Effects of polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis on some related indexes of free radical and energy metabolism after strenuous exercise in rats

Abstract

The root of Angelica sinensis is a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine. Present study was designed to evaluate the effect of polysaccharides from Angelica sinensis (APS) on the some related indexes of free radicals and energy metabolism after strenuous exercise. The animals were divided into three groups, namely the sedentary control (SC), exercise control (EC), and exercise APS treated (200 mg/kg.d, EAT) group. At the 28th day, the rats in the EC and EAT group performed three-stage incremental exercise until exhaustion. After exhaustion exercise, a series of biochemical parameters including blood glucose, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA) and free fatty acid (FFA) were measured. The results showed that APS increased exhaustion times, blood glucose levels, FFA levels in plasma and the levels of SOD and GPx in liver, which were accompanied by corresponding decreases in the MDA levels in liver. The present findings indicate that the antifatigue mechanisms of APS may be attributed to the following aspects: 1) APS can enhance antioxidant enzymes activities and inhibit the production of lipid peroxidation products, which can protect the body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. 2) APS can affect carbohydrates metabolism, which has the effects of increasing hepatic and muscle glycogen stores and maintaining homeostasis of blood glucose levels. 3) APS can affect fat metabolism, which can regulate the formation of FFA and the utilization of fat oxidation. APS can be used as a nutritional supplement in exercise training.