Objective: To study the effects of Tribulus terrestris on the content of testosterone

substance metabolism and anti-fatigue ability of rats. Method: By using the model of high-intensity endurance training

Sixty-five male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups

12 in each group

including control group (C group)

motion control group (T group)

exercise+ig low-dose T. terrestris group (TML group)

exercise+ig middle-dose T. terrestris group (TMM group)

and exercise+ig high-dose T. terrestris group (TMH group). Gavage was performed once a day. The rats in T. terrestris groups were gavaged with 0.5

1

3 g·kg-1. The rats in C and T groups were given saline of same volume. After 49 days of exhaustive swimming training

body weight

swimming time and serum testosterone and other biochemical markers were measured. Result: The body weight of the rats in T. terrestris groups was less than C group (P<0.05)

greater than those in T group (P<0.05)

and the swimming time was longer than C and T group (P<0.01). The serum testosterone was lower than group C (P<0.05)

higher than the T group (P<0.01). Changes in the ratio of serum testosterone/corticosterone were more consistent with testosterone changes among the groups. Liver glycogen and muscle glycogen were higher than in C and T group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Blood urea nitrogen(BUN) was higher than C group (P<0.05)

lower than the T group (P<0.05);hemoglobin was lower than C group (P<0.05)

higher than the T group (P<0.05). Conclusion: T. terrestris can alleviate the impact of high-intensity exercise on serum testosterone

and maintain it at normal physiological levels;it can also promote protein synthesis

inhibit degradation of amino acid and protein

and increase hemoglobin and glycogen reserves in rats exercise training.