Cinnabar is not converted into methylmercury by human intestinal bacteria

Zhou, Xinrui; Wang, Liming; Sun, Xinming; Yang, Xiu‐Wei; Chen, Chunying; Wang, Qi; Yang, Xiaoda

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.02.032

Cited by 31 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The results revealed that no methyl mercury was formed in the bacterial media, although a small amount of Hg was released in the flora medium. The results showed that cinnabar might be transformed into mercuric polysulfides rather than methyl mercury under gut flora conditions (Zhou et al 2010). The molecular mechanism by which HgS may exert its pharmacological action is not yet clear.…”

Section: Cinnabar and Rasasinduramentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This makes clear that the chemical form of the metal is a critical determinant in toxicity evaluation. Experiments have been undertaken to study whether cinnabar was converted to methyl mercury by human intestinal bacteria (Zhou et al 2010). Cinnabar was incubated with human intestinal bacteria, and analyzed by gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the formation of methyl mercury.…”

Section: Cinnabar and Rasasinduramentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury-based traditional herbo-metallic preparations: a toxicological perspective

et al. 2012

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This review aims to explore the toxicological aspects of mercury-based herbo-metallic preparations like cinnabar and "Rasasindura" that are primarily composed of mercuric sulfide (HgS). Cinnabar-containing preparations have been used extensively in Indian and Chinese systems of medicine for treatment of chronic ailments like syphilis, high fever, pneumonia, insomnia, nervous disorders, deafness, and paralysis of the tongue. Contrary to Western medicine, which does not promote the use of mercury due to its toxic effects, Indian and Chinese traditional practitioners believe that mercury-based formulations have potent therapeutic efficacy, while there is no toxicity due to the unique and repeated purification processes employed during preparation. However, lack of proper pharmacovigilance and widespread self-medication has resulted in undesirable effects to certain sections of the consumers of these preparations, which have contributed to the negative publicity for these forms of medicine. Variations in the quality of the preparations coupled with the lack of understanding of the differences in the recommended dosages and treatment strategies adopted by traditional medicine practitioners, further fuels concerns in the Western world on the safety and efficacy of traditional medicine. But in spite of these concerns, concerted efforts to understand the biological interactions and transformations of these preparations are yet to gain momentum. Although scattered reports on the toxicity of these preparations are available in literature, their mechanism of action has not been conclusively established. Long-term pharmacotherapeutic and in-depth toxicity studies are needed to address the apprehensions raised by these herbo-metallic preparations. This review highlights the lacunae in the studies conducted thus far, and assesses the need for further studies to provide significant data to establish the safety and efficacy of such preparations, as well as develop gold standards for stringent quality control of these preparations.

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Section: Cinnabar and Rasasinduramentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cinnabar and Rasasinduramentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury-based traditional herbo-metallic preparations: a toxicological perspective

et al. 2012

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“…Contradictory results about IHg conversion into MeHg (especially when it is in form of HgS) by human gut microbiota has also been reported more recently elsewhere (Robinson and Tuovinen, 1984;Zhou et al, 2010Zhou et al, , 2011. Robinson and Tuovinen (1984) discussed the effect of HgS revealing that the availability of IHg for methylation become a key factor.…”

Section: Cow and Sheep Rumenmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…In vitro inoculation of staphylococci, streptococci, bacteroides, bifidobacterias and E. coli isolated from human faeces and extraction of MeHg by method of Westöo Rowland et al (1975a) In vitro incubation of a suspension of freshly voided human faeces spiked with isotopically marked 203 Hg 2 þ under anaerobic conditions and extraction of MeHg by method of Westöo Edwards and McBride (1975) In vitro incubation of Na 2 S solution simulating sulfur-rich large intestinal fluid and supplemented cells with cinnabar extracts Zhou et al (2010) In vitro inoculation of prepared human intestinal bacteria into a general anaerobic medium broth containing IHg in form of cinnabar, HgS and HgCl 2 Zhou et al (2011) …”

Section: Humansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This observation could be related with the fact that under aerobic conditions sulphide tend to be oxidized to sulfate increasing the solubility and, consequently, the availability of IHg. In addition, Zhou et al (2010Zhou et al ( , 2011 demonstrated that cinnabar tends to be transformed into mercuric polysulfides rather than MeHg under human intestinal bacteria conditions.…”

Section: Cow and Sheep Rumenmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is gastrointestinal microbiota relevant for endogenous mercury methylation in terrestrial animals?

Martín-Doimeadios

Mateo

Jiménez-Moreno

2017

Environmental Research

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Effect of Cys, GSH, and pH on Mercury Release from Tibetan Medicine Zuotai, β-HgS, and α-HgS in Artificial Gastrointestinal Juices

Zheng

Zhang

Wei

2017

Biol Trace Elem Res

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Zuotai, also named as "gTso thal", a known Tibetan medicinal mixture containing insoluble cubic crystal mercuric sulfide (β-HgS), has been used to treat diseases with long history. The mercury release ratio from Zuotai in gastrointestinal environment is one determinant factor for its bioavailability and biological effect. However, the information is still scarce now. Therefore, the study was designed to investigate the effect of sulfhydryl biomolecules [L-cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH)] and pH on mercury dissociation from Zuotai, β-HgS, and hexagonal crystal mercuric sulfide (α-HgS) in artificial gastrointestinal juices or pure water with a 1:100 solid-liquid ratio. And, the digestion and peristalsis of gastrointestinal tract were simulated in vitro. The results showed the following trend for the mercury release ratio of Zuotai, artificial gastric juice > artificial intestinal juice > pure water, whereas the trend for β-HgS and α-HgS was as follows, artificial intestinal fluid > artificial gastric fluid > pure water. The mercury release ratios of Zuotai, β-HgS, and α-HgS significantly increased in artificial intestinal juice containing L-Cys or GSH compared to those without sulfhydryl biomolecules in the juice. However, in contrast to the results observed for β-HgS and α-HgS, the mercury release ratio of Zuotai was reduced remarkably in pure water and artificial gastric juice with Cys or GSH. And, we found that strong acidic or strong alkaline environments promoted the dissociation of mercury from Zuotai, β-HgS, and α-HgS. Taken together, current findings may contribute to other studies regarding clinical safety and bioavailability of the traditional drug Zuotai containing β-HgS.

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Cinnabar is not converted into methylmercury by human intestinal bacteria

Cited by 31 publications

References 38 publications

Mercury-based traditional herbo-metallic preparations: a toxicological perspective

Mercury-based traditional herbo-metallic preparations: a toxicological perspective

Is gastrointestinal microbiota relevant for endogenous mercury methylation in terrestrial animals?

Effect of Cys, GSH, and pH on Mercury Release from Tibetan Medicine Zuotai, β-HgS, and α-HgS in Artificial Gastrointestinal Juices

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