Effect of a mercurial ayurvedic drug (kajyoli) on the ion concentration and respiratory activity in brain,liver and kidney of the albino rat

The effect of a mercurial ayurvedic drug (kajyoli), on the concentration of Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ in rat liver, kidney and brain, and on the respiratory activity of these tissues is reported. The doses used were 20 mg and 40 mg. day^?1. kg^?1 body wt. daily for 30 days, the lower level being equivalent to the human dose. A marked dose-dependent decrease in respiratory activity occurred in the three tissues. The only significant changes seen in the ion concentration were a decrease in Na⁺ at the higher dose level in the kidney and a dose-dependent decrease in Ca²⁺in the liver.