Antioxidant and Anti-Fatigue Properties of Cucumaria frondosa Abdominal Hydrolysates in an Endurance Swimming Mouse Model

Abstract

Cucumaria frondosa abdominal hydrolysates (CFHs) were prepared using flavorzyme under optimal conditions, and their antioxidant activity, stability, and anti-fatigue activity were systematically evaluated. CFHs exhibited excellent free radical scavenging ability at temperatures below 60°C and under neutral to weakly acidic conditions. Under optimal conditions, the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of CFHs reached as high as 81.48%, with reducing activity up to 76.35% and Fe²⁺-chelating activity of 46.36%. In our study on anti-fatigue in mice, we utilized male ICR mice as experimental subjects and ginseng as the positive control. Forced swimming model experiments were conducted to assess the anti-fatigue effects of CFHs, which were measured through swimming duration, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of liver tissues, and various assay kits. Compared to the control group, CFHs significantly prolonged the forced swimming time to 12.79 min, outperforming ginseng. In addition, CFHs improved the glycogen reserve and antioxidant system, as well as reduced the expression levels of lactic acid (LA), ammonia (NH₃), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Liver glycogen and blood glucose contents were significantly elevated in all three groups of mice treated with CFHs via gavage for 30 days. Concurrently, CFHs upregulated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), alleviating muscle damage. These findings suggest that CFHs may alleviate fatigue through multiple targeted mechanisms, including energy optimization, oxidative stress reduction, and inhibition of metabolic waste.