title: Anti-fatigue effects of proteins isolated from Panax quinquefolium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) is an obligate shade perennial plant that belongs to Araliaceae ginseng species, and is native to eastern USA and Canada. Ginseng proteins are reported to have several pharmaceutical properties. However, such properties of American ginseng proteins (AGP) have seldom been reported. Also, anti-fatigue properties of AGP have not been studied. Therefore, we examined the anti-fatigue effects of AGP in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The molecular weight and protein contents of AGP were determined by SDS-PAGE, while the amino acid composition was analyzed by HPLC. The mice were divided into four groups. The control group was administered distilled water by gavage every day for 28 days. The other groups, designated as AGP treatment groups, were administered 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg of body weight, respectively of AGP by gavage every day for 28 days. Anti-fatigue activity was estimated using forced swimming test, and biochemical indices were determined using available kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subunit molecular weight of AGP ranged from 8-66 kD and the protein content measured by Bradford assay was 1.86 mg/mL. The forced swimming time of low, intermediate and high groups were found to be longer as compared to the control group. AGP significantly decreased blood lactate (BLA) and serum urea nitrogen (SUN) levels, and increased hepatic glycogen (GLU) level. Additionally, AGP lowered malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increased the levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AGP shows anti-fatigue activity in mice, as measured by the physiological indices for fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China.
authors.forename: Guang-xin
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-zheng
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China.
authors.forename: Xue-yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China.
authors.forename: Si-ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China. Electronic address: cnzhaodaqing@126.com.
authors.forename: Da-qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D011897:Random Allocation; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D010940:Plant Proteins
keywords: American ginseng proteins; Anti-fatigue; Forced swimming test