Effects of Cellulose, Ginseng and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol on Lead Toxicity in Rats

Cellulose, Ginseng 및 ${\alpha}$-tocopherol 의 쥐의 연중독(鉛中毒) 방어효과(防禦效果)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

Rice, the staple food in Korea, is deficient to some extent in protein, lipid and vitamins. This study was carried out in order to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation to the rice diet of cellulose, ginseng, and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol on lead toxicity in rats. Using male rats fed the rice diet with the distilled drinking water containing 750mg of lead as nitrate per liter, for 11 weeks, organ weights, hemoglobin levels, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity and accumulation of lead in liver, blood and kidney were observed. Supplementation of cellulose, ginseng and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol to the lead groups showed the protective effect significantly in the weight of liver but no influence in hemoglobin levels. Ginseng especially decreased the serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity to normal level. The three supplemented diets reduced the lead accumulation in kidney and blood, but not in liver.