Protective Effect of Korean Red Ginseng Against Dichromate Toxicity

The metabolic disturbance and nephrotoxicity induced by sodium dichromate (20 mg/kg, SC) have been diminished by the administration of Korean red ginseng extract (100 mg/kg, PO). Red ginseng has a powerful potency on the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) increment shown in the early 2h after dichromate intoxication. It normalized the dichromate induced hepatic glycogenolysis. The effect of red ginseng on dichromate induced nephrotoxicity was investigated by hematological analysis, and urinalysis. Ginseng treatment significantly reduced the increases in the urinary excretion of protein and glucose. These effects were dose dependent. Ginseng protected the accumulation of BUN and cretonne in the blood, caused by dichromate intoxication. Unlike CaEDTA, ginseng did not change the urinary excretion chromium. And it could not convert htxavalent chromium to trivalent chromium. These results suggest that ginseng treatment is effective in decreasing the metabolic disturbance, one of the earliest signs of dichromate toxicity, resulting in the protective effect of dichromate induced renal damage.