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Effects of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction (Yukmijihwang-tang) on Physical Fatigue by Regulating Neurotransmitters in Brain

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Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction (六味地黄汤) or Yukmijihwangtang (YJT) on endurance exercise by in vivo experiment. Methods: ICR mice were randomly divided into the control group (distilled water) and the YJT groups (1, 10, 100 mg/kg), 5 animals per group. YJT and distilled water were orally administered. The anti-fatigue effect of YJT was evaluated by open fifiled test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST). Results: In the OFT, YJT signifificantly increased the total movement distance in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, treatment with YJT signifificantly decreased immobility time in the FST and the TST. Various neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) levels were increased by FST. Administration of YJT down-regulated the expression levels of NE, 5-HT, 5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid (5-HIAA), and DA in the brain stem and hypothalamus of mice. Moreover, protein expression of HSP70 in mice liver and heart muscles was signifificantly increased in the YJT groups. Conclusions: YJT could ameliorate fatigue and enhance exercise tolerance through suppressing of brain monoamines including NE, 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and DA in FST mice model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang-Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Wonkwang University, Jeonbuk, 54538, Republic of Korea

    Ji-Ye Kee & Seung-Heon Hong

  2. Division of Bio-technology and Convergence, Daegu Hanny University, Gyeongbuk, 8578, Republic of Korea

    Jin-Han Park

Authors
  1. Ji-Ye Kee
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  2. Seung-Heon Hong
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  3. Jin-Han Park
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Correspondence to Jin-Han Park.

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Supported by Daegu Haany University Ky-lin Foudation in 2015 (No. 2015-901-09)

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Kee, JY., Hong, SH. & Park, JH. Effects of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction (Yukmijihwang-tang) on Physical Fatigue by Regulating Neurotransmitters in Brain. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 26, 839–844 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-019-3157-9

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