The Artemisia extract in pulverized form used in this study was prepared and supplied by boiling Artemisia leaves, which were roasted with far-infrared rays, and by evaporating the supernatant under a reduced pressure. The Artemisia extract is known to possess some antioxidants such as caffee tannins. To investigate the temporary effects of Artemisia extract on in vivo lipid peroxidation induced by an exhaustive exercise, the Artemisia extract was administered to animals (mice) and female humans.
　Female Balb/c mice were orally given Artemisia extract, vitamin C or water 1 h before and just before, and immediately after an exercise. The exercise was performed to exhaustion on a rodent treadmill. One hour after the end of exercise, the mice were killed by bleeding via the abdominal aorta, and the tissues (liver, kidney and gastrocnemius) were quickly dissected and frozen by liquid nitrogen. The amounts of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) in the plasma and the homogenate of liver, kidney or gastrocnemius showed no significant difference among the Artemisia group, the vitamin C group and the water group.
　The healthy women (mean age : 22 years) were given the Artemisia extract or water just before and immediately after an exercise. The were subjected to an incremental exercise to exhaustion on a bicycle ergometer. The amount of post-exercise urinary TBARS excretion was higher than the control when the Artemisia extract was administered.
　These results suggest that the temporary administration of the Artemisia extract before and after an exhaustive exercise improes urinary excretion of peroxidative substances rather than suppresses lipid peroxidation.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.17/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE