Anti-fatigue Properties of Icariin Isolated from Epimedium Brevicornum Maxim in Mice

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-fatigue properties of icariin in mice. The animals were divided into four groups, namely the control, low-dose icariin treated, medium-dose icariin treated, and high-dose icariin treated groups, which received distilled water and 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg icariin, respectively, by oral gavage. After 28 days, the forced swimming test was performed, along with the determination of blood lactic acid (BLA), serum urea nitrogen (SUN), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The results showed that icariin could extend the exhaustive swimming times, as well as decrease the BLA, SUN and serum MDA levels, while increasing the serum SOD and GPx levels. Thus, the results demonstrated that icariin has anti-fatigue properties.