title: Preliminary observations on the antifatigue effects of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) seed polysaccharides.
abstract: The antifatigue effects of the hot-water extract of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) seeds were studied in mice. Longan seed polysaccharides were administered at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg and antifatigue activity was evaluated using a swimming test, along with the determination of serum urea nitrogen, hepatic glycogen and blood lactic acid content. The results show that longan seed polysaccharides, in doses ranging from 50 to 100 mg/kg, extended swimming time, increased hepatic glycogen (p < 0.01, n = 10), reduced blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.01, n = 10) and decreased blood lactic acid (p < 0.01, n = 10) in the mice. Therefore longan seed polysaccharides may have potential as an antifatigue agent.
authors.affiliation: Fujian Fruit Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center for Longan and Loquat, Fuzhou, Fujian 350013, China.
authors.forename: S Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005221:Fatigue / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029631:Sapindaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D019344:Lactic Acid; D006003:Glycogen