Efficacy of Panax Ginseng Against Mercuric Chloride

Mercuric chloride exhibits dose dependent toxicity. Mercuric chloride induced reduction in body weight and liver weight accounts for free radical formation. Increase in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase is an out come of damaged structural integrity of the liver, leakage of enzyme from cytosol of liver and damage of cell membrane of hepatocytes. Enhanced activity of glutathione-s-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase under stress of mercuric chloride have been considered to be due to increased generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress and damaging effects of free radicals respectively. Panax ginseng reveals protective action against mercuric chloride intoxication through its antioxidant property which normalizes the raised levels of biotransformating enzymes and other biochemical parameters both in serum and liver. Histopathological architecture under mercuric chloride stress has been observed to be normalized after Panax ginseng treatment. Pretreatment of Panax ginseng has an edge over post treatment following mercuric chloride intoxication. Remedial aspect of Panax ginseng.