title: [Safety evaluation of realgar-and cinnabar-containing traditional Chinese medicine].
abstract: Realgar (90% of AS4S4) and cinnabar (96% of HgS) have been used in traditional Chinese medicines for thousands of years. Both arsenic and mercury are well-known for toxic effects and the safety of realgar-and cinnabar-containing traditional Chinese medicines is of concern. It is considered that any intentional use of known toxic metals in medicine is an unacceptable risk, while an opposing opinion presumes that realgar and cinnabar have clear pharmacological action with tolerable side effects. This review summarized the progress of toxicological study on realgar-and cinnbar-containing traditional Chinese medicines.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 20071, China. luyuanfu2000@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yuanfu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jingzhen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jingshan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001152:Arsenicals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D017669:Mercury Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; C058317:arsenic disulfide; C034211:cinnabar