Abstract:

To explore the anti-fatigue effect of Juglans mandshurica Maxim kernel protein isolate (JMKP), weight-loaded
swimming test of mice was carried out and exhaustive swimming time as an indicator of fatigue, blood lactate (BLA)
content, hepatic glycogen (HG) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase
(GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined. The results showed the exhaustive
swimming time of mice gavaged for 2 weeks with JMKP at high dose increased by 38.66% compared with controls, and
4-week administration at low, medium and high doses resulted in a 24.10%, 42.17% and 64.46% compared with controls,
respectively. The BLA content of mice in the high-dose JMKP group administered for 2 weeks decreased by 21.44%, and
that of mice from the medium-dose and high-dose JMKP groups administered for 4 weeks decrease by 13.02% and 23.48%,
respectively, compared with controls. The GLU content of mice from the medium-dose and high-dose JMKP groups
administered for 2 and 4 weeks increased by 15.41%–16.29% and 18.35%–20.81%, respectively compared with controls.
High-dose administration of JMKP for 2 and 4 weeks led to a 20.41% and 28.59% in serum MDA content, respectively. The
levels of GSH-Px, CAT and SOD activity could be significantly improved by JMKP administration, especially for 4-week
high-dose JMKP compared with controls (P < 0.01). Therefore, JMKP could evidently alleviate physical fatigue in mice.

Key words: Juglans mandshurica Maxim, protein isolate, in vivo tests, fatigue relief, antioxidant activity