title: Polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis mycelium ameliorate exhaustive swimming exercise-induced oxidative stress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (Clavicipitaceae) is a famous medicinal fungus (mushroom) in Chinese herbal medicine. Polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis (CSP) have been identified as active ingredients responsible for its biological activities. Although many pharmacological actions of CSP have received a great deal of attention, research in this area continues.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study was designed to investigate the effects of CSP on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mice were divided into four groups: control (C), low-dose CSP treated (LC), intermediate-dose CSP treated (IC) and high-dose CSP treated (HC). The treated groups received CSP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, ig), while the control group received drinking water for 28 days, followed by being forced to undergo exhaustive swimming exercise, and some biochemical parameters including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were measured using detection kits according to the manufacturers' instructions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the C group, exhaustive swimming time was significantly prolonged in the LC, IC and HC groups (p < 0.05); SOD activities in serum, liver and muscle were significantly higher in the IC and HC groups (p < 0.05); GPx activities in serum, liver and muscle were significantly higher in the LC, IC and HC groups (p < 0.05); CAT activities in serum, liver and muscle were significantly higher in the HC groups (p < 0.05); MDA and 8-OHdG levels in serum, liver and muscle were significantly lower in the LC, IC and HC groups (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained herein indicate that CSP could ameliorate exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, University of International Business and Economics , Beijing , P.R. China and.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Beibei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides