US EPA

4162655 

Journal Article 

Review 

[Progresses on mechanisms of pharmacological and toxicological effects of cinnabar] 

Zhou, X; Wang, Q; Yang, X 

2009 

1 

Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi / China journal of Chinese materia medica
ISSN: 1001-5302 

34 

22 

2843-2847 

Chinese 

20209942 

Cinnabar has been an important traditional Chinese medicine as a sedative and soporific agent for more than 2000 years. It is a naturally occurring mercuric sulfide and containing more than 96% mercuric sulfide (HgS). There are about 10% -30% Chinese patent medicines containing cinnabar according to the Pharmacopoeia of China (2005). It's hard to deny that cinnabar has therapeutic effect in clinic practice. However, cinnabar's extraordinary high containing mercury makes people hesitate to use. Furthermore, the abuse of cinnabar, which caused intoxication cases, has been reported occasionally. The safety and toxicity of cinnabar has been debated for centuries. The exact mechanism of cinnabar is still largely unknown. The present review focused on researches about cinnabar's mechanisms of pharmacological and toxicological effects since 2000.