Effect Of Extract Of Pine Needles Upon The Free Radical And Carbohydrate Metabolism Of Swimming Rats

Many studies show that exercise can cause body to produce lots of free radicals that will attack cellular membrane system and result in the damage of structure and the malfunction of cells. The extract of pine needles is a natural antioxidant that is efficient and non-poisonous. It contains Ve, Vc, a carotene, and many natural antioxidiants such as PCA, a flavone compound. The purpose of this experiment is to discover the effect of the extract of pine needles on swimming rats' free radical defense system, exercise performance, and carbohydrate metabolism, and to provide experimental basis for the utilization of the extract of pine needles in sports medicine and the development of health drinks and food.Objects of the study are Kunming rats (half male and female) and an endurance exercise model is set up by progressive load swimming training. SOD, MDA, T-AOC in cardiac muscular tissue, hepatic tissue, and musculus quadriceps femoris are tested; LA, LDH, BUN of serum and glycogen in hepatic tissue and musculus quadriceps femoris are tested.Results of the experiment: (1) After intensive endurance training, Hb of rats taking the extract of pine needles is increased, which indicates that extract of pine needles can promote the decrease of Hb after intensive endurance training and promote aerobic exercise performance. (2) BUN of rats taking the extract of pine needles is obviously less than that of the control group, which shows that the extract of pine needles can slow down rats' metabolism rate of proteolysis, hold myotome and delay exercise-induced fatigue. (3) The extract of pine needles can increase the carbohydrate reserve of rats, guarantee the supply of energy to central nervous system and muscles, delay exercise-induced fatigue., and promote exercise performance. (4) The extract of pine needles has strong actions on antioxidation and clearing free radical in rats' cardiac tissue, hepatic tissue, and muscles. It also has different influence on the activity of the same antioxidase in different tissues under same conditions or that in the same tissue under different conditions.Conclusions: The extract of pine needles has strong actions on antioxidation and clearing free radical. It can improve the harmful effects caused by intensive endurance exercise on body and promote the capability of exercise.