Author(s):

Prabhu Narain Saxena, Renu Singhal and Brijender Bhushan

Abstract: Mercuric chloride, an inorganic form of mercury poses serious threat to all the living forms. In the present study, an effort has been made to assess the nephrotoxic potential of mercuric chloride against albino rats. In addition, the nephro-protective potential of Tagetes erecta (marigold) flower extract against mercuric chloride induced damage if any has also been assessed. Further, effort has also been extended to observe the effect if any, of introduction of Tagetes erecta flower extract prior or after the mercuric chloride intoxication. For this experimental, albino rats were divided firstly into four groups, then each group into five sets. Albino rats of group one received acute dose for one day only, whereas animals of group 2, 3 and 4 were administrated sub-acute doses for 7, 14 and 21 days respectively. All the doses were administrated orally. Set one of each group represented control animals and were neither administrated mercuric chloride nor Tagetes erecta flower extract. Albino rats of set 2 of each group were orally administrated different doses of Tagetes erecta flower extract as per experimental protocol. Rats corresponding to set 3 of each group were intoxicated with different doses of mercuric chloride only. Animals corresponding to the set 4, were pretreated with Tagetes erecta flower extract then after particular dose of mercuric chloride was given, whereas rats of set 5 of each group, post treated with Tagetes erecta flower extract following mercuric chloride intoxication. Acute dose for mercuric chloride came out to be 0.926mg/kg b.wt/day (1/10th of LD₅₀), whereas sub-acute for 7, 14 and 21 days as 0.132, 0.066 and 0.044 mg/kg/b.wt./day respectively. 10 mg/kg b.wt/day of Tagetes erecta flower extract was given to animals corresponding to acute set, whereas 1.43, 0.71 and 0.48 mg/kg b.wt for 7, 14 and 21 days (sub-acute sets). Nephrotoxicity of mercuric chloride as well as nephro-protective potential of Tagetes erecta flower extract has been ascertained on the basis of serum biochemical estimation of four electrolytes namely sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride, serum total protein content, albumin, globulin, A/G ratio as well as serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and Blood urea nitrogen. Among the selected parameters, sodium, chloride, calcium, total proteins, albumin and globulin were found to decrease in the serum of mercuric intoxicated rats, whereas potassium, urea, uric acid and BUN were increased. However, those supplemented with pre or post Tagetes eretca flower extract showed reduced deviation from the normal values.

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