Assessing anti-doping knowledge among Taiwanese pharmacists.

BACKGROUND: Taiwan's unique health behaviour, such as extensive exposure to Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM), has introduced a risk of inadvertent doping among competing athletes. Pharmacy professionals have an imperative role in advising athletes on the safe use of medicines. This study provides an overview of anti-doping knowledge and educational needs among pharmacists in Taiwan and examines influencing factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional online questionnaire survey consisting of five domains, namely demographic characteristics, source of prohibited substances, identification of prohibited substances, understanding of doping control, and education needs on anti-doping, was distributed to the registered pharmacists in Taiwan. In total, 491 responses were included in the analyses. RESULTS: Respondents (65% female, aged 41.9 ± 11.4 years, with 68% having a Bachelor's degree) reported a moderate anti-doping knowledge score of 37.2 ± 4.9, ranging from 21 to 48 (out of 51). Fifteen per cent of them had the experience of being counselled about drug use in sports. Higher knowledge scores were observed in younger respondents, showing an age-dependent effect (p < 0.001). Individuals practising in southern Taiwan (compared to northern Taiwan) and those working at clinics (compared to hospitals) exhibited lower knowledge. Most of the respondents (90%) knew that stimulant ephedrine is prohibited in sports, but few had recognised diuretic furosemide (38%) and CHM (7%) containing ß2-agonist higenamine. Approximately 90% of respondents agreed with the need for anti-doping education. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the heterogeneity of anti-doping knowledge among pharmacy professionals and provides practical relevance in organising future educational topics and research-based activities.

Oral Bioavailability Enhancement and Anti-Fatigue Assessment of the Andrographolide Loaded Solid Dispersion.

Andrographolide (AG), a major diterpene lactone isolated from Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (Acanthaceae), possesses a wide spectrum of biological activities. However, its poor water solubility and low bioavailability limit its clinical application. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a solid dispersion (SD) formulation to increase the aqueous solubility and dissolution rate of AG. Different drug-polymer ratios were used to prepare various SDs. The optimized formulation was characterized for differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. The analysis indicated that the optimized SD enhanced AG solubility and dissolution rates by changing AG crystallinity to an amorphous state. The dissolution behaviors of the optimum SD composed of an AG-polyvinylpyrrolidone K30-Kolliphor EL ratio of 1:7:1 (w/w/w) resulted in the highest accumulated dissolution (approximately 80%). Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that Cmax/dose and the AUC/dose increased by 3.7-fold and 3.0-fold, respectively, compared with AG suspension. Furthermore, pretreatment using the optimized AG-SD significantly increased the swimming time to exhaustion by 1.7-fold and decreased the plasma ammonia level by 71.5%, compared with the vehicle group. In conclusion, the optimized AG-SD formulation appeared to effectively improve its dissolution rate and oral bioavailability. Moreover, the optimized AG-SD provides a promising treatment against physical fatigue.

Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems for Enhancing Solubility, Permeability, and Bioavailability of Sesamin.

Sesamin (SSM) is a water-insoluble compound that is easily eliminated by liver metabolism. To improve the solubility and bioavailability of SSM, this study developed and characterized a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) for the oral delivery of SSM and conducted pharmacokinetic assessments. Oil and surfactant materials suitable for SNEDDS preparation were selected on the basis of their saturation solubility at 37 ± 0.5 °C. The mixing ratios of excipients were determined on the basis of their dispersibility, transmittance (%), droplet sizes, and polydispersity index. An SNEDDS (F10) formulation comprising glyceryl trioctanoate, polyoxyethylene castor oil, and Tween 20 at a ratio of 10:10:80 (w/w/w) was the optimal formulation. This formulation maintained over 90% of its contents in different storage environments for 12 weeks. After the self-emulsification of SNEDDS, the SSM dispersed droplet size was 66.4 ± 31.4 nm, intestinal permeability increased by more than three-fold, relative bioavailability increased by approximately 12.9-fold, and absolute bioavailability increased from 0.3% to 4.4%. Accordingly, the developed SNEDDS formulation can preserve SSM's solubility, permeability, and bioavailability. Therefore, this SNEDDS formulation has great potential for the oral administration of SSM, which can enhance its pharmacological application value.

