Zhang Meng, Liu Rui, Zhou Ting, Guo Yuxin, Li Hui, Wu Wei
Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China.
Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China.
Phytomedicine. 2025 Apr;139:156459. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.156459. Epub 2025 Feb 2.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a crippling illness with limited effective treatment options. Recent findings have suggested that ginseng stem and leaf saponins (GSLS) possess anti-fatigue effects. However, the detailed mechanisms by which GSLS impact CFS have yet to be fully elucidated.
This study aimed to explore the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of GSLS in the treatment of peripheral and central fatigue in mice with CFS.
A CFS model was established in male C57BL/6 mice, which were then subjected to prolonged swimming tests. The validity of this model and the efficacy of GSLS were verified using the forced exhaustion swimming test and the Morris water maze test. The anti-fatigue mechanism of GSLS was verified using pathological section observations, biochemical index tests, neurotransmitter analysis, and Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) metabolomics analysis.
GSLS prolonged the swim time-to-exhaustion in CFS mice and reduced escape latency in the water maze, revealing their anti-fatigue and memory-improving effects. GSLS significantly protected both peripheral (liver) and central (hippocampus) tissues, as shown in pathological sections. Biochemical indices suggested that GSLS mitigate peripheral fatigue by reducing energy expenditure and oxidative damage and inhibiting the production of harmful metabolites. Furthermore, GSLS altered the abnormal levels of 14 neurotransmitters in the brains of CFS mice, including seven upregulated and seven downregulated neurotransmitters, highlighting their role in mitigating central fatigue through neurotransmitter regulation. Serum metabolomics analysis identified alterations in 19 metabolites across 11 metabolic pathways, thereby elucidating the potential mechanisms by which GSLS treat CFS.
GSLS ameliorate damage caused by both peripheral and central fatigue. They also act on multiple pathogenic mechanisms by modulating neurotransmitters and serum biomarkers, making them a potential therapeutic agent for CFS.
慢性疲劳综合征（CFS）是一种使人衰弱的疾病，有效治疗选择有限。最近的研究结果表明，人参茎叶皂苷（GSLS）具有抗疲劳作用。然而，GSLS影响CFS的详细机制尚未完全阐明。
本研究旨在探讨GSLS治疗CFS小鼠外周和中枢疲劳的疗效及潜在机制。
在雄性C57BL/6小鼠中建立CFS模型，然后进行长时间游泳试验。通过强迫性疲劳游泳试验和莫里斯水迷宫试验验证该模型的有效性和GSLS的疗效。通过病理切片观察、生化指标检测、神经递质分析和超高效液相色谱-高分辨率质谱（UHPLC-MS）代谢组学分析验证GSLS的抗疲劳机制。
GSLS延长了CFS小鼠的游泳至疲劳时间，并缩短了水迷宫中的逃避潜伏期，显示出其抗疲劳和改善记忆的作用。病理切片显示，GSLS对外周（肝脏）和中枢（海马体）组织均有显著保护作用。生化指标表明，GSLS通过减少能量消耗和氧化损伤以及抑制有害代谢产物的产生来减轻外周疲劳。此外，GSLS改变了CFS小鼠大脑中14种神经递质的异常水平, 其中7种神经递质上调，7种神经递质下调，突出了它们通过神经递质调节减轻中枢疲劳的作用。血清代谢组学分析确定了11条代谢途径中19种代谢物的变化，从而阐明了GSLS治疗CFS的潜在机制。
GSLS可改善外周和中枢疲劳引起的损伤。它们还通过调节神经递质和血清生物标志物作用于多种致病机制，使其成为CFS的潜在治疗药物。
