• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2003

Results : 1. Vermilionum is made from the mixture of mercury and sulfur, resulting in reddish mercuric sulfide(Hg2S). 2. The characteristics for Vermilionum are pungent and sweet, has warm temperature, and enters heart, lung, and stomach meridians. 3. The efficacies of Vermilionum are to eliminate parasites, expels phlegm and dampness, and sedate heart and calm spirit. 4. Long-term intake make results in mercuric toxication. 5. Further researches on the administration methods and dosages are required to reduce side effects.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.39-47
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• 2003

Background & Methods : In order to measure the acute and subacute toxicity of Vermilionum and it's anti-cancer effects, Sarcoma-180 abdominal cancer cells were injected intravenously. The following results were obtained after measuring the survival rate, toxicity of the NK cells, and IL- 2 productivity. Results : 1. It was impossible to measure $LD_{50}$ value in the acute toxicity test and no toxic effects were witnessed in the clinical observation. 2. No significant differences were shown in the weight changes between the experiment groups and the control group in the acute toxicity test. 3. No peculiar toxic effects were shown in the subacute toxicity test and the weight changes were insignificant between the experiment groups and the control group. 4. In measuring the survival rate after inducing abdominal cancer by Sarcoma-180, the experiment groups showed increased of 9.52% compared to the control group. 5. In measuring the activity of NK cells, no significant changes were shown between the experiment groups and the control group. 6. In measuring the productivity of IL-2, significant reduction was shown in the experiment groups compared to the normal group, but no significance was witnessed compared to the control group.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.480-486
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• 2008

This paper reports on the monitoring results of some heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As and Hg) in oriental mineral medicines. Levels of Pb, Cd and As were determined using the acid digestion method and ICP-MS. Hg levels were determined using the gold amalgamation method and Automatic mercury analyzer (AMA). The results indicated that, in the case of Pb, 25.81% (24 cases) of the samples were over MRL (5 mg/kg). Pb levels in Calamina, Pumex, and Cinnabaris exceeded MRL (5 mg/kg). In the case of Cd, 9.68% (17cases) of the samples were over MRL (0.3 mg/kg). Cd levels in Calamina, Pumex and Cinnabaris were exceeded MRL (0.3 mg/kg). In case of As, 24.73% (23 cases) of samples exceeded MRL (3 mg/kg). As levels in Calamina, Lithargyrum, Vermilionum, Cinnabaris and Chalcocitum exceeded MRL (3 mg/kg). In the case of Hg, it was shown that the 76.34% (78 cases) of the samples exceeded MRL (0.2 mg/kg). Hg levels in almost all the samples exceeded MRL (0.2 mg/kg). These results led us to recommend that the domestic commercial law to be legislated to ensure the quality estimation and safety of oriental mineral medicines.