title: Germanium in ginseng is low and causes no sodium and water retention or renal toxicity in the diuretic-resistant rats.
abstract: Ginseng preparations contain high concentrations of germanium (Ge), which was reported to contribute to diuretic resistance or renal failure. However, Ge content in ginseng and the influence on renal functions remain unclear. Forty rats were randomly divided into control group, low, moderate, and high Ge ginseng-treated group and observed for 25 days. Daily urine, renal functions, and serum and urine electrolytics were measured. Ge retention in the organs and renal histological changes were also evaluated. Ge content ranged from 0.007 to 0.450 µg/g in various ginseng samples. Four groups showed no difference in the daily urine output, glomerular filtration rate, urinary electrolytes excretions, 24 h-urine protein, as well as plasma and urine urea nitrogen, creatinine, osmotic pressure, and pH values. Ge did not cause any renal pathological effects in this study. No Na and water retention was detected in the ginseng-treated groups. Ge retention in various organs was found highest in spleen, followed by the kidney, liver, lung, stomach, heart, and pancreas. The total Ge contents in various ginsengs were low, and ginseng treatment did not affect renal functions or cause renal histological changes.
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian 350122, China.
authors.forename: Chunjiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian 350122, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian 350122, China.
authors.forename: Wenlie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department of First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Shantou University, Guangdong 515041, China chsongming@126.com.
authors.forename: Songming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004232:Diuretics / Q000737:chemistry; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005857:Germanium / Q000032:analysis*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry*; D016482:Urinalysis
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D004573:Electrolytes; D005857:Germanium; D012964:Sodium; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: Germanium in ginseng; diuretic-resistant rats; renal toxicity; sodium and water retention