Chinese herbal decoction (Danggui Buxue Tang) supplementation augments physical performance and facilitates physiological adaptations in swimming rats.

Context: Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), one of the popular Danggui (DG) decoctions, has traditionally been used to nourish 'qi' (vital energy) and enrich 'blood' (body circulation). DBT may possess performance-enhancing effects.Objective: This work determines whether DBT can improve physical capacity and alter energy expenditure under exercise training.Materials and methods: Forty male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: sedentary (SE), exercise training (ET), ET supplemented with 0.3 g/kg rat/d DG extract, and ET supplemented with 1.8 g/kg rat/d DBT extract. The supplementations were administered via oral gavage. During the 21-day treatment period, the exercised groups were subjected to a protocol of swimming training with a gradually increased load. Physical performance evaluation was assessed using the forelimb grip strength test and an exhaustive swimming test. Muscle glycogen contents and exercise-related biochemical parameters were analysed.Results: Both herbal supplementations remarkably increased the grip strength (DG by 49.7% and DBT by 85.7%) and prolonged the swimming time (DG by 48.4% and DBT by 72.7%) compared with SE. DBT spared a certain amount of glycogen in the muscle cells under exercise training. Regarding the regulation of fuel usage, DBT had a positive impact alongside ET on promoting aerobic glycolysis via significantly decreasing serum lactate by 31.6% and lactic dehydrogenase levels by 61.8%.Conclusions: This study found that DBT could be considered a promising sports ergogenic aid for athletic population or fitness enthusiasts. Future work focussing on isolating the bioactive components that truly provide the ergogenic effects would be of interest.

Low Second-To-Fourth Digit Ratio Has High Explosive Power? A Prepubertal Study.

Hsu, CC, Fong, TH, Chang, HM, Su, B, Chi, CP, Kan, NW, and Hsu, MC. Low second-to-fourth digit ratio has high explosive power? A prepubertal study. J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 2091-2095, 2018-A recent study reported that lower limb explosive power had no correlation with the index finger: ring finger (2D:4D) ratio. However, many studies hypothesized that a lower 2D:4D ratio (reflecting a relative higher testosterone exposure) predicts higher physical fitness. The aim of this study was to replicate the study of explosive power and the 2D:4D ratio in a sample of Taiwanese children. A total of 541 Taiwanese prepubertal children (257 girls and 284 boys aged 9-10 years) participated in this study. This study analyzed the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and explosive power. Explosive power of the lower limbs was assessed using the standing long jump (SLJ) test. The lengths of the second and fourth fingers of the right hand were measured to calculate the 2D:4D ratio. The SLJ length was correlated with the 2D:4D ratios (r = -0.144, p = 0.015) in boys. After controlling for age and the body mass index, this correlation remained significant (r = -0.134, p = 0.024). For girls, 2D:4D ratios were not significantly correlated with SLJ scores. These results indicate that the SLJ distance was negatively correlated with the 2D:4D ratio in boys, but not in girls. These findings might suggest that prenatal testosterone exposure is negatively correlated with the explosive power in men, but not in women.

Functional movement screen comparison between the preparative period and competitive period in high school baseball players.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Although the functional movement screen (FMS) has been widely applied for screening athletes, no previous study has used FMS scores to examine the association between distinct training seasons in high school baseball players. The aims of this study were to ascertain the functional movement screen (FMS) scores differences between the preparative period (PPP) and the competitive period (CPP) among high school baseball players and further determine whether FMS can be used as a tool to predict injuries during two major periods. METHODS: Fifty-five male high school baseball players (age 15.3 ±â€¯1.7 years; height 1.7 ±â€¯0.8 m; weight 64.6 ±â€¯11.5 kg) volunteered. Athletic injuries were reported through a self-report questionnaire. Players performed the FMS during the PPP and the CPP. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve to calculate a cutoff total composite score ≤ 14 for the relationship between the FMS score and injury. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and an area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. RESULTS: FMS individual task score and total composite score were significantly lower in the CPP than in the PPP. However, a cutoff total composite score ≤14 for risk of injury, determined through a ROC curve, represented a low sensitivity of 58%, NPV of 66%, an AUC of 69%, specificity of 79%, and PPV of 71%. CONCLUSION: Although the low sensitivity and NPV and AUC scores indicated that the FMS does not accurately predict the risk of injury, the FMS individual task and total composite scores differed significantly between the PPP and CPP. Therefore, FMS could be used as a tool to identify physical deficiencies between distinct training seasons; however, utilizing the FMS as a screening tool for injury prediction in particular during the CPP in this population would not be recommended.

