Abstract

Lycium barbarum is known for its potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. To study whether L.. barbarum extract can modulate serum Fe level and oxidative injury, thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups. Normal control (Group I): fed a balanced diet and kept sedentary (untrained) until the end of the experiment; Model Control (Group II): fed a Fe-rich diet and kept sedentary (untrained) until the end of the experiment; Training group (Group III): fed a Fe-rich diet and submitted to swimming training (1 h daily) for 2 weeks; LBCE group (group VI): fed a Fe-rich diet, received lycium barnarum carotenoid extract (200 mg/kg b.w. day) and submitted to swimming training (1 h daily) for 2 weeks. Results showed that LBCE could enhance Fe absorption and decrease liver oxidative injury in rats. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates for the first time that there a synergistic effects (LBCE and Fe) against liver oxidative damage in rats.

Key words: Exercise, Fe, liver, Lycium barbarum, rat.

Abbreviation

TIBC, Total iron binding capacity; TS, transferrin saturation test; Hg,hemoglobin; Hct, hematocrit; GSH, reduced glutathione levels; MDA, malondialdehyde; NHI,nonheme iron content; SOD, superoxide dismutase; GSH-Px, glutathione peroxidase; CAT,catalase.