Antifatigue properties of tanshinone IIA in mice subjected to the forced swimming test

Chueh-Yu Lin,Yan-Shu Jhang,Shang-Chi Lai,En-Li Chen,I-Hsin Lin,Tung-Wu Chang,Yu-Wei Tseng,Vaishnavi Seenan,Jane Shiung,Ming-Hua Chen,Yun-Chen Chiang,Tsung-I Chen,Yin-Jeh Tzeng

doi:10.1080/13880209.2017.1401648

Abstract

Context: Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a constituent of Danshen Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae); however, its antifatigue activity remains unclear.Objective: To study the antifatigue properties of Tan IIA and its underlying mechanisms.Materials and methods: In program I, three mouse groups were separately subjected to three gavages with 0, 1 and 6 mg/kg Tan IIA and forced swimming test (FST) weekly for 8 weeks; in program II, one gavage with 0, 2 and 10 mg/kg Tan IIA was administered plus FST weekly for 4 weeks. Serum glucose, lactate, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined after final FST.Results: Tan IIA significantly prolonged swimming durations in program I but not in program II. Swimming times were 3208 ± 1054 and 2443 ± 1054 s for the 1 and 6 mg/kg treatments and 856 ± 292 s for the vehicle control. The two doses significantly reduced serum glucose levels (40.3 ± 8.5 and 60.0 1 ± 11.8 mg/kg) and lactate levels (61.3 ± 27.5 and 68.8 ± 8.5 mg/kg) in treated mice compared with those in control mice (137.5 ± 38.6 mg/kg and 122.7 ± 18.2 mg/kg, respectively). However, no significant differences were observed regarding SOD, MDA or BUN levels.Discussion and conclusions: Tan IIA has antifatigue activity and is associated with reductions in serum glucose and lactate levels. Further studies should assess muscle hypertrophy and efficient aerobic glycolysis caused by Tan IIA. Tan IIA has potential as a pharmacological agent for fatigue resistance.

Highlights

It is well known that regular exercise prevents obesity and hypertension and reduces the risk of major illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancers (Blair et al 2001; Crespo et al 2002; Oguma et al 2002; Bassuk and Manson 2005; Roberts and Barnard 2005)
The periods of swimming time were prolonged 5.0- and 3.9fold, based on the ratios of 3208 ± 1054 s for the low (1 mg/kg) and 2443 ± 1054 s for the high (6 mg/kg) Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) gavage doses, respectively, to 856 ± 292 s of the control group. These results indicate that the antifatigue activity at the higher dose was not superior to that of the lower dose
Judging from the significant prolongation of forced swimming time, the swimming capacities of mice were improved by Tan IIA in program I but not in program II

Summary

Introduction

It is well known that regular exercise prevents obesity and hypertension and reduces the risk of major illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancers (Blair et al 2001; Crespo et al 2002; Oguma et al 2002; Bassuk and Manson 2005; Roberts and Barnard 2005) Despite these advantages, strenuous exercise causes skeletal muscle fatigue, a state of reversible physical exhaustion, and, decreases exercise performance (Allen et al 2008). High-intensity exercise is accompanied by a decrease in blood glucose levels to subphysiological concentrations and an increase in lactic acid. Fatigue causes damage to various organs; studies have increasingly focused on strategies to minimize fatigue

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