title: Improvement effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on sub-health mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sub-health has been described as a chronic condition of unexplained deteriorated physiological function, which falls between health and illness. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), a polysaccharide fraction purified from Lycium barbarum (L. barbarum) on the sub-health mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sub-health model mice were built through compound factors. The mice were given intragastric administration of LBP at low dose (50 mg•kg-1) and high dose (100 mg•kg-1), respectively. After LBP treatment for 4 weeks, the antioxidant ability, enhancing immune function and anti-fatigue activity were detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that LBP could enhance antioxidant ability in sub-health mice. LBP could effectively improve immunity of sub-health mice and protect the immune organs, such as thymus. In addition, LBP showed anti-fatigue ability in sub-health mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LBP could improve sub-health state caused from composite factor through three aspects, such as increasing antioxidant ability, promoting T lymphocyte proliferation, inhibiting thymus lymphocyte apoptosis, and alleviating fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Life Science & Biotechnology, Heilongjiang August First Land Reclamation University, Daqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, 163319, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Life Science & Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, 163319, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Department of physical education, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, 360 Hebei Street, Qinhuangdao 066004, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Baoling
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Life Science & Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, 163319, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhibao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Anti-fatigue; Antioxidant; Immunity; Lycium bararum; Polysaccharide; Sub-health