Analysis of Time of Measurement and Modes of Administration of Some Medicinal Plants Additives on Mercury Accumulation in the Liver

Mercury toxicity leads to cell damage in many organs of the body. The authors comparatively examined the ability of different food additives with medicinal properties to protect against mercury (Hg) accumulation in the liver following different treatment interventions and modes of administration. Rats were fed on either 7% w/w Zingiber officinale, 7% w/w Garlic, 10% w/w Lycopersicon esculentum, or 5%, w/w Garcinia kola (all in rat chow), while Hg (10 ppm) was given in drinking water. The additives were administered together with the metals (group 2), a week after (group 3) or a week before metal exposure (group 4) for a period of six weeks. The metal accumulations in the liver were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). All the additives significantly (p<0.05) reduced the accumulation of mercury in the liver, percentage protection being lowest for ginger as an additive and highest for garlic. Percentage protection was significantly higher at weeks 4 (P<0.01) and 6 (P<0.001), compared to week 2. The mode of administration did not interact significantly with either time or additive in their relationship to percentage protection. Each additive provided significant protection from mercury and protection generally varied with time, but variations were not modified by mode of administration.