BACKGROUND AND AIM: Freshwater clam shells nanoparticles powder is one of the uses of freshwater clams that can manufacture instant granular mineral supplements. This product can be used as a supplement to detoxify heavy metal toxins, such as Mercury. Mercury is an element that is detectable in all environmental media. Adults and children receive the most Mercury from food, air, and water intake. The majority of Mercury in the environment comes from the waste from mining activities and the metal industry. Mercury was found widely in the biosphere and is known as a dangerous hepatotoxicant. This study aimed to describe the hepatoprotective role of nano minerals (Ca, Mg, and Zn) produced from freshwater clam shells against mercury acetate poisoning in mice.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The mice were divided randomly into a control group (aqua bidest and mercury acetate) and an experimental group for this purpose. The experimental mice group was given orally nano Ca supplementation in three dose groups (9 mg, 18 mg, and 27 mg/200 g animal body weight) once a day for 21 consecutive days. The mice are then given mercury acetate (1300 µg/200 g animal body weight intraperitoneally) on the 21st day. One hour after giving the nano Ca supplement, the mice's blood was taken. Liver and kidney were autopsied two days later to check quantitative and qualitative changes caused by mercury concentrations in liver and kidney histopathologies.
RESULTS: The results demonstrated the importance of nano Ca supplementation before mercury acetate induction, which has been shown to reduce necrotic depletion and hepatocyte degeneration.
CONCLUSION: Nano Ca supplementation has decreased the concentration of Hg in the blood of mice so that it can be used as a potential health supplement to detoxify mercury toxins.
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.