Effects of <i>Biebersteinia multifida</i> DC. Root Extract on Physical Stamina in Male Mice

Abstract

Biebersteinia multifida DC. has been used for the purpose of development of physical strength in iranian folk medicine. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Biebersteinia multifida DC. root extract on performance of the Forced Swimming Test (FST), and on blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue: Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Creatine Kinase (CK), Lactic Dehydrogenase (LDH), Glucose (Glc), and Total Protein (TP). Biebersteinia multifida DC. root extract was orally administered to mice at the doses 4, 7 and 10 mg/kg continuously once per day for 1 and 7 days using a feeding atraumatic needle. After 7 days, on FST the immobility time was decreased in the treated-groups at the doses 4 and 7 mg/kg, but after 1 day, only the immobility time of the treatedgroup at the dose of 4 mg/kg was decreased significantly. In addition, the content of Glc and TP in the blood serum was significantly increased in the groups receiving 4 and 7 mg/kg of Biebersteinia multifida DC. root extract for 7 days and LDH was decreased significantly. However, the levels of BUN and CK did not show a significant change. The results predict a potential benefit of Biebersteinia multifida DC. root extract as an anti-fatigue treatment and for improving physical stamina.

Natural Products, Traditional Uses and Pharmacological Activities of the Genus Biebersteinia (Biebersteiniaceae)

“…Among the four well-known Biebersteinia spp., only B. heterostemon and B. multifida have been commonly applied as traditional herbal medicines to treat musculoskeletal disorders, bone fractures and skin diseases [7,25,55]. In China, B. heterostemon plants are widely distributed in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and have been administered as traditional Tibetan medicines [20,56].…”

“…The anti-fatigue effect of B. multifida root extract was also validated in a forced swimming test (FST), and the biochemical parameters in the blood related to fatigue were measured [7]. The results demonstrated the potential benefit of B. multifida root extract as an anti-fatigue material, and showed that it improved physical stamina [7]. These properties and effects might account for the fact that B. multifida has been used in Iranian folk medicine to enhance physical strength [10].…”

“…The morphological and biological characteristics of B. heterostemon are 40-120 cm tall, lanceolate leaf blade bearing long simple hairs and small stipitate glands, flowers in two or three fascicles with hairy or glandular pedicel, as well as yellow and obovate petals (http://www.iplant.cn/foc/). B. multifida is a common herb known as Adamak in Iran, with 20-70 cm long stem, laciniate leaves, flowers formed in a lax panicle, calyx strengthened in fruit, and yellowish petals slightly shorter than the sepals [7]. B. odora is distributed widely across central Asia (e.g., Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, India, China and Mongolia) and inhabited in alpine meadows and dry rocky and scree slopes.…”