Preventive effect of Coriandrum sativum (Chinese parsley) on localized lead deposition in ICR mice

The preventive effect of Coriandrum sativum, Fam. UMBELLIFERAE (Chinese par sley) on lead deposition was investigated in male ICR mice given lead (1000 ppm) as lead acetate trihydrate in drinking water for 32 days. Administrat ion of Chinese parsley to mice by gastric intubation was performed for 25 d ays from day 7 after the start of lead exposure up to the end of the experi ment. The mice were then sacrificed for comparison of lead distribution. Th e lead reached its highest concentration in the femur but localized lead de position in the femur was significantly decreased by meso-2,3-dimercaptosuc cinic acid (DMSA), a chelating agent used as a positive control to validate this experimental model. Administration of Chinese parsley also significan tly decreased lead deposition in the femur and severe lead-induced injury i n the kidneys. In addition, urinary excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) which is known to increase with lead intake was significantly decreas ed after administration of Chinese parsley. The MeOH extract of Chinese par sley also reduced lead-induced inhibition of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehy dratase (ALAD) activity in vitro. These results suggest that Chinese parsle y has suppressive activity on lead deposition, probably resulting from the chelation of lead by some substances contained in Chinese parsley. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.