title: Evaluation of Hirsutella sinensis mycelium for antifatigue effect.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether Hirsutella sinensis mycelium (HSM) has any antifatigue effect, using a forced swimming model in rats. Forty rats were randomly divided into five groups, each containing eight animals. The control group received 2 ml/kg body weight of distilled water and a positive control group was administered 1.13 ml/kg Quaker Essence of Chicken. The treated swimming groups were administered HSM powder manufactured by Chang Gung Biotechnology Corporation, Ltd., at doses of 63 mg/kg, 189 mg/kg or 378 mg/kg body weight/day, respectively for a period of six weeks. The above experiment was repeated with another 40 rats but for a period of eight weeks. At the end of the experiments, rats were placed in a swimming apparatus and the total swimming time until exhaustion was recorded. Pre-/post-exercise concentrations of serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and lactic acid were also determined. There were no deaths during the study. Physical and behavioral examinations did not reveal any treatment-related adverse effects after dosing. Changes in lactate levels were dose-dependent for the 8- but not the 6-week treatment. BUN levels were more affected by the 8-week treatment of HSM but not significantly altered in the 6-week treatment groups. The 8-week treatment groups showed a significant increase in swimming time to exhaustion compared to the control groups, which was not dose-dependent. For the 6-week treatment, only the middle and high doses increased swimming time to exhaustion. Conjugated diene contents were significantly higher in rats treated at any HSM dose for 8-weeks than the control groups. Swimming did not alter levels of liver glycogen when compared to the control sub-groups. Results of this study demonstrate that HSM improves physical endurance, which may be beneficial in treating conditions where fatigue is a factor and other antifatigue treatments are contraindicated.
authors: The School of Chinese Medicine for Post Baccalaureate, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Lung-Yuan
authors: LY
authors: Wu
authors: Animal Medicine Center, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Ming-Fang
authors: MF
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Hsu-Feng
authors: HF
authors: Lu
authors: The Center of General Education, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Chia-Hui
authors: CH
authors: Liu
authors: Jen-The Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli County, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Ching-Hsiao
authors: CH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Yung-Liang
authors: YL
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Shu-Ching
authors: SC
authors: Hsueh
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Chun
authors: C
authors: Yeh
authors: Department of Physiology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Yi-Ping
authors: YP
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. jgchung@mail.cmu.edu.tw ch1835@chgh.org.tw.
authors: Jia-You
authors: JY
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C. Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C. jgchung@mail.cmu.edu.tw ch1835@chgh.org.tw.
authors: Jing-Gung
authors: JG
authors: Chung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005221:Fatigue / Q000628:therapy*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D025282:Mycelium; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D019344:Lactic Acid
keywords: Hirsutella sinensis mycelium; antifatigue; forced swimming model