eCAM Advance Access originally published online on December 8, 2004
eCAM 2005 2(1):93-97; doi:10.1093/ecam/neh054
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Anti-stress and Adaptogenic Activity of L-Arginine Supplementation
Department of Biochemistry, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences Lucknow Road, Delhi 110 054, India
In the present study, oral supplementation of L-arginine in rats was evaluated for its anti-stress and adaptogenic activity using the cold (5°C)–hypoxia (428 mmHg)–restraint (C-H-R) animal model. A dose-dependent study of L-arginine was carried out at doses of 12.5, 25.0, 50.0, 100.0, 200.0 and 500.0 mg/kg body weight, administered orally 30 min prior to C-H-R exposure. The time taken by the rat to attain a rectal temperature of 23°C (Trec 23°C) during C-H-R exposure and its recovery to Trec 37°C at normal atmospheric pressure and 32 ± 1°C were used as biomarkers of anti-stress and adaptogenic activity. Biochemical parameters related to lipid peroxidation, anti-oxidants, cell membrane permeability, nitric oxide and stress, with and without administration of the least effective L-arginine dose, were measured in rats on attaining Trec 23°C and Trec 37°C. The least effective adaptogenic dose of L-arginine was 100.0 mg/kg body weight. The C-H-R exposure of control rats, on attaining Trec 23°C, resulted in a significant increase in plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), blood lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and a decrease in blood catalase (CAT) and plasma testosterone levels. On recovery (Trec 37°C) of control rats, there was a further decrease in CAT and plasma testosterone, and an increase in LDH. L-Arginine supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in plasma MDA, an increase in blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT levels maintained at control values and a lower increase in LDH compared with controls (45.3 versus 58.5% and 21.5 versus 105.2%) on attaining Trec 23°C during C-H-R exposure and on recovery to Trec 37°C. The results suggested that L-arginine possesses potent anti-stress activity during C-H-R exposure and recovery from C-H-R-induced hypothermia.
Keywords: hypoxia – cold – rectal temperature – oxidative stress
*For reprints and all correspondence: Dr Ratan Kumar, Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, DRDO, Min of Def, Biochemical Pharmacology, Delhi, India Email: rk_dipas{at}yahoo.com
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