Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of ashitaba chalcone on enhancing immune function and relieving fatigue in overtrained mice. Methods: A mouse model of overtraining was established using male ICR mice subjected to 8-week treadmill training. The overtrained mice were divided into four groups with five small groups of 10 animals each: low-dose (160 mg/kg), middle-dose (320 mg/kg), high-dose (800 mg/kg), model control and positive control (200 mg/kg of Herba Rhodiolae-American ginseng capsule) groups. Ashaba chalcone was gavaged to the animals. The anti-fatigue effect of ashaba chalcone in overtrained mice was investigated by measuring related parameters, and we also evaluated the effect on immune function in terms of humoral immune parameters, cellular immune parameters, monocyte/macrophage functions and natural killer cell activity. Results: Compared with the overtraining group, the contents of muscle glycogen and hepatic glycogen significantly increased in the middle- and high-dose groups (P < 0.05), and serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and blood urea nitrogen decreased (P < 0.05). Ashitaba chalcone at the middle and high doses could promote the proliferation of antibody-producing cells, the activity of natural killer cells, and the proliferation and transformation of mouse spleen lymphocytes. Conclusion: Ashitaba chalcone effectively ameliorates exercise-induced fatigue and enhances immune function.

Key words: ashitaba chalcone, overtraining, immunity, anti-athletic fatigue