Effects of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction (Yukmijihwang-tang) on Physical Fatigue by Regulating Neurotransmitters in Brain.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction () or Yukmijihwangtang (YJT) on endurance exercise by in vivo experiment.

METHODS

ICR mice were randomly divided into the control group (distilled water) and the YJT groups (1, 10, 100 mg/kg), 5 animals per group. YJT and distilled water were orally administered. The anti-fatigue effect of YJT was evaluated by open fifiled test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST).

RESULTS

In the OFT, YJT signifificantly increased the total movement distance in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, treatment with YJT signifificantly decreased immobility time in the FST and the TST. Various neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) levels were increased by FST. Administration of YJT down-regulated the expression levels of NE, 5-HT, 5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid (5-HIAA), and DA in the brain stem and hypothalamus of mice. Moreover, protein expression of HSP70 in mice liver and heart muscles was signifificantly increased in the YJT groups.

CONCLUSIONS

YJT could ameliorate fatigue and enhance exercise tolerance through suppressing of brain monoamines including NE, 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and DA in FST mice model.