[Comparative toxicology study of Cinnabar, Zhusha Anshenwan, methylmercury and mercuric chloride].
OBJECTIVE
To study the toxicity of Cinnabar and Cinnabar-containing traditional medicines (Zhusha Anshenwan) comparable to common mercurials.


METHODS
The toxicity of methylmercury (MeHg), mercuric chloride (HgCl2), Cinnabar and Zhusha Anshenwan was studied in cultured human liver HL-7702 cells and in mice following acute and subacute exposures.


RESULTS
The 50% lethal concentrations (LC50) of MeHg, HgCl2, Cinnabar and Zhusha Anshenwan in human liver HL-7702 cells were 4.4, 9.2, 2460, 4050 mg x L(-1), respectively . Oral cinnabar at a dose of 20 g x kg(-1) (clinical dosage 250 times) did not kill mouse, but no mouse could survive MeHg at a dose of 0.1 g x kg(-1) or HgCl2 at a dose of 0. 15 g x kg(-1). Subacute toxicity experiment indicated that HgCl2 retarded body weight gain with significant accumulation of Hg in the liver and kidney. In comparison, mercury accumulation after Cinnabar and Zhusha Anshenwan was insignificant. No apparent hepatic and renal dysfunctions were evident under the experimental conditions, but the metallothionein-2 mRNA levels were much higher in HgCl2 group than in other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Cinnabar and Zhusha Anshenwan are much less toxic than MeHg and HgCl2.
Kang
Feng
F
Department of Pharmacology, Guiyang Traditional Medical College, Guiyang 550002, China. kangfeng26@163.com
Wu
Kun
K
He
Haiyang
H
Wu
Qin
Q
Liu
Jie
J
Kang
Yujian
Y
Shi
Jingzhen
J
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011897:Random Allocation
D017669:Mercury Compounds; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; C034211:cinnabar