FREE-RADICAL SCAVENGING AND ANTIFATIGUE A CTIVITIES OF SAUSSUREA-INVOLUCRATA POLYSACCHARIDES

The polysaccharides of Saussurea involucrata Kar et Kir was first isol ated and identified by us. The polysaccharides scavenged superoxide an ions by nitroblue tetraazolium colorimetric method with a median scave nging concentration of 22 mug . ml-1 and 95% confidence limit was 19.9 - 24.1 mug . ml-1. The polysaccharides inhibited the formation of thi obarbituric acid reaction substance in mouse liver homogenate and its IC50 was 2.3 mg/g fresh liver and 95% confidence limit was 2.05 - 2.55 mg/g fresh liver. By ip 25 mg . kg-1 . d-1 X d in mice, the polysacch arides decreased oxygen consumption by 34.4% and ip same dosage X 6 d, the polysaccharide prolonged swimming time by 1.69-fold.