• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hot water extract of peduncle obtained from Hovenia dulcis Thunb (HD) which is commercially developed for the protective effect on the alcoholic hepatotoxicity, on the endurance capacity for weight loaded forced swimming mice. The swimming times to exhaustion in mice fed 100 and 200 mg/kg HD for 2 weeks were prolonged 3.6 and 3.7 fold, and for 4 weeks 1.9 and 2.7 fold compared with each vehicle control ($42.8{\pm}20.5$ min and $67.7{\pm}47.8$ min, for 2 and 4 weeks), respectively. Blood biochemical parameters for ALT, AST, creatinine and BUN were not significantly different between from HD fed or control mice. Although HD fed mice swam over 2 fold longer time than vehicle control mice at 4 weeks, blood biomarkers of physical fatigue such as glucose, triglyceride and free fatty acid, lactate were not significant different and even tended to ameliorate. Hepatic lipid peroxidation and SOD activity did not significantly change in HD fed- and vehicle control exhausted swimming mice at 2 or 4 weeks. However, catalase activity in HD-fed mice was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner compared with vehicle control mice. The present study indicates that HD improved physical fatigue and exercise performance in mice. Therefore, it has a potential for the pharmacological effect of anti-fatigue.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.271-280
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• 2018

Background: Astragalus membranaceus is a well known oriental medicinal herb. The polysaccharides of the aboveground parts (AMA) and the radix (AMR) of A. membranaceus are the most important functional constituents. Methods and Results: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of AMA and AMR on the oxidative damage induced in the skeletal muscle of rats subjected to exhaustive exercise. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into exercise and non-exercise groups; in the groups receiving the test compounds, AMA and AMR were administered orally for 30 days. Skeletal muscle samples were collected from each rat after running to exhaustion on a treadmill to determine the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) and the concentation of malondialdehyde (MDA). The antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD and GSH-Px of skeletal muscle of AMA- and AMR-treated groups were significantly higher than those of the control and commercial sports drink (SPD)-treated groups in exhaustive exercise rats. In addition, MDA concentrations in the skeletal muscle of the AMA- and AMR-treated groups were significantly lower than those of the control and SPD-treated groups. In the present study, the effects of AMA and AMR on exercise endurance capacity were also evaluated in mice subjected to a swimming exercise test. AMA and AMR supplementation prolonged the swimming time of mice and enhanced exercise endurance capacity. AMA and AMR possess the ability to retard and lower the production of blood lactate, and prevent the decrease of serum blood glucose. Conclusions: These results showed that, AMR and AMA exerted beneficial effect in mice, increasing the activity of the antioxidant systems and inhibiting oxidative stress induced by exhaustive exercise. The compounds improved exercise performance and showed anti-fatigue effects against exhaustive exercise.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.191-199
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• 2010

Acanthopanax Koreanum stem (AK) has been used in Korea as a tonic and sedative as well as a drug with ginseng like activities. The purpose of our present study was to investigate the effects of AK extract (AKE) and Eleutheroside E, major component of AKE on an exacerbated immune function through utilization of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) diet by using forced swimming test (FST). The immobility time were significantly decreased in the AKE or Eleutheroside E-administrated group compared with the control group on the FST (P < 0.05). The level of blood parameters were not changed significantly. PEM-induced weight loss of mice was reduced by oral administration of 500 mg/kg AKE. AKE oral administration improved the nutritional status such as the food efficiency ratio and the adrenal gland weight. AKE treatment significantly increased the production of interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ compared with unstimulated splenocytes but not interleukin (IL)-4. Eleutheroside E also significantly increased the IFN-$\gamma$ production but not IL-2 and IL-4 in T cell line, MOLT-4 cells. These results suggest that AKE and Eleutheroside E may influence to immune-enhancing through increasing the physical endurance capacity and immune cell activation.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.602-609
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• 2015

The aim of this document is to evaluate the effect of bite balance on physical fitness and motor capacity to determine the importance of the occlusal stability as a possible action mechanism of occlusal appliance including mouthguards on physical performances. We all remember that day when the prominent athlete was in the news wearing a mouthguard to improve human athletic performance. I once had investigated the determinants of athletic performance in all sorts of sports. Most of the studies had overinterpretation of results and lack of evidence to support the information. However, I discovered great expectations for new possibility in this field and settled for a more academic approach to this intriguing subject. The followings are some examples of the subject 1. Archers who wore occlusal appliances to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion by 2~3mm increased their ability to focus and to maintain good sense of balance. Their accuracy rate has been improved. The appliance was made of acrylic resin (a type of plastic). 2. Canoe players who wore occlusal appliances to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion by 5mm surpassed longtime competitor and won the race with 10 seconds gap. 3. A cycle rider who wore an occlusal appliance to treat his malocclusion surpassed his old record from 10.8 seconds to 10.3 seconds. His muscle reflexes (anaerobic exercise) and endurance (aerobic exercise) has been enhanced. 4. Occlusal appliances had a good effect on athletic performance in most sports such as swimming, diving, and weightlifting. As for the clenching on dentition, people clench their teeth when they push their physical and mental limits during sports activities. Clenching can be induced by physical exertion when maximum muscle strength is retained and this is similarly found in different types of exercises. In addition, restraint of respiratory function is observed. Therefore, creating a occlusal balance with occlusal appliance or mouthguard promoted a favorable influence when an athlete clenches.