Abstract:

Objective To discuss the anti-fatigue effect of Wujia Shengmai Yin，and to clarify its mechanism. Methods Thirty-six male ICR mice were randomly devided into control group （equivalent volume of distilled water）， Shengmai Yin group （500 mg·kg?1 of Shengmai Yin）， and Wujia Shengmai Yin group （600 mg·kg?1 of Wujia Shengmai Yin）. The body weights of the mice in various groups were detected every 7 d， and the mental states were observed. The rotating rod test and exhaustive swimming test were used to detect the duration on the rod and the swimming time to exhaustion of the mice in various groups， respectively；the levels of urea nitrogen （BUN） and lactate （LA）， and the activities of lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） in serum， the levels of liver glycogen （LG）， muscle glycogen （MG）， and malondialdehyde （MDA）， and activities of glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） in muscle tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by kits； the expression levels of glucose metabolism-related proteins in liver tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by Western blotting method. Results Compared with before experiment， the body weights after experiment of the mice in various groups showed a increasing trend but the differences were not statistically significant （P>0.05）. The rotating rod test results showed that compared with control group， the duration on the rod of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The exhaustive swimming test results showed that compared with control group， the swimming time to exhaustion of the mice in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with control group， the levels of BUN in serum of the mice in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and the activities of LDH were significantly increased （P<0.01）； the level of LA of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group was significantly decreased（P<0.01）. Compared with Shengmai Yin group，the levels of BUN and LA in the serum and LDH activity of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with control group， the levels of LG in liver tissue and the levels of MG in muscle tissue of the mice in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly increased （P<0.01）； compared with Shengmai Yin group， the level of LG in liver tissue and the level of MG in muscle tissue of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group were increased （P<0.01）. Compared with control group， the activities of GSH-Px and SOD in muscle tissue of the mice in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly increased， and the levels of MDA in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group was significantly decreased （P<0.01）； compared with Shengmai Yin group， the activities of GSH-Px and SOD in muscle tissue of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly increased and the level of MDA was decreased （P<0.01）. The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group， the expression levels of phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase （p-PI3K）， phosphorylated protein kinase B （p-AKT）， phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta （p-GSK3β）， and glycogen synthase （GS） proteins in liver tissue of the mice in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly increased （P<0.05 or P<0.01）； compared with Shengmai Yin group， the expression levels of p-PI3K， p-AKT， p-GSK3β， and GS proteins in liver tissue of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly increased（P<0.01）. Conclusion Wujia Shengmai Yin enhances the anti-fatigue effect by activating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （AKT）/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta （GSK3β） signaling pathways， and improves the body’s antioxidant capacity， and increases the glycogen synthesis.

Key words: Wujia Shengmai Yin, Oxidative stress, Anti-fatigue, Glycometabolism, Urea nitrogen, Lactate