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This study was performed to investigate the possible effects of Korean Eucommia ulmoides Oliv(EuO) extract on the reduction of lead(Pb) and cadmium(Cd) accumulation in organs of rats. Seventy 4-week old male Spraue-Dawley rats were used for this experiment. They were divided into the following 10 groups and fed for 4 weeks: The control group; two groups treated with only Pb, one with 100 ppm and one with 200 ppm; two groups treated with only Cd, one with 50 ppm and one with 100 ppm; a group treated with only EUO(3% extract); four groups treated with a combination of both EuO and one of each level of Pb(100 ppm and 200 ppm) and Cd(50 ppm and 100 ppm). The EuO and the heavy metals were orally administered in drinking water. The water intake of the Pb-EuO and the Cd-EuO combination groups showed significantly lower than those of control group, the EuO alone group, and the Pb alone and the Cd alone groups(p<0.05). The EuO alone group showed higher body weight compared to the Pb and Cd treated groups at the termination(p<0.05). The levels of Pb and Cd in the liver, kidney, heart, lung, stomach and spleen of the rats exposed to Pb alone and Cd alone were reduced by the combined treatment of EuO. The significant differences of Pb levels were observed among the lungs of the EuO alone group, the Pb alone groups, and the Pb-Euo combined groups(p<0.05). There were significant differences in the Cd levels in the lung and the stomach among the three groups; the EuO alone group, the Cd alone groups, and the Cd-Euo groups(p<0.05). The highest levels of Pb and Cd were found in the kidney, and they were reduced by more than 50% by the addition of EuO. These results indicate that the 3% extract of E. ulmoides Oliv could be helpful for the reduction of Pb and Cd accumulation in the organs of rats, and suggest that it may be effective in excreting the heavy metals. We need to check what levels of E. ulmoides Oliv are practical for human beings to consume and what level will cause other negative results.
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