Zuotai (β-HgS)-containing 70 Wei Zhen-Zhu-Wan differs from mercury chloride and methylmercury on hepatic cytochrome P450 in mice.

Zuotai (mainly β-HgS)-containing 70 Wei-Zhen-Zhu-Wan (70W, ) is a famous Tibetan medicine for treating cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases.  We have shown that 70W protected against CCl hepatotoxicity.  CCl is metabolized via cytochrome P450 (CYP) to produce reactive metabolites. Whether 70W has any effect on CYPs is unknown and such effects should be compared with mercury compounds for safety evaluation.   Mice were given clinical doses of 70W (0.15-1.5 g/kg, po), Zuotai (30 mg/kg, po), and compared to HgCl (33.6 mg/kg, po) and MeHg (3.1 mg/kg, po) for seven days. Liver RNA and protein were isolated for qPCR and Western-blot analysis. 70W and Zuotai had no effects on hepatic mRNA expression of Cyp1a2, Cyp2b10, Cyp3a11, Cyp4a10 and Cyp7a1, and corresponding nuclear receptors [aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), pregnane X receptor (PXR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα); farnesoid X receptor (FXR)]. In comparison, HgCl and MeHg increased mRNA expression of Cyp1a2, Cyp2b10, Cyp4a10 and Cyp7a1 except for Cyp3a11, and corresponding nuclear receptors except for PXR. Western-blot confirmed mRNA results, showing increases in CYP1A2, CYP2B1, CYP2E1, CYP4A and CYP7A1 by HgCl and MeHg only, and all treatments had no effects on CYP3A. Zuotai and Zuotai-containing 70W at clinical doses had minimal influence on hepatic CYPs and corresponding nuclear receptors, while HgCl and MeHg produced significant effects.  Thus, the use of total Hg content to evaluate the safety of HgS-containing 70W is inappropriate.