Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) and LBP combined with tea polyphenols (TP) on relieving the physical fatigue in mice and discuss relevant mechanisms. Methods Three hundreds and thirty-six specific pathogen free (SPF) male KM mice were randomly assigned to four groups and each group was further divided into seven subgroups, i.e. three LBP groups receiving low, medium, and high doses of LBH (LBP-L, LBP-M, and LBP-H groups) and three combination groups receiving low, medium, and high doses of LBP combined with TP, and a normal saline (NS) group as the control group with 12 mice in each group. Mice were gavaged with LBP solution or LBP combined with TP solution at 0.2 mL/10 g body weight daily for 15 d. Then load swimming tests were conducted and biochemical indexes such as hepatic glycogen, serum urea nitrogen, and blood lactic acid were measured. Results LBP-M, LBP-H, C-L, C-M, and C-H groups had prolonged load swimming time (P<0.05) and LBP-L, LBP-M, LBP-H, C-L, C-M, and C-H groups had elevated hepatic glycogen level (P<0.05) and reduced serum urea nitrogen and blood lactic acid levels (P<0.05) as compared with the NS group. The combination groups had prolonged load swimming time, elevated hepatic glycogen level, and reduced serum urea nitrogen and blood lactic acid levels as compared with the LBP group. The hepatic glycogen level in C-L group was significantly higher than that in LBP-L group (P=0.027) and the blood lactic acid level in C-M group was significantly lower than that in LBP-M group (P=0.006). Conclusion LBP and LBP combined with TP can relieve the physical fatigue in mice without affecting the mouse body weight. The mechanism may be associated with increased hepatic glycogen storage, reduced catabolism for proteins, reduced serum urea nitrogen level, increased phosphofructokinase activity, and decreased blood lactic acid level.

Key words: Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, tea polyphenols, compatibility, physical fatigue