Development of low-cost and plant-based treatment method for lead poisoning and remediation method of lead-contaminated environments

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20472
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 64020:Environmental load reduction and remediation-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Nakata Hokuto 北海道大学, 獣医学研究院, 博士研究員 (60815273)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 鉛中毒 / 鉛汚染 / 低コスト / ALAD / 酸化ストレス / ラット / モリンガ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Animal experiments using rats showed that Moringa administration had no apparent effect on the amount of lead accumulated in the body or excreted in feces, while it significantly mitigated the inhibition of ALAD enzyme activity, which is involved in the development of hematological toxicity such as anemia. Oxidative stress, a key event in the toxicological mechanism of lead, was also significantly reduced.
In the column test of contaminated soil using Moringa seeds, the amount of lead leaked into the permeated water was reduced by mixing the seeds uniformly throughout the column. Moringa leaves grown in the contaminated soil accumulated more lead than the reference value, while the seeds were below the standard value. These results suggest that Moringa may be useful in overcoming lead poisoning and lead contamination.

Free Research Field

毒性学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

抗酸化能をもつモリンガの投与が、鉛の毒性低下に繋がることが予想された。本研究では、そうした仮説が実証された。また、モリンガ種子は表面に鉛等の金属類を吸着するため、この性質により土壌の汚染拡大を防止すると考えられ、カラム試験における浸出水で一定の成果が得られた。鉛汚染は国際課題であるが、その汚染の多くは途上国で起きており、中毒患者の大部分は貧困層である。社会の実情に即した低コストかつ持続可能な解決策の構築に、本研究は一定の役割を果たした。