The metabolic activities of vital organ such as kidney, liver and, brain are characterized
for Health condition of an animal and human then as the Liver plays a pivotal role in
regulating various physiological processes in the body such as metabolism, secretion ,
storage.( Mohamed,et al.2014) and the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous molecules
and it eases their detoxification and elimination . for maintaining the homeostasis of the
body(Mroueh et al., 2004) because the liver is the primary biotransformation site of many
xenobiotics. therefore The liver has key importance in toxicological processes .
Human activities are mainly responsible for promoting the pollution in the environment
by introducing of unwanted toxic compounds. There is an accumulating contamination of
water sources and food chain with these compounds. Four principle categories of pollutants,
which jeopardize the environments, are radio nucleotides, petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides
and heavy metals. Among these, heavy metals are the most dangerous ones because of their
stability in the biological system (Lu, 1996). Hence, industrial pollution of the environment
with metal compounds is becoming a significant problem (Foulkes, 1990)
Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal (Al-Othman et al., 2011; Nabi et al., 2010), causes a
variety of adverse health effects including immune, renal, dermatologic , development sequel
neurological, reproductive and respiratory (Risher and Amler, 2005). and can cause
biochemical damage to tissues through diverse mechanisms such as lipid peroxidation (Huang
et al., 1996), altering protein synthesis (Yee and Choi, 1996) and via binding to thiol groups
(Zalups, 2000). Many studies in vivo and in vitro have demonstrated that mercury induced
lipid peroxidation, suggesting the involvement of oxidative stress in its cytotoxicity (Necib, et
al.2013)and leading to increase in levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Reactive oxygen
species (ROS) are involved in many cellular metabolic and signaling processes. ROS easily
react with most biological macromolecules causing their degradation and destruction. ROS
can cause cellular injury through their actions on phospholipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
High oxidative stress leads to depletion of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. The
unsaturated lipid molecules of cell membranes are particularly susceptible to this damaging
free radicals process and readily contribute to the uncontrolled chain reaction.( Singh ,et
al.2014). The toxicity of Hg depends on the form of the Hg compounds (elemental, inorganic,
and organic). Inorganic Hg is a potential hepatotoxic and accumulates predominantly in the
kidneys, causing acute renal failure.( Tanaka-Kagawa, et al.1998; Emanuelli, et al.1996)
Therefore, liver damage inflicted by hepatotoxic agents and Liver function impaired (Mroueh
et al., 2004).
Alterations in kidney structure and function are frequently encountered in severe liver
diseases (Lundh, 1964) but the relationship between the hepatic and renal disorders is not
clear. The possibilities are that the agent(s) precipitating the liver disease may affect the
kidney directly or that the renal lesions develop as a secondary phenomenon to the altered
liver function(Kumar et al., 2012; Xu et al., 2004 ).
Mercury is proven to be a potential oxidant in the category of environmental factors.
Therefore, there is a need to provide protection against mercury induced toxicity. Nepherohepatoprotective
studies showed that plants have active ingredients that are capable of free
radical scavenging in living systems.
Ginkgo biloba is a popular herb used in traditional Chinese medicine. Ginkgo was first
mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, taken into account the oldest tree species on
earth, with maidenhair trees having been illustrious to measure over a median of one,
thousand years or a lot of (Bystrianyk ,2010). The leaves of the ginkgo tree, conjointly
referred to as fern, area unit the supply of this herb, as a medical plant for ameliorative the
state of mind, blood circulation, and metabolic process operate (Chan et al. 2007), whereas in
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current Chinese drugs, maidenhair tree is especially accustomed calm wheezy, stop pain, and
treat hypercholesteremia, high blood pressure, artery un wellness, heart condition, and vessel
unwellness (Huang et al,2013). Recently, the extract from G. biloba leaves has been among
the foremost ordinarily prescribed flavouring dietary remedy within the United States ,
France, and Germaney., maidenhair tree has been shown to possess inhibitor activity and to
assist within the interference and treatment of diseases related to free radicals together with
cancers (Suzuki et al., 2004), . the two teams of serious compounds found in maidenhair tree
area unit flavonoids, like myricetin and quercitin, which give for the antioxiant action, and
terpenes that facilitate inhibit the formation of blood clots. These compounds decrease the
injury that happens as a result of free radicals (Bystrianyk ,2010).(this herb is not found in
Iraq)