EFFECT OF PANAX GINSENG ROOT ON EXHAUSTIVE EXERCISE IN MICE

Abstract

Effects of extracts obtained from Panax Ginseng root on recovery frorr exhaustion, were studied using six methods: exploratory movement (EM), hole cross (HC), rotating rod (RR), sliding angle (SA), spring balance (SB) and rectal temp. (RT) tests. Four hr oscillation movements were used as enforced exercise. Drugs were injected i.p. immediately following the exercise. Water extract significantly accelerated the recovery of exploratory movements, increased motor activity index in EM test and elevated rectal temp. However, water extract decreased the index in HC test and grip tone in SB test. Anti-fatigue effects of Ginsenoside RgI were obvious in every test. Lipophilic fraction significantly speeded up recovery from fatigue in EM, RR, RT and SB tests, but delayed recovery in HC and SA tests. Neutral saponins fraction had no effect on recovery in the 6 tests. In the EM tests, devised to measure two kinds of exploratory movements of fatigued mice and their spontaneous movement, methamphetamine (2 mg/kg), caffeine (25 and 50 mg/kg), 2-dimethylaminocthanol (25 mg/kg) and glucose (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly speeded up the recovery of these two exploratory movements, and increased the spontaneous movement.