Improving the activity of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on sub-health mice

Abstract

Sub-health has been described as a chronic condition of unexplained deteriorated physiological function, which falls between health and illness and includes fatigue as one of its principal manifestations. Mitochondrial dysfunctions have been discovered in fatigue-type sub-health such as impaired oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial damage. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP-4a), a polysaccharide fraction purified from Lycium barbarum, on anti-fatigue in sub-health mice, and the relevant mechanisms were studied. Forty mice were divided into control, model, LBP-4a(L) and LBP-4a(H) groups. Model mice were prepared through compound factors, including forced swim tests, sleep deprivation and wrapping restraint stress tests. After LBP-4a treatment for 4 weeks, the gastrocnemius muscles were obtained for morphological observation and the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and MDA content were detected. Furthermore, mitochondrial membrane potential and Ca(2+) content were measured in isolated skeletal muscle mitochondria. The results showed that LBP-4a could reduce skeletal muscle damage and MDA levels and enhance of SOD and GSH-Px activities compared with the model group. The levels of mitochondrial membrane potential and Ca(2+) were increased in LBP-4a-treated skeletal muscle mitochondria; moreover, the high-dosage group was better than that of the low dosage. In conclusion, LBP-4a exhibited anti-fatigue activity on sub-health mice, and the mechanism was closely correlated with a reduction in lipid peroxidation levels and an increase in antioxidant enzyme activities in skeletal muscle tissue, improving the intracellular calcium homeostasis imbalance and increasing mitochondrial membrane potential. These observations provided the background for the further development of LBP-4a as a type of anti-fatigue therapy used in sub-health treatment.

Anxiolytic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects of goji berry polysaccharides in ovariectomized rats: experimental evidence from behavioral, biochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses

“…Taken together, these outcomes showed that HD-LBP treatment had a greater antioxidant effect on ovariectomized female rats than control groups. These findings are in line with those of previous research findings which indicated that LBP application increases SOD activity in rats' serum levels (Zhao et al, 2015). However, CAT and GPX enzyme activity results showed that 17 β-ES-treated groups had lower CAT and GPX enzyme activities than other groups.…”

“…Our current findings showed that LBP treatments increased the antioxidant defense system. There is some evidence for this finding in the literature that the levels of SOD and CAT enzyme activities were at high concentrations in rats with decreased oxidative stress, but MDA levels were at a low concentration in these rats' serum (Zhao et al, 2015). In this research, it was expected that 17 β-ES levels in the serum of OVX rats would be lower than those in SHAM groups since 17 β-ES is mostly secreted by ovaries (Cui et al, 2013).…”

Potential Application of Plant-Based Functional Foods in the Development of Immune Boosters

“…Thus far, several studies have shown that components of plant-based functional foods can act on various immune organs, enhancing the immune response by increasing the organ weight, by improving the organ index (a reflection of a change in body immune function), and by promoting the development of partial visceral organs (Li X. Q. et al, 2020). For example, Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) exhibit an enhancing effect on the immune organ index, which has been confirmed in a few studies (Hao et al, 2015;Zhao et al, 2015). Furthermore, Tang and He (2013) evaluated the effects of LBP on a D-galactose aging mouse model and found that the thymus index and spleen index were significantly increased in the LBP (3 g/kg) groups compared to those of the control (p < 0.01).…”

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide arbitrates palmitate-induced apoptosis in MC3T3‑E1 cells through decreasing the activation of ERS‑mediated apoptosis pathway

“…It consists of six monosaccharides, including arabinose, glucose 6-phosphate, galactose, mannose, xylose and rhamnose ( 16 ). Many studies showed that LBP has lipid-decreasing, hypoglycemic, anti-stress, antifatty-liver as well as, immunomodulatory effects ( 16 , 17 ). At present, western medicine is still the main therapy for OP.…”