The Possible Protective Role of Korean Ginseng on Ochratoxicosis: with Special References on Chromosomal Aberrations in Rats.

Ochratoxin A (OA) is a potent mycotoxin causing considerable health hazard and economic loss- e,i. OA is of concern as it is hepato-nephrotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic to a great variety of animals. LDso of crude OA was 8.5 mgf kg.b.w., i.p. The clinical symptoms, mortalities and necropsy were recorded in rats injected with OA (LD5o, i.p.) during 10 days of daily treatment. Ginseng treatments (20 mg 1 kg. b.w., i.p.) : before, mixed with, or after OA dose, completely prevented the mortality in rats. OA-treated animals showed microcytic normochromic anaemia, lucocytosis, hypoproteinaemia and elevation of serum ALT, AST, AP, urea, and creatinine values. These findings were declined near the normal levels when ginseng injected with OA. OA (115 LDso) induced chromosomal aberrations (65.66%) compared to the control. When ginseng given 10 min before OA injection, chromosomal aberrations were reduced to be 31.66% compared to OA-treated animals. In conclusion: ginseng has a protective effect against ochratoxicosis, it has anti-genotoxic activity and it can repair the chromosomal damage induced by ochratoxin A. Key words Ochratoxicosis, Chromosomal aberrations, Mycotoxins, Ochratoxin A, Korean gin sting, Protective effect of Panax ginseng, Rat