Proteomics Analysis to Identify and Characterize the Biomarkers and Physical Activities of Non-Frail and Frail Older Adults.

Globally, the proportion of older adults is increasing. Older people face chronic conditions such as sarcopenia and functional decline, which are often associated with disability and frailty. Proteomics assay of potential serum biomarkers of frailty in older adults. Older adults were divided into non-frail and frail groups (n = 6 each; 3 males in each group) in accordance with the Chinese-Canadian Study of Health and Aging Clinical Frailty Scale. Adults were measured for grip power and the 6-min walk test for physical activity, and venous blood was sampled after adults fasted for 8 h. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used for proteomics assay. The groups were compared for levels of biomarkers by t test and Pearson correlation analysis. Non-frail and frail subjects had mean age 77.5±0.4 and 77.7±1.6 years, mean height 160.5±1.3 and 156.6±2.9 cm and mean weight 62.5±1.2 and 62.8±2.9 kg, respectively. Physical activity level was lower for frail than non-frail subjects (grip power: 13.8±0.4 vs 26.1±1.2 kg; 6-min walk test: 215.2±17.2 vs 438.3±17.2 m). Among 226 proteins detected, for 31, serum levels were significantly higher for frail than non-frail subjects; serum levels of Ig kappa chain V-III region WOL, COX7A2, and albumin were lower. The serum levels of ANGT, KG and AT were 2.05-, 1.76- and 2.22-fold lower (all p < 0.05; Figure 1A, 2A and 3A) for non-frail than frail subjects and were highly correlated with grip power (Figure 1B, 2B and 3B). Our study found that ANGT, KG and AT levels are known to increase with aging, so degenerated vascular function might be associated with frailty. In total, 226 proteins were revealed proteomics assay; levels of angiotensinogen (ANGT), kininogen-1 (KG) and antithrombin III (AT) were higher in frail than non-frail subjects (11.26±2.21 vs 5.09±0.74; 18.42±1.36 vs 11.64±1.36; 22.23±1.64 vs 9.52±0.95, respectively, p < 0.05). These 3 factors were highly correlated with grip power (p < 0.05), with higher correlations between grip power and serum levels of ANGT (r = -0.89), KG (r = -0.90), and AT (r = -0.84). In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate a serum proteomic profile characteristic of frailty in older adults. Serum ANGT, KG and AT levels could be potential biomarkers for monitoring the development and progression of frailty in older adults.

Rapid determination of oxindole alkaloids in cat's claw by HPLC using ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted extraction and silica monolithic column.

Cat's claw is a large woody vine with hook-like thorns, and has been traditionally used to treat inflammatory disorders in South and Central America. In this study, a rapid, validated high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method using a silica monolithic column was developed for the simultaneous determination of oxindole alkaloids, namely rhynchophylline, pteropodine, isomitraphylline and isopteropodine, in cat's claw. The ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted extraction (ILMAE), considered as an environmentally friendly and powerful tool, was first applied in the extraction of oxindole alkaloids. To optimize the HPLC method, the stationary phases, pH values of mobile phase and flow rates were investigated. The validated HPLC method using a Monolithic RP18e column (100 × 4.6 mm) enables these analytes to be separated almost twice as fast as with a conventional particulate column (~16 vs ~30 min) with limits of quantification and detection of 0.5 and 0.15 µg/mL, respectively. The ILMAE conditions were optimized by the Taguchi orthogonal array design. In comparison with conventional water boiling extraction, ILMAE offers almost four times higher yields within an extremely short extraction time. The developed HPLC coupled with ILMAE method could be efficient and practical for rapid determination of oxindole alkaloids in cat's claw.

Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System for Resveratrol: Enhanced Oral Bioavailability and Reduced Physical Fatigue in Rats.

Resveratrol (RES), a natural polyphenolic compound, exerts anti-fatigue activity, but its administration is complicated by its low water solubility. To improve RES bioavailability, this study developed a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) for RES and evaluated its anti-fatigue activity and rat exercise performance by measuring fatigue-related parameters, namely lactate, ammonia, plasma creatinine phosphokinase, and glucose levels and the swimming time to exhaustion. Through solubility and emulsification testing, the optimized SNEDDS composed of Capryol 90, Cremophor EL, and Tween 20 was developed; the average particle size in this formulation, which had favorable self-emulsification ability, was approximately 41.3 ± 4.1 nm. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that the oral bioavailability of the optimized RES-SNEDDS increased by 3.2-fold compared with that of the unformulated RES-solution. Pretreatment using the RES-SNEDDS before exercise accelerated the recovery of lactate after exercise; compared with the vehicle group, the plasma ammonia level in the RES-SNEDDS group significantly decreased by 65.4%, whereas the glucose level significantly increased by approximately 1.8-fold. Moreover, the swimming time to exhaustion increased by 2.1- and 1.8-fold, respectively, compared with the vehicle and RES-solution pretreatment groups. Therefore, the developed RES-SNEDDS not only enhances the oral bioavailability of RES but may also exert anti-fatigue pharmacological effect.

Alleviation of Ultraviolet B-Induced Photodamage by Coffea arabica Extract in Human Skin Fibroblasts and Hairless Mouse Skin.

Coffea arabica extract (CAE) containing 48.3 ± 0.4 mg/g of chlorogenic acid and a trace amount of caffeic acid was found to alleviate photoaging activity in human skin fibroblasts. In this study, polyphenol-rich CAE was investigated for its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties, as well as for its capability to alleviate ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced photodamage in BALB/c hairless mice. The results indicated that 500 µg/mL of CAE exhibited a reducing power of 94.7%, ferrous ion chelating activity of 46.4%, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of 20.3%. The CAE dose dependently reduced UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in fibroblasts. Furthermore, CAE inhibited the UVB-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and p-inhibitor κB, and the translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) to the nucleus of fibroblasts. In addition, CAE alleviated UVB-induced photoaging and photodamage in BALB/c hairless mice by restoring the collagen content and reduced UVB-induced epidermal hyperplasia. CAE also inhibited UVB-induced NF-κB, interleukin-6, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression in the hairless mouse skin. The results indicated that CAE exhibits antiphotodamage activity by inhibiting UV-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, CAE is a candidate for use in antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiphotodamage products.

Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Cannabinoids in Hemp Nut Using Response Surface Methodology: Optimization and Comparative Study.

Hemp nut is commonly incorporated into several food preparations; however, most countries set regulations for hemp products according to their cannabinoid content. In this study, we have developed an efficient microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method for cannabinoids (i.e., Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and cannabinol) in hemp nut. Optimization of the MAE procedure was conducted through single factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM). A comparative study was also conducted to determine the differences in the extraction yields and morphology of hemp nut between MAE and reference extraction methods, namely heat reflux extraction (HRE), Soxhlet extraction (SE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Among the independent variables in RSM, the temperature was the most significant parameter. The optimal conditions of MAE were as follows: extraction solvent of methanol, microwave power of 375 W, temperature of 109 °C, and extraction time of 30 min. Compared with reference extraction methods, MAE achieved the highest extraction yields of total cannabinoids in hemp nut (6.09 µg/g for MAE; 4.15 µg/g for HRE; 5.81 µg/g for SE; 3.61 µg/g for SFE; 3.73 µg/g for UAE) with the least solvent consumption and shortest time. Morphological observations showed that substantial cell rupturing occurred in the microstructure of hemp nut after MAE, indicating enhanced dissolution of the target compounds during the extraction process. The MAE method is thus a rapid, economic, and environmentally friendly extraction method that is both effective and practical for industrial applications.

