Astragalus membranaceus is a well known oriental medicinal herb. The polysaccharides of the aboveground parts (AMA) and the radix (AMR) of A. membranaceus are the most important functional constituents. Methods and Results: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of AMA and AMR on the oxidative damage induced in the skeletal muscle of rats subjected to exhaustive exercise. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into exercise and non-exercise groups; in the groups receiving the test compounds, AMA and AMR were administered orally for 30 days. Skeletal muscle samples were collected from each rat after running to exhaustion on a treadmill to determine the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) and the concentation of malondialdehyde (MDA). The antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD and GSH-Px of skeletal muscle of AMA- and AMR-treated groups were significantly higher than those of the control and commercial sports drink (SPD)-treated groups in exhaustive exercise rats. In addition, MDA concentrations in the skeletal muscle of the AMA- and AMR-treated groups were significantly lower than those of the control and SPD-treated groups. In the present study, the effects of AMA and AMR on exercise endurance capacity were also evaluated in mice subjected to a swimming exercise test. AMA and AMR supplementation prolonged the swimming time of mice and enhanced exercise endurance capacity. AMA and AMR possess the ability to retard and lower the production of blood lactate, and prevent the decrease of serum blood glucose. Conclusions: These results showed that, AMR and AMA exerted beneficial effect in mice, increasing the activity of the antioxidant systems and inhibiting oxidative stress induced by exhaustive exercise. The compounds improved exercise performance and showed anti-fatigue effects against exhaustive exercise.

ABSTRACT
 서 언
 재료 및 방법
  1. 실험동물
  2. 황기 지상부 및 뿌리로부터 다당체의 제조
  3. 과도 운동에 의해 유발되는 골격근 산화적 손상에 대한황기 지상부 및 뿌리 다당체의 효과 검정을 위한 경구투여
  4. Treadmill을 이용한 운동검사
  5. 수컷 SD rat으로부터 skeletal muscle homogenates의제조 및 skeletal muscle homogenates에서의 SOD,GSH-Px, CAT, MDA의 측정
   1) Superoxide dismutase (SOD) 활성 측정
   2) Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) 활성 측정
   3) Catalase (CAT) 활성 측정
   4) Malondialdehyde (MDA)의 활성 측정
  6. 과도운동에 의해 유발되는 피로 및 운동능력에 대한 황기지상부 및 뿌리 다당체의 효과 검정을 위한 경구투여
  7. 유영 수조를 이용한 한계치 수영 운동검사
  8. 황기 지상부 및 뿌리 다당체 투여에 따른 한계유영운동동안의 동물의 젖산 및 혈당 측정
  9. 통계처리
 결과 및 고찰
  1. 과도운동에 의한 skeletal muscle의 산화적 손상에 대한황기 지상부 및 뿌리 다당체의 영향
  2. 피로 회복 및 운동능력 개선에 에 대한 황기 지상부 및뿌리 다당체의 효과
   1) 황기 지상부 및 뿌리 다당체 투여에 따른 동물의 체중변화
   2) 황기 지상부 및 뿌리 다당체 투여에 따른 동물의 지구적유영 능력 향상
   3) 황기 지상부 및 뿌리 다당체 투여에 따른 한계유영운동동안의 동물의 젖산 및 혈당 측정
   4) 황기 지상부 및 뿌리 다당체 투여에 따른 한계유영운동동안의 non-esterified fatty acid 측정
 감사의 글
 REFERENCES

• 고은지(강원대학교 생약자원개발학과, Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University) | Eun Ji Go
• 이한나(강원대학교 생약자원개발학과, Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University) | Hannah Lee
• 박현수(강원대학교 생약자원개발학과, Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University) | Hyun Su Park
• 김수진(강원대학교 생약자원개발학과, Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University) | Soo Jin Kim
• 박영철(대구가톨릭대학교 GLP센터, GLP Center, Catholic University of Daegu) | Yeong Chul Park
• 성은수(수원여자대학교 약용식물과, Department of Medicinal Plant, Suwon Women's University) | Eun Soo Seong
• 유창연(강원대학교 생물자원과학부, Division of Bioresource Sciences, Kangwon National University) | Chang Yeon Yu
• 임정대(강원대학교 생약자원개발학과, Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University) | Jung Dae Lim Corresponding author