperitoneally either vehicle, cWG distilled extract, or panaxydol 10 min prior to beginning of the forced swimming test (FST) once daily for 5 days. After the FST on day 5, we also analyzed fatigue-related biochemical levels including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lactate acid (LAC), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum and levels of glycogen in liver and soleus muscle. Results: The forced swimming time in cWG distilled extract (0.6 mL/kg)-treated group was significantly longer than that of control group on day 4 and 5. Panaxydol (0.1 and 0.25 mg/kg)-treated groups showed significantly enhanced performance in the forced swimming, compared to control. In addition, a significant decrease in serum LDH level was found in panaxydol-treated group, while there were no alternations in levels of serum BUN and LAC and glycogen in liver or soleus muscle. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated cWG distilled extract and its active component panaxydol have a function of anti-fatigue.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.97-105
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• 2024

Objective : This study examined the effects of yaksun recipe on the anti-fatigue and endurance enhancement properties in the forced swimming test (FST). Methods : The treatment groups were divided randomly into three groups: water-treated FST (control), 200 mg/kg of red ginseng-treated FST (RG200), 200 mg/kg of water extract of yaksun recipe-treated FST (YS200). After FST, an autopsy was performed, and the tissue and serum were collected. Results : The swimming exhaustion time in the RG200 and YG200 groups were significantly increased compared to the control group. The YG200 group fatigue indicators, D-Lactate, LDH(lactate dehydrogenase), creatine kinase, and ammonia content, significantly decreased compared to the control group. In addition, liver glycogen content significantly increased in the YG200 and tended to increase in RG200. Likewise, the glucose contents were significantly increased compared to the control group. The muscle damage indicators GPT (glutamic pyruvic transaminase) and BUN (blood urea nitrogen), a protein metabolite, in the YG200 group significantly decreased compared to the control group. Furthermore the concentration of liver lipid peroxidation, MDA(malondialdehyde) levels significantly decreased in the RG200 and YG200 compared to control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that YG200 can increase the endurance exercise capacity by decreasing the fatigue indicators, saving glycogen, and elevating the antioxidant defense system.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2020

The fruit, leaves, and roots of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cough, diarrhea, and itching. However, the anti-fatigue effects of E. multiflora fruit (EMF) extract have not been studied in detail. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of EMF on fatigue and exercise performance in BALB/c mice. EMF was orally administered to mice at four doses (10, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks. The anti-fatigue activity was evaluated by determining the exhaustive swimming time. Blood lactate and glucose levels and serum lactate levels after a 10 min swimming time, as well as ammonia, creatine kinase (CK), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and glycogen contents after exhaustive swimming time were measured. The exhaustive swimming time of the EMF 200 group was significantly increased (p <0.01). The EMF groups showed significantly low levels of CK, BUN, LDH, and lactate compared with the control group (p <0.05). Increased liver glycogen was observed in the EMF 200 group (p <0.05). These results suggest that EMF can be utilized as an efficacious natural resource for its anti-fatigue effects.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.298-313
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of natural compounds in improving athletic ability has attracted attention in both sports and research. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) leaves are used to make traditional herbal medicines in Asia. The active components of G. pentaphyllum, dammarane saponins, or gypenosides, possess a range of biological activities. On the other hand, the anti-fatigue effects from G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and its effective compound, gypenoside L (GL), remain to be determined. MATERIALS/METHODS: This study examined the effects of GPE on fatigue and exercise performance in ICR mice. GPE was administered orally to mice for 6 weeks, with or without treadmill training. The biochemical analysis in serum, glycogen content, mRNA, and protein expressions of the liver and muscle were analyzed. RESULTS: The ExGPE (exercise with 300 mg/kg body weight/day of GPE) mice decreased the fat mass percentage significantly compared to the ExC mice, while the ExGPE showed the greatest lean mass percentage compared to the ExC group. The administration of GPE improved the exercise endurance and capacity in treadmill-trained mice, increased glucose and triglycerides, and decreased the serum creatine kinase and lactate levels after intensive exercise. The muscle glycogen levels were higher in the ExGPE group than the ExC group. GPE increased the level of mitochondrial biogenesis by enhancing the phosphorylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) protein and the mRNA expression of nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial DNA, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ, superoxide dismutase 2, and by decreasing the lactate dehydrogenase B level in the soleus muscle (SOL). GPE also improved PGC-1α activation in the SOL significantly through AMPK/p38 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that GPE supplementation enhances exercise performance and has anti-fatigue activity. In addition, the underlying molecular mechanism was elucidated. Therefore, GPE is a promising candidate for developing functional foods and enhancing the exercise capacity and anti-fatigue activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 1997

