OBJECTIVETo compare sub-acute toxic effects of cinnabar and Wansheng Huafeng Dan with mercury chloride and methyl-mercury.

METHODHealthy SD rats were orally administered with Wansheng Huafeng Dan (0.42 g x kg(-1)), cinnabar (0.15 g x kg(-1)), HgS (0.15 g x kg(-1)), HgCl2 (0.02 g x kg(-1)), MeHg (0.001 g x kg(-1)) and saline for 21 days under observed and their weights were monitored. After the final administration, they were decapitated and their blood, liver, kidney and brain tissues were collected for calculating hepatic and renal indexes and detecting the contents of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, urea nitrogen and creatinine and the mercury accumulation in liver, kidney and brain tissues. Besides, relative expressions of liver metallothionein-1 (MT-1) and cytochrome P450 gene subtypes (Cyp1a1, Cyp2b1, Cyp2e1, Cyp3a2, Cyp4a10) mRNA.

RESULTHgCl2 caused obvious weight lose in rats. Mercury contents in liver and kidney were markedly increased by HgCl2 and MeHg, and MeHg markedly increased mercury contents of brain either, but these advent effects were not notable in Wansheng Huafeng Dan and cinnabar groups. However, blood biochemistry and histopathology did not show significant changes in all groups. The expression of rat hepatic MT-1 mRNA was remarkably induced by both HgCl2 and MeHg. The expression of hepatic Cyp3a2 was increased by Wansheng Huafeng Dan and cinnabar, while the expression of Cyp2e1 was inhibited by HgCl2 and MeHg.

CONCLUSIONThe administration of Wansheng Huafeng Dan with equivalent dose for three weeks shows a much low sub-acute toxicity than HgCl2 and MeHg in rats.