EFFECTS OF FULLER EARTH AND ACTIVATED-CHARCOAL ON ORAL ABSORPTION OF PARAQUAT IN RABBITS

1. Thirty male rabbits of local strain (weighing 1.5-2 kg) were divide d into five groups. Four groups were treated with an oral dose of para quat, which was followed by either Fuller's Earth or activated charcoa l 0.5 or 2.0 h later. The remaining group acted as the control group a nd was treated only with an oral dose of paraquat. The dose of paraqua t was 20.0 mg/kg given in a concentration of 20.0 mg/mL. 2. Both adsor bents were administered in 15 mL normal saline as a 30% slurry. Blood was sampled from the ear vein 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h after the admin istration of paraquat. 3. Paraquat concentration was determined specto photometrically at 600 nm by comparing against a standard curve of par aquat obtained by the addition of standard paraquat into normal rabbit serum and extracting interfering substances with ether. 4. The result s of the present study show that either adsorbent can bring down the s erum paraquat level. There was no significant difference found in the effectiveness of either adsorbent. 5. It is concluded that the adminis tration of an adsorbent as early as possible will help in the reductio n of paraquat absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. 6. Activated charcoal is still effective in lowering serum paraquat concentration when given more than Ih after ingestion of paraquat.