The effect of corticosteroid on the diabetic pregnant rats and their fetuses was investigated. Streptozotocin (STB) was injected into the pregnant rats on the fifth day of pregnancy. Dexamethasone (DXM) was injected into the pregnant rats on the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th days of pregnancy In prenatal rats, the body weight, an abortion rate, number of fetus, the ratio of lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) and the levels of blood glucose and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) were determined. In the postnatal rats, the body weight, the levels of blood glucose, fetal number, stillbirth rate, an organ weight and the levels of hepatic glycogen, protein and triglyceride were determined. The body weight of fetuses was lower in the DXM group and higher in the STZ group than the those of control group. Blood glucose of fetuses produced hypoglycemia in the STZ group compared with the control group. A significant increase in the abortion and stillbirth rates was observed in STZ group. The levels of glycogen, protein and triglyceride in fetus liver and the weight of pancreas were significantly increased in the 572 and STZ+DXM groups compared with the control group. The L/S ratio and the level of PG in the amniotic (quid were significantly decreased in STZ group compared with the control group, whereas those of the STZ+DXM group were similar to the control group. It has been observed that corticosteroid administration on the STZ-induced diabetic rats during final stage of pregnancy can prevent the respiratory depression syndrome of neonatal rats.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 1990

This study was designed in order to investigate the effect of copper sulfate to the ultrastructural changes of the hepatocytes in Sprague Dawley rats. The animals were administered with copper sulfate (10mg/kg B.W.), which was dissolved in normal saline. The solution was injected into abdominal cavity every day. The animals were sacrificed at the 6th, 12th, and 24th day from the beginning of administration. The specimens obtained from the liver were observed with electron microscope and significant changes were as follows. 1. A prominent dilatation and disruption of the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum were recognized. Also, the detachment of membrane bound ribosomes was shown. 2. The proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and the depletion of glycogen particles were noted. 3. The increase of primary lysosomes and autophagic vacuoles was obserbed. 4. The dilatation of mitochondrial cristae was obserbed. And it was irregulary scattered in the stroma of mitochondria. 5. The atrophy of microvilli in the bile canaliculi and space of Disse was prominent. 6. Membrane of hepatocytes was damaged and significant hydrophic degeneration was obserbed in the perisinusoidal regions. 7. The damage of Fat-storing cells was more significant than that of hepatocytes.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 1973

The present study is to determine the toxicity of the fungi isolated from foodstuffs by observing the ultrastructural changes in the mouse liver cells. The results as follows: 1. The toxin-producing fungi were screened by the methods of toxin-screening test(cyto-toxicity test against to HeLa cells and thin layer chromatography). 2. All of the experimental animals treated with isolated fungi were observed the focal necrosis and inflammatory infiltration of liver parenchymal cells. 3. It showed the cytoplasmic changes, such as dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), swelling of mitochondria (mi). increased number of lipid droplet (li) and glycogen (gl), detachment of ribosomes (ri) by observing the electron microscopy. 4. Nuclear and nucleolar alteration were also noted the segregation of nucleolar element and irregularity of nuclear envelopes. 5. As a mass screening, the cytotoxicity test using HeLa cells and thin layer chromatography are feasible methods to detection of the mycotoxin producing fungi from various sources.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.923-929
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• 1994

The effects of vitamin B6 deficiency on energy utilization during fasting or underfeeding were studied in rats. Fifteen rats were fed a vitamin B6 deficient(-B6) diet and another 15 rats wee fed a control (+B6) diet. These rats were fed for 5 weeks with respective diet, and then subdivided into 3 groups : non-fasted group, fasted group, underfed group. Rats of the fasted group were fasted for 3 days and those of underfed group for 6 days. At the respective time (non-fast, 3 day-fast, 6 day-underfeed at 5 weeks), animals were sacrificed. Feed efficiency ratio of - B6 rats was significantly lower than that of +B6 rats. In - B6 rats, the liver and kidney weights were significantly heavier than those of +B6 rats but spleen and heart weights were not. In non-fasted group, liver protein and triglyceride level of - B6 rats were significantly higher than that of +B6 rats. After - B6 rats were fasted for 3 days, plasma free fatty acid level was significantly lower but liver glycogen level was higher than that of +B6 rats and muscle protein level of +B6 was decreased while that of - B6 was not changed. Vitamin B6 deficiency had little effect on the energy utilization with 6 days underfeeding. These results suggest that vitamin B6 deficiency may impair the utilization of stored fuel during fasting.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2000

This study evaluates the effect of Dioscorea japonica Thunb subfractions on hyperglycemia and the composition of energy metabolites in diabetic rats. Diabetes emllitus was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by an injection of streptozotocin(STZ) dissolved in a citrate buffer into the tail vein at a dose of 45㎎/㎏ of body weight. Diabetic rats were assigned to 6 groups; STZ-control, subfraction A, B , C, D and E groups. All groups were fed an AIN-76 diet. The second butanol fraction of Dioscorea administered orally with carboxymethyl cellucose for 10 days after the STZ injection Body weight gain, diet intake and organ weights were monitored Levels of hematocrit, blood glucose, liver and muscle glycogen were measured. Levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids were also assayed. Body weight losses were observed by subfraction A group. Liver and kidney weights were not affected in any of the subgractioned groups. The decrease of blood glucose in daibetic rats which were fed Dioscorea japonica Thunb was significantly greater than the dicrease of blood glucose in the STZ-control group. cholesterol plasma level was not influenced in any subfraction of Dioscorea japonica Thunb. Liver triglyceride levels were significantly lowered in subfraction A compared with the STZ-control group. This study's results suggest that oral administration of subfraction C of Dioscorea japonica Thunb frction is capabl of reducing blood glucose, plasma triglyceride and free fatty acid levels, and therefore Dioscorea japonica Thunb may contain antihyperglycemic compounds.