Beneficial effects of cocoa, coffee, green tea, and garcinia complex supplement on diet induced obesity in rats.

BACKGROUND: Cocoa, coffee, green tea and garcinia contain large amounts of polyphenols. Polyphenols are well-known phytochemicals and found in plants, and have modulated physiological and molecular pathways that are involved in energy metabolism, adiposity, and obesity. METHODS: To evaluate the obesity-lowering effect of a combined extract (comprising cocoa, coffee, green tea and garcinia; CCGG) in high-energy diet (HED)-induced obese rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats (8 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups (n = 12 per group): normal diet with vehicle treatment (Control), and HED to receive vehicle or CCGG by oral gavage at 129, 258, or 517 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks, designated the HED, 0.5X, 1X and 1X groups, respectively. RESULTS: HED induced macrovesicular fat in the liver and the formation of adipose tissues, and significantly increased the levels of serum free fatty acids (FFA), triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and LDL-C/HDL-C, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and ketone bodies in serum, and hepatic TG and TC levels, and decreased the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in serum and lipase activity in fat tissues. Treatment with CCGG could significantly decrease the levels of FFA, TG, TC, LDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C, AST, ALT, and ketone bodies in serum, and hepatic TG and TC contents, and increase the levels of HDL-C in serum and lipase activity in fat tissues compared to the HED group. Liver histopathology also showed that CCGG could significantly reduce the incidence of liver lesions. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that CCGG stimulated lipid metabolism in HED-induced obese rats, which is attributable to fat mobilization from adipose tissue.

Bioanalytical Method Development Using Liquid Chromatography with Amperometric Detection for the Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Forsythiaside in Rats.

An analytical method entailing high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection was developed for determining forsythiaside (FTS) in rat plasma. Rat plasma samples were prepared through efficient trichloroacetic acid deproteination. FTS and the internal standard were chromatographically separated on a reversed-phase core-shell silica C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, i.d. 2.6 µm), with a mobile phase consisting of an acetonitrile-0.05-M phosphate solution (11.8:88.2, v/v), at a flow rate of 400 µL/min. The calibration curve, with r² > 0.999, was linear in the 20-1000 ng/mL range. The intra- and interday precision were less than 9.0%, and the accuracy ranged from 94.5% to 106.5% for FTS. The results indicated that the newly developed HPLC-EC method is more sensitive than previous reported methods using UV detection, and this new analytical method is applied successfully for the pharmacokinetic study of FTS. The hydrogel delivery system can efficiently improve bioavailability and mean residual time for FTS, as evidenced by the 2.5- and 6.3-fold increase of the area under the curve and the extension of the half-life, respectively.

Effects of combined extract of cocoa, coffee, green tea and garcinia on lipid profiles, glycaemic markers and inflammatory responses in hamsters.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidaemia is highly associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, which have been ranked second and third place of leading causes of death in Taiwan. Some plant extracts have been proved effective against dyslipidaemia. However, the combination of plant extracts was rarely studied. The purpose of the present study is to understand the beneficial effects of a combined extract (comprising cocoa, coffee, green tea and garcinia; CCGG) on lipid profiles in serum, liver, and faeces as well as glycaemic markers and related proinflammatory cytokines by using an appropriate animal model, the golden Syrian hamster. METHODS: A total of 40 male hamsters were randomly assigned to five groups: (1) vehicle control, (2) high-cholesterol diet control, (3) high-cholesterol diet of 311 mg/kg/d of CCGG, (4) high-cholesterol diet of 622 mg/kg/d of CCGG and (5) high-cholesterol diet of 1555 mg/kg/d of CCGG. At the end of the experiment, blood, tissue and faecal samples were collected for further analysis. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of treatment, CCGG supplementation significantly reduced serum lipid content (triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-C) and hepatic lipid content (triglycerides and cholesterol) with dose-dependent effects. In addition, an increase in excretion of faecal lipids (bile acids) was observed after supplementation. Furthermore, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and serum proinflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α and IL-6) involved in dyslipidaemia was markedly improved. In addition, by monitoring biochemical parameters as well as histopathology of major tissues, no toxicity was observed after the consumption of CCGG. CONCLUSION: Dietary CCGG supplementation may exert potential effects on ameliorating hyperlipidaemia, insulin resistance, liver steatosis and related inflammation.

