Background & Objectives Phytoecdysteroids contained in common spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.) and wild spinach ( Blitum bonus-henricus (L.) Rchb.) have been reported to produce anabolic effects, including increase in size and number of muscle fibers, increase in muscle strength, and improvement of physical performance. Based on this premise, the present study investigated whether treatment with hydroalcoholic raw extracts of Spinacia oleracea and Blitum bonus-henricus improved physical performance in mice exposed to an exhaustion running test. Methods Adult male mice were treated repeatedly and intragastrically with either 0, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg Spinacia oleracea extract or 0, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg Blitum bonus-henricus extract, and exposed to 20 daily running sessions at Rota-Rod. Results Treatment with Blitum bonus-henricus extract resulted in a dose-related, progressive increase in exhaustion time (defined as the third fall from the revolving drum). Over the entire second half of the 20-session period, mice treated with 2000 mg/kg Blitum bonus-henricus extract displayed an exhaustion time at least double than that recorded in vehicle-treated mice. Conversely, treatment with Spinacia oleracea extract was totally ineffective. Conclusions These results suggest that products derived from Blitum bonus-henricus may represent novel, promising anti-fatigue agents.
Lobina et al. (2026) studied this question.