Abstract:To explore the anti-fatigue effect of ready-to-eat red ginseng tablets (JSHS), the main bioactive components were determined. Then, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model, various indicators, such as lifespan, locomotor ability, pharyngeal pumping rate, in vivo antioxidant capacity, and expression levels of anti-fatigue-related genes, were measured to evaluate the antifatigue effects of JSHS, dried red ginseng decoction pieces (HSYP), and formula solution (ZFY). The contents of total saponins and total polysaccharides in JSHS were higher than those in HSYP and ZFY. Compared with that in the blank control group, JSHS and HSYP increased the average lifespan of C. elegans by 16.56% and 10.85%, respectively. JSHS led to an extremely significant increase in the pharyngeal pumping rate of C. elegans by 25.32% (P<0.000 1). JSHS significantly improved the stress resistance of C. elegans (P<0.01), significantly increased the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in C. elegans (P<0.05), and significantly decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) (P<0.05). Additionally, daf-2 was extremely significantly down-regulated, and daf-16, sod-3, and skn-1 were extremely significantly up-regulated in C. elegans by JSHS (P<0.000 1). In conclusion, JSHS, which is processed by combining HSYP with ZFY, shows high contents of its main bioactive components and exerts comprehensive anti-fatigue effects in C. elegans by extending their lifespan, locomotor ability, pharyngeal pumping rates, stress resistance, and in vivo antioxidant capacity and regulating the expression of anti-fatigue-related genes. This study preliminarily demonstrates the anti-fatigue effects of JSHS, thus providing a theoretical basis for the development and application of health foods.