Elite collegiate tennis athletes have lower 2D: 4D ratios than those of nonathlete controls.

The ratio of the length of the second finger (index finger) to the fourth finger (ring finger) (2D:4D ratio) is a putative marker for prenatal hormones. Physiological research has suggested a low 2D:4D ratio correlates with high athletic ability. Athletes of specific sports (e.g., American football) have lower 2D:4D ratios than those of nonathletes, whereas athletes of some sports (e.g., rowing, gymnastics, and soccer) do not. This study investigated the 2D:4D ratios among collegiate tennis athletes, elite collegiate tennis athletes, and nonelite collegiate tennis athletes and compared them with nonathletes of both sexes. The participants included 43 elite collegiate tennis athletes (Level I intercollegiate athletes in Taiwan; 27 males and 16 females), 107 nonelite collegiate tennis athletes (Level II athletes; 55 males and 52 females), and 166 nonathlete college students (80 males and 86 females). The principle findings suggest that (a) regardless of sex, collegiate tennis athletes have lower 2D:4D values than those of nonathletes; (b) elite collegiate tennis athletes have lower 2D:4D values than those of nonathletes; (c) among females but not males, athletes and nonelite athletes have lower 2D:4D values than those of nonathletes; and (d) males have lower 2D:4D values than those of females.

Angelica Sinensis promotes myotube hypertrophy through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

BACKGROUND: Angelica Sinensis (AS), a folk medicine, has long been used in ergogenic aids for athletes, but there is little scientific evidence supporting its effects. We investigated whether AS induces hypertrophy in myotubes through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt (also termed PKB)/mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. METHODS: An in vitro experiment investigating the induction of hypertrophy in myotubes was conducted. To investigate whether AS promoted the hypertrophy of myotubes, an established in vitro model of myotube hypertrophy with and without AS was used and examined using microscopic images. The role of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in AS-induced myotube hypertrophy was evaluated. Two inhibitors, wortmannin (an inhibitor of PI3K) and rapamycin (an inhibitor of mTOR), were used. RESULT: The results revealed that the myotube diameters in the AS-treated group were significantly larger than those in the untreated control group (P < 0.05). Wortmannin and rapamycin inhibited AS-induced hypertrophy. Furthermore, AS increased Akt and mTOR phosphorylation through the PI3K pathway and induced myotube hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that AS induces hypertrophy in myotubes through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Angelica sinensis improves exercise performance and protects against physical fatigue in trained mice.

Angelica sinensis (AS) is a well-known medicinal herb and food material with antioxidative and multifunctional pharmacological activities. However, we lack evidence of the effect of AS on exercise performance and physical fatigue. We aimed to evaluate the potential beneficial effect of AS on ergogenic and anti-fatigue functions after physiological challenge. Male ICR strain mice were randomly assigned to four groups (n=10 per group) for treatment: (1) sedentary control and vehicle treatment (vehicle control); (2) exercise training with vehicle treatment (exercise control); (3) exercise training with AS treatment at 0.41 g/kg/day (Ex-AS1); and (4) 2.05 g/kg/day (Ex-AS5); both the vehicle and AS were orally administered for 6 weeks. Exercise performance and anti-fatigue function were evaluated by forelimb grip strength, exhaustive swimming time, and levels of serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, and creatine kinase (CK) after a 15-min swimming exercise. Trend analysis revealed that AS treatments significantly increased endurance swimming time and blood glucose level, and decreased serum lactate, ammonia and CK levels. Liver and muscle glycogen contents were higher for Ex-AS1 and Ex-AS5 groups than the exercise control. Therefore, AS supplementation improved exercise performance and had anti-fatigue properties in mice and may be an effective ergogenic aid in exercise training.

Cornu cervi pantotrichum supplementation improves exercise performance and protects against physical fatigue in mice.

