Yuxuan Zhang¹, Ying Wang², Xinhua Xie^{3, 4}, Yong Yang^{3, 4}, Kai Chen^{3, 4}, Zhilu Ai^{3, 4}, Biao Suo^{3, 4}, Chao Xu^{3, 4,}

β-glucan-rich extract of oat bran (oat β-glucan), a good source of soluble dietary fiber with well-recognized health benefits, was investigated to identify correlation between its antioxidative ability and anti-fatigue effects using exercise model. The antioxidant activities of oat β-glucan were determined both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro assays showed its free radical scavenging capacities at respective levels of 33.07, 25.53, and 52.95 µmol TE/g against DPPH•, peroxyl, and hydroxyl radicals. On the other hand, in vivo studies showed significant alleviation of oxidative stress in exercise rats, with significant increase of the superoxide (SOD) activity and reduction of the malondialdehyde (MDA) in skeletal muscle and serum, along with increasing catalase (CAT) activity and decreasing OH^• levels. Therefore, the anti-fatigue mechanism of oat β-glucan could be associated with its antioxidant effects. Thus, oat β-glucan is a promising and novel dietary antioxidant and anti-fatigue ingredient, which may contribute to enhancement of exercise endurance.

oat β-glucan, anti-fatigue, antioxidant activities, in vitro, in vivo