Abstract:

Figwort root, the dried root of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl, is a traditional Chinese medicinal material, which has been widely used for clinical purposes due to its functions of cooling blood, nourishing Yin, purging pathogenic fire and detoxicating. This study aimed at making clear whether the polysaccharide from figwort root has antifatigue effect. A total of 90 Kunming male mice were randomly divided into five groups: sedentary control group of 10 mice, swimming control group of 20 mice orally administered with normal saline, and three swimming model groups of 20 mice each orally administered with high, medium and low doses of the polysaccharide from figwort root, respectively. After 30 min weight-loaded swimming training every day for three weeks, the exhaustive swimming time of mice was measure and the blood sugar, muscle glycogen, liver glycogen and blood lactic acid were assayed. Obvious increases in the contents of muscle glycogen and liver glycogen were observed in medium and low-dose polysaccharide-administered swimming model mice in comparison with swimming control group, accompanied with sharp reduction of accumulation of the blood lactic acid and marked prolongation of the exhaustive swimming time, but the blood sugar remained constant. This study showed that the polysaccharide from figwort root has a certain antifatigue effect.

Key words: polysaccharide from roots of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hems, mouse, swimming, exthaustive time, glycogen stockpile