Studies on the effect of Schizandra chinensis extract on horses submitted to exercise and maximum effort

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of the berries extract of Schizundru chinensis on polo and race horses was studied. The concentration of plasmatic lactate and glucose as well as the respiratory and heart rates of these horses submitted to daerent physical effort were examined. Thirty adult horses were used for this experiment; 20 polo horses and 10 race horses. Ten polo horses were submitted to a 12 min gallop at a speed of 400 m/min, and 10 other polo horses to a 5 min gallop at a speed of 700 m/min. The race horses were submitted to a single run on a fixed distance of 800111 at maximum speed. Blood jugular samples from each polo horse (when they were in the stable) were collected for lactate and glucose analysis before the exercise and at 10 and 50 min after the exercise. Heart and respiratory rates were recorded. First each horse was given a single dose of 500 mL of saline half an hour before the race. A week later the same horses were given a single dose of 48 g of Schizundru chinemis berry extract. Treated polo horses showed a lower increase in heart rate at all moments of the exercise. They also showed a quicker recovery of respiratory frequency at the moments immediately after the race (time 0) and 5 min after the same race. The performance of the race horses was improved. In polo horses administration of Schizundru extract led to a significant reduction of the concentration of plasmatic lactate at 10, and 50min after exercise. Plasma glucose concentration in polo horses showed no significant difference between the saline treated and the Schizandru‐treated animals (with the exception at 50 min after the race).