Objective: To study the toxicity of Cinnabar and Cinnabar-containing traditional medicines (Zhusha Anshenwan) comparable to common mercurials.
Method: The toxicity of methylmercury (MeHg), mercuric chloride (HgCl2), Cinnabar and Zhusha Anshenwan was studied in cultured human liver HL-7702 cells and in mice following acute and subacute exposures.
Result: The 50% lethal concentrations (LC50) of MeHg, HgCl2, Cinnabar and Zhusha Anshenwan in human liver HL-7702 cells were 4.4, 9.2, 2460, 4050 mg x L(-1), respectively . Oral cinnabar at a dose of 20 g x kg(-1) (clinical dosage 250 times) did not kill mouse, but no mouse could survive MeHg at a dose of 0.1 g x kg(-1) or HgCl2 at a dose of 0. 15 g x kg(-1). Subacute toxicity experiment indicated that HgCl2 retarded body weight gain with significant accumulation of Hg in the liver and kidney. In comparison, mercury accumulation after Cinnabar and Zhusha Anshenwan was insignificant. No apparent hepatic and renal dysfunctions were evident under the experimental conditions, but the metallothionein-2 mRNA levels were much higher in HgCl2 group than in other groups.
Conclusion: Cinnabar and Zhusha Anshenwan are much less toxic than MeHg and HgCl2.