Abstract

Flavonoids from the Epimedium koreanum Nakai (FEN) were elucidated on enhancing physical strength and anti-stress effects on in vivo using mice and rats. Swimming time to exhaustion of mice administered with the FEN (15 and 30 mg/kg body weigh for 7 days) significantly prolonged. When the FEN (15 mg/kg) was given to the rats for 7 days, including the 48 h stress period, the FEN showed a remarkable anti-stress effect on the weight of the adrenal, spleen, thymus, and thyroid. The FEN also significantly inhibited the increase in total cholesterol and the decrease in alkaline phosphatase levels as biochemical parameters of immobilization stress in rats. The results suggested that, FEN had effect on enhancing physical strength and anti-stress activity.

Key words: Flavonoids from the Epimedium koreanum Nakai, enhancing physical strength effects, anti-stress activity.