Ameliorative Effect of Salidroside on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Rats and the Underlying Mechanism

This study aimed to investigate the effect of salidroside on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in rats and the underlying mechanism. Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model, and low-, middle- and high-dose salidroside groups, 10 rats in each group. The CFS model was established in later four groups. The later three groups were treated with 50, 100, and 200 mg/(kg.day) salidroside, respectively. After treatment, compared with model group, the CFS manifestations in salidroside groups were significantly alleviated. In addition, after treatment, compared with model group, in middle- and high-dose salidroside groups the body weight, exhausting swimming time and square-crossing number in salidroside groups were significantly increased (P < 0.01), the static tail-hanging time was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the skeletal muscle mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) contents were significantly increased (P < 0.01). In conclusion, salidroside can significantly ameliorate the CFS in rats. The mechanism may be related to its regulation of MEK/ERK signal pathway in skeletal muscle.