Objective To research the possible anti-sports fatigue mechanism of Astragalus Saponin.Methods Totally 36 male SD rats were randomized into the blank group

model group and Astragalus Saponin group

with 12 in each.The Astragalus Saponin group was gavaged with 50 mg / kg Astragalus Saponin.The model group and blank group were gavaged with the same volume of normal saline once daily.The sports fatigue rat models were copied in the Astragalus Saponin group and model group by horizontal treadmill exercise one hour after intragastric administration once daily for 14 consecutive days.The malondialdehyde（MDA）in hippocampal tissue

total antioxidant capacity（T-AOC）

acetylcholinesterase（TchE）and caspase 3（capase-3）expressions were detected and the changes of hippocampal morphology were observed under light microscope.Results Comparing with the blank group

the MDA content was significantly increased

the activity of T-AOC and TchE was significantly decreased and the positive cells and positive area ratio of caspase-3 were significantly increased（P < 0.01）and the pathologic changes were appeared in hippocampal tissue under light microscope in the model group.Comparing with the model group

the MDA content was significantly decreased

the activity of T-AOC and TchE was significantly increased and the positive cells and positive area ratio of caspase-3 were significantly decreased（P < 0.01）and the hippocampal morphology became normal under light microscope in the Astragalus Saponin group.Conclusion The anti-sports fatigue effect of Astragalus Saponin may be relevant to inhibiting free radical increment caused by sports oxidative stress and relieving the hippocampal neuronal damage.