Full Length Research Paper

Effects of Gypenosides from Gynostemma pentaphyllum supplementation on exercise-induced fatigue in mice

Yong-jiang Ding¹*, Ke-ji Tang², Feng-lin Li³ and Qing-lan Hu⁴

¹Top Vocational Institute of Information and Technology of Shaoxing, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, 312000, People’s Republic of China.

²Dezhou University, Dezhou, Shandong Province 253023, People’s Republic of China.

³Department of Bioengineering, Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology College, Jilin , Jilin Province 132101, People’s Republic of China.

⁴Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan Province, 650224, People’s Republic of China.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: dyj101082@hotmail.com.

Tel /Fax: +86-0575-88054011.

Accepted 15 February, 2010

   Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effect of Gypenosides from Gynostemma Pentaphyllum (GGP) on exercise-induced fatigue in mice. Forty-eight mice were studied by being divided into three group (n=16 per group) included the normal control group (NC), the low dose GGP group (LG) and the high dose GGP group (HG). The GGP groups were first administered different doses of GGP (50 and 100 mg/kg), while the NC group were force administered 1% carboxymethylcellulose for 28 days. The GGP groups showed a significant increase in swimming time to exhaustion as compared to the control group. Blood lactate concentration of the GGP groups was significantly lower and blood glucose concentration of the GGP groups was significantly higher than that in the NC group. In conclusion, GGP may have beneficial effects on exercise-induced fatigue. GGP Supplementation can extend the swimming time for the mice, effectively delay the lowering of glucose in the blood, and prevent the increase in lactate.

Key words: Gypenosides from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, fatigue, exercise, swimming endurance capacity.

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