show Abstracthide AbstractThe molecular mechanisms underlying the exercise-induced fatigue (EIF) remain unclear.We investigated the therapeutic effects of both tea polyphenols (TP) and fruit extracts of Lycium ruthenicum (LR) on mouse model of EIF. Our results revealed that both TP and LR showed evident anti-inflammatory effect and reduced oxidative stress, i.e., significantly altered contents of fatigue-related biochemical indices, including lactate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, et al, in mice with EIF. A total of 23 microRNAs (21 up-regulated and 2 down-regulated) identified for the first time by the high-throughput RNA sequencing were involved in the molecular response to EIF in mice treated with TP and LR. The regulatory functions of these microRNAs in the pathogenesis of EIF in mice were further explored based on Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Our results revealed the therapeutic effects of TP and LR and identified the microRNAs involved in the molecular mechanisms regulating the EIF in mice, providing strong experimental evidence to support further agricultural development of LR and investigations and applications of TP and LR in the treatment of EIF in humans, including the professional athletes.