Abstract:

Purpose: To observe changes in hepatic and mitochondrial biochemical parameters in rats previously undergoing
exhaustive exercise after 0 and 24 hours of recovery, and subsequently to explore the biological mechanisms of orally administered
gromwell root extract (GRE) for protecting the liver, improving exercise performance, mitigating exercise fatigue and accelerating
recovery from fatigue in rats. Methods: Totally 40 rats were divided into 5 groups including exercise control group (group A),
exhaustive exercise group (group B), exhaustive exercise followed by 24 h recovery group (group C), exhaustive exercise with
GRE treatment group (group D), exhaustive exercise followed by 24 h recovery group with GRE treatment (group E). The rats
from each group were subjected to exercise training for 6 weeks. On the last day of the experimental period, the rats from group A
(without exercise training), B and D (immediately after exercise training) were sacrificed, while those from group C and E were
sacrificed at 24 h after exercise training, and samples were collected for the measurement of biochemical parameters. Results: After
the exhaustive exercise, the antioxidant capacity of hepatic tissue (P < 0.05), the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the
content of NO in hepatic tissue (P < 0.01), and the activities of Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase in hepatic mitochondria
were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), but these indicators were not significantly restored after subsequent recovery for 24 hours.
Compared with group B, the antioxidant capacity of hepatic tissue in rats receiving oral administration of GRE was significantly
improved (P < 0.05), and NOS activity, NO content and the activities of Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase in hepatic
mitochondria were also enhanced significantly (P < 0.05); after 24 hours of recovery, these indicators were restored to the basal
levels. Conclusion: Oral supplementation of gromwell root extract can regulate the balance of NO generation, improve the balance
of free radical metabolism, protect the activities and functions of ionic pumps, prolong the exhaustive time of endurance-trained
rats, and enhance functional recovery from exercise fatigue.

Key words: gromwell extract, hepatoprotection, anti-fatigue