Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, India.
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2005 Jan;19(1):161-7. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2004.06.002.
Mercury is being widely used in the industry, medical, agriculture and other fields. However, mercury deposition affects the nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and renal systems, as well as the embryo. In most animals' species, including man, the kidney is one of the main sites of deposition of inorganic mercury and target organ for its toxicity. The present investigation reports protection against mercury-induced toxicity by Ocimum sanctum (a traditional sacred medicinal plant, family: Labiatae). Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups. (i) Control group-only vehicle (0.9% NaCl) was given (ii) HgCl(2)-treated group-5.0mg/kg b.w. HgCl(2) administered as i.p. (iii) Ocimum treated group-10mg/kg b.w. Ocimum leaves extract was administered orally. (iv) Combination group-Ocimum leaves extract was administered 10 days prior to mercuric chloride administration and continued upto 30 days after mercuric chloride administration (5.0mg/kg b.w.). The animals were autopsied on day 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 after treatment. Activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured in kidney homogenates. The results indicated that there was a significant increase in LPO content, ACP activity and decrease in LDH and ALP activity after HgCl(2) treatment. The animals treated with Ocimum alone did not show any significant alterations in ACP and ALP activity. However, a significant increase in LDH activity and decrease in LPO level was observed. In combined treatment of Ocimum with HgCl(2), a significant decrease in LPO content and ACP and elevation in LDH and ALP activity was observed as compared to HgCl(2)-treated group. Ocimum extract is also effective in reducing the pathological alterations in the kidney. Thus, the results from the present study suggest that pre-and post-treatment of Ocimum sanctum leaves extract can significantly protect the renal damage against mercuric chloride-induced toxicity.
汞在工业、医疗、农业等领域得到广泛应用。然而，汞沉积会影响神经系统、心血管系统、肺部、胃肠道和肾脏系统以及胚胎。在包括人类在内的大多数动物物种中，肾脏是无机汞沉积的主要部位之一，也是其毒性的靶器官。本研究报告了神圣罗勒（一种传统的药用植物，唇形科）对汞诱导毒性的保护作用。瑞士白化小鼠被分为四组。（i）对照组-仅给予载体（0.9%NaCl）；（ii）HgCl2 处理组-腹腔内给予 5.0mg/kg b.w. HgCl2；（iii）Ocimum 处理组-给予 10mg/kg b.w.Ocimum 叶提取物口服；（iv）联合组-Ocimum 叶提取物在给予氯化汞前 10 天给予，并在给予氯化汞后 30 天内继续给予（5.0mg/kg b.w.）。动物在治疗后第 1、3、7、15 和 30 天进行尸检。测量肾匀浆中碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、酸性磷酸酶（ACP）、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）和脂质过氧化（LPO）的活性。结果表明，HgCl2 处理后，LPO 含量、ACP 活性显著增加，LDH 和 ALP 活性降低。单独用 Ocimum 处理的动物 ACP 和 ALP 活性没有明显变化。然而，LDH 活性显著增加，LPO 水平降低。在 Ocimum 与 HgCl2 的联合治疗中，与 HgCl2 处理组相比，LPO 含量显著降低，ACP 和 LDH 以及 ALP 活性升高。Ocimum 提取物也能有效减轻肾脏的病理改变。因此，本研究结果表明，Ocimum sanctum 叶提取物的预治疗和后治疗能显著保护肾脏免受氯化汞诱导的毒性。