Cornu cervi pantotrichum (CCP) is a well-known yang-invigorating agent used in traditional Chinese medicine that can nourish the blood, tonify qi, and invigorate bones and tendons with multifunctional bioactivities. However, evidence on the effects of CCP on exercise performance and physical fatigue is limited. We evaluated the potential beneficial effects of ethanolic extract from CCP on ergogenic and antifatigue functions following a physiological challenge. Male ICR mice from four groups (n=8 per group) were orally administered CCP for 14 days at 0, 2054, and 4108 mg/kg/day, and were respectively designated as the vehicle, CCP-1X, and CCP-2X groups. The physical performance and antifatigue function were evaluated using forelimb grip strength and exhaustive swimming time as well as serum levels of lactate, ammonia, glucose, and creatine kinase after a 15-min swimming exercise. The results indicated that CCP-1X supplementation significantly improved grip strength; reduced fatigue-associated biochemical indices, including lactate and ammonia levels; and ameliorated skeletal muscle injury induced by acute exercise challenge. A trend analysis revealed that CCP supplementation significantly increased grip strength and dose-dependently reduced serum alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, triacylglycerol, and glucose levels in healthy mice. Therefore, CCP is a potential agent with an antifatigue pharmacological effect.

Astragalus membranaceus improves exercise performance and ameliorates exercise-induced fatigue in trained mice.

Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is a popular "Qi-tonifying" herb with a long history of use as a Traditional Chinese Medicine with multiple biological functions. However, evidence for the effects of AM on exercise performance and physical fatigue is limited. We evaluated the potential beneficial effects of AM on ergogenic and anti-fatigue functions following physiological challenge. Male ICR strain mice were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10 per group) for treatment: (1) sedentary control and vehicle treatment (vehicle control); (2) exercise training with vehicle treatment (exercise control); and (3) exercise training with AM treatment at 0.615 g/kg/day (Ex-AM1) or (4) 3.075 g/kg/day (Ex-AM5). Both the vehicle and AM were orally administered for 6 weeks. Exercise performance and anti-fatigue function were evaluated by forelimb grip strength, exhaustive swimming time, and levels of serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, and creatine kinase after 15-min swimming exercise. Exercise training combined with AM supplementation increased endurance exercise capacity and increased hepatic and muscle glycogen content. AM reduced exercise-induced accumulation of the byproducts blood lactate and ammonia with acute exercise challenge. Moreover, we found no deleterious effects from AM treatment. Therefore, AM supplementation improved exercise performance and had anti-fatigue effects in mice. It may be an effective ergogenic aid in exercise training.

Determination of doping higenamine in Chinese herbal medicines and their concentrated preparations by LC-MS/MS.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has included higenamine in the ß2 agonist (S3) category of the Prohibited List since 2017 due to its pharmacological effects on adrenergic receptors. Although higenamine contained in Chinese herbal medicines has been identified by previous studies, comprehensive investigation on the higenamine content of Chinese herbs and their concentrated preparations is still required. This study aimed to determine the levels of higenamine in Chinese medicinal materials and their concentrated preparations used in Chinese medicine prescriptions in Taiwan. The levels of higenamine in Chinese medicinal materials, including Cortex Phellodendri, Flos Caryophylli, Fructus Euodiae, Fructus Kochiae, Plumula Nelumbinis, Radix Aconiti Preparata, Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata, and Radix Asari, and their concentrated preparations were determined by a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Our results showed that the amounts of higenamine were detected and quantified in studied Chinese medicinal materials and their concentrated preparations, except for Flos Caryophylli, Radix Aconiti Preparata, and Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata. Plumula Nelumbinis and Cortex Phellodendri have higher levels of higenamine when compared to other Chinese herbs tested in the present study. The highest level of higenamine was 2100 µg/g found in the Plumula Nelumbinis medicinal material. In contrast with Plumula Nelumbinis and Cortex Phellodendri, higenamine levels below 10 µg/g were found in other most of the studied Chinese medicinal materials and their concentrated preparations. This study confirmed that various Chinese herbs and their concentrated preparations contained higenamine, and it provided more coherent and comprehensive information for reducing the potential risk of higenamine misuse in sports.