What is it about?
To investigate a easily available and effective remedy of chronic arsenic poisoning. Ethanolic extract of spinach was used to find the effects on different tissues ( liver, spleen, kidney, intestine, lungs and skin) of arsenic fed rats. Arsenic removal and antioxidant activity was measured.
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Why is it important?
Chronic arsenic toxicity is a global health issue at present. It is also a major health problem of Bangladesh and surrounding regions. There is no specific curative treatment. Improvement of nutritional status and use of chelating agents are recommended. But the role of chelating agents in chronic arsenic poisoning is not beyond doubt. Vitamin A, E, C regimen with arsenic free water was proved to be effective in improving arsenic-induced melanosis and keratosis. Spirulina extract plus zinc was found to be beneficial in patients of chronic arsenic poisoning. In view of antioxidant properties of spinach the present study was carried out to document the effectiveness of spinach extract against chronic arsenic toxicity.
Perspectives
As spinach is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients. All of which possess antioxidant properties. Thus, it can be suggested that a combination of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other micronutrients could be a novel therapeutic measure for the treatment of arsenicosis.
Dr BADAR UDDIN UMAR
Oxford College of Arts, Business and Technology, Toronto
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Effect of hexane extract of spinach in the removal of arsenic from rat, Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology, January 2008, Bangladesh Journals Online (BanglaJOL),
DOI: 10.3329/bjp.v2i1.497.
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