Protective Effect of Leaf Ethanolic Extract Etlingera hemisphaerica Blume Against Mercuric Chloride Toxicity in Blood of Mice

Abstract

This research was intended to investigate the protective effect of leaf ethanolic extract Etlingera hemisphaerica Blume (LE3H) against mercuric chloride (HgCl) toxicity in blood of mice (Mus musculus). The experimental animals, 95 male M. musculus, received drink and food ad libitum. Three materials were tested: LE3H (0.13, 0.26, 0.39 mg/g body weight [bw]) was administered by gavage; HgCl (5 mg/kg bw) was administrated by gavage or intraperitoneal injection; and Imunos (the nutritional supplement to stimulate the immune system; 0.2 mg/g bw), as a positive control for LE3H treatment, was given by gavage. Blood samples were taken from the tails for determining number of blood cells. The animals were killed by cervical dislocation (CD), and then blood samples were collected from the hearts for protein electrophoresis. Results revealed the same number of leukocytes with LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) treatment as with the Imunos treatment. HgCl administration increased leukocytes and decreased erythrocytes; HgCl administration followed by LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) treatment protected the amount of blood cells as well as the control. HgCl administration showed a new 125 kDa protein and caused overexpression of 48 kDa protein; this protein profile could be protected by LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) treatment as in the control condition. We conclude that LE3H provides a protective effect against HgCl toxicity in blood of M. musculus.

Leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemesphaerica Blume mitigates defects in fetal anatomy and endochondral ossification due to mercuric chloride during the post-implantation period in Mus musculus

“…Based on the results of previous studies [ 16 , 17 ], this study used a single dose of E . hemisphaerica leaf ethanol extract (LE3H), namely 0.39 mg/g bw [ 15 ]. Hg in the form of HgCl 2 was obtained from Merck (Germany; Product No.…”

“…LE3H shows potential protective effects against HgCl 2 toxicity in blood of mice. Therefore, dietary supplements of LE3H may be useful for protecting persons who are exposed to HgCl 2 [16]. Our previous study indicated that LE3H decreased malformed living fetus as teratogenicity effects of HgCl 2 in mice [17].…”

“…E. hemisphaerica fresh leaves weighing 3000 g were wind-dried for 7 days, resulting in 800 g of dry leaves which were blended into a fine powder. Leaf powder was macerated in 2 L of ethanol (96%) for 7 days, and the resulting filtrate was evaporated using a rotary evaporator [19] so that the concentrated extract was weighed 3 g, and 2 g was used as the test material for this study [15][16][17].…”

“…Changes in oxidant-antioxidant balance, inhibition of antioxidant defense system, and enhanced production of ROS are considered to play a key role in Hg-induced toxicity [35]. LE3H is a crude extract containing flavonoids [16], and that is thought to include flavonoid quercetin. Several studies have reported that the flavonoid quercetin has antioxidant effects against HgCl 2 [36][37][38][39].…”

“…The results of the ethnomedicinal plant study showed that the ethanol extract of the leaves of Etlingera hemisphaerica (LE3H; http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-243067 ; 0.39 mg/g bw) in mice has the potential to reduce blood glucose (36,2%) and triglycerides (21.19%) in mice with hyperglycemia and hypertriglycerides [ 14 ]. In addition, Hg detoxification studies showed that LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) had a hepatoprotective effect to reduce HgCl 2 (5 mg/kg bw) toxicity in mice [ 15 ]. Previous investigations revealed that administration of HgCl 2 increased leukocytes and decreased erythrocytes; meanwhile, giving HgCl 2 followed by LE3H treatment can protect blood cell counts and control them.…”