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The Acute Effect of Humic Acid on Iron Accumulation in Rats

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Abstract

Free iron leads to the formation of pro-oxidant reactive oxygen species (ROS). Humic acids (HAs) enhance permeability of cellular wall and act as a chelator through electron transferring. This study was designed to test chelator effect of HA on iron as well as its anti-oxidant effect against the iron-induced hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. The rats used were