Animal experiment: anti-fatigue effect of maca extract on sports

  Objective: To explore the anti-fatigue effect of maca extract on sports.

  Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into: ①Control group: normal feeding, no swimming, gavage equal amount of distilled water; ②Swimming group: swimming, gavage equal amount of distilled water; ③Swimming + drug group: swimming, They were given 4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 g/(kg·bw) of maca extract. 10 animals per group. Swim freely with circulating water, and give rats 4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 g/(kg·bw) maca extract for 15 days. On the 16th day, samples were taken to determine liver lipid peroxide (LPO) and superoxide dismutation. Enzyme (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and liver glycogen levels.

  Results: Compared with animals in the swimming group, after 15 days of administration of 4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 g/(kg·bw) of maca extract, the number of sinking times of rats was reduced by 27.44%, 42.86%, and 64.11% respectively (P<0.01 ), the swimming time and total swimming time before sinking were prolonged by 18.99%, 64.46%, 90.69% and 37.12%, 56.23%, 94.72% (P<0.01), and the LPO level was reduced by 31.31%, 42.00%, 56.95%, respectively (P<0.01), SOD, GSH-Px and liver glycogen levels increased by 25.92%, 31.82%, 62.09%, 12.33%, 23.01%, 46.36% and 17.83%, 44.69%, 62.99%, respectively (P<0.01 ).

  Conclusion: Maca extract can reduce liver LPO levels, increase liver glycogen levels, increase SOD, GSH-Px activity, and enhance exercise endurance and anti-fatigue effects.