Abstract

In this study, the radical scavenging properties and the anti-fatigue activity of Wu-Wei-Zi aqueous extracts (WAE) were evaluated, respectively. Forced swimming exercise of mice was carried out after 4 weeks of WAE administration and biochemical parameters related to fatigue, such as blood lactic acid (BLA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hepatic glycogen (HG), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) contents were determined. Results showed that WAE had strong scavenging activity to superoxide anion and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. And it had significant anti-fatigue activity, which could not only increase the hepatic glycogen, SOD and GPX contents but also extend the swimming time of the mice. It indicated that WAE is worthy of further study.

Key words: Scavenging, anti-fatigue, Wu-Wei-Zi, mice.