The high mortality rate of rats during the Cd exposure period indicated the Cd dose was too high or the experimented rats were more sensitive to Cd than rats in our previous experiments when we established a rat model for renal and liver injuries induced by Cd. The antagonistic and prophylactic effects of the leaf extract were not defined at the Cd dose used in this study because of the high mortality rate. However, rats fed the leaf extract before and during Cd exposure had a slightly lower mortality rate than the positive control group treated with CdCl2 alone. Administration of the T. laurifolia Lindl. leaf extract by gavage may reduce Cd toxicity but not antagonize or prevent the lethality caused by high Cd exposure. Therefore, our next study will be focus on reducing Cd dosages and pretreatment experimented rats with T. laurifolia Lindl. leaf extract by other routes of administration, such as drinking water