Decreasing Effects of Korean Garlic against the Accumulation of Mercury Levels in Maternal and Fetal Organs in Pregnant Fischer-344 Rats

임신흰쥐에서 모체와 태자의 장기에 축적되는 수은에 대한 마늘의 저감효과에 대한 연구

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the decreasing effects of Korean garlic against the accumulation of mercury levels in maternal and fetal organs in pregnant Fischer 344 rats, based on the theory and information that neutral amino acids have protective effects against mercury poisoning and garlic contains a large of neutral amino acids. The results obtained are as follows: 1. On the 20th day of gestation, the maternal body weight in 20 mg/wt$\cdot$kg methyl mercuric chloride groups was 76.1% of those in control group, but those recovered to be 81.2% and 93.6% by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 2. The mercury levels in maternal organs were reduced 6.2% and 47.2% (p<0.05) in kidney, 8.2% and 42.1% (p<0.05) in spleen, 9.7% and 40.9% (p<0.05) in blood, 35.6% (p<0.05) and 67.2% (p<0.05) in liver, 38.0% (p<0.05) and 57.6% (p<0.05) in brain, by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 3. The mercury levels were reduced 22.4% and 44.3% (p<0.05) in placenta, and 34.7% (p<0.05) and 54.9% (p<0.05) in fetal body, by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 4. The mercury levels in fetal organs were reduced 17.5% and 46.7% (p<0.05) in kidney, 15.1% and 37.0% (p<0.05) in brain, 30.2% (p<0.05) and 46.7% (p<0.05) in liver, by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 5. Mercury levels in maternal kidney were 6.73~7.71 times higher than those in fetal kidney, but those in fetal liver and brain were 1.67~2.25 times and 1.98~2.93 times higher than those in maternal liver and brain, respectively. In conclusion, Korean garlic decrease the accumulation of mercury levels in maternal and fetal organs in pregnant Fischer 344 rats as increasing the dose.