ABSTRACT
<b>Background and Objective:</b> Several previous studies have shown that leaf ethanolic extract of <i>Etlingera hemisphaerica</i> (LE3H) has the potential to reduce the toxicity and teratogenicity effects of mercury. This study aimed to describe the effects of LE3H on the protein profile of <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> serum due to treatment with HgCl<sub>2</sub>. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Four groups of male rats, K1 was injected intraperitoneally (IP) HgCl<sub>2</sub> (5 mg kg<sup>1</sup> b.wt.), K2 was injected IP HgCl<sub>2</sub> (5 mg kg<sup>1</sup> b.wt.) and after 24 hrs it was gavage LE3H (0.27 mg g<sup>1</sup> b.wt.) every day for seven days, K3 was injected IP HgCl<sub>2</sub> (5 mg kg<sup>1</sup> b.wt.), after 24 hrs was gavage LE3H (0.55 mg g<sup>1</sup> b.wt.) every day for seven days. The K0 as control, received double-distilled water. On the ninth day, the experimental animals were killed via CD and blood was drawn from the heart to obtain serum. Serum samples were measured for protein content using the Lowry and serum was separated using the One-Dimensional Sodium dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide gel Electrophoresis (1D SDS-PAGE) technique. <b>Results:</b> The electropherograms showed four bands, 264.77, 219.53, 98.57 and 37.29 kDa, whose intensity significantly increased due to HgCl<sub>2</sub> treatment and then decreased to close to the control condition with LE3H administration. The results also revealed four bands, 31.95, 28, 06, 26, 29 and 15.09 kDa, whose intensity decreased significantly due to HgCl<sub>2</sub> treatment and then increased to close to the control condition by LE3H administration. <b>Conclusion:</b> The LE3H change profile of the eight blood serum protein bands due to HgCl<sub>2</sub> approximates the control condition in <i>R. norvegicus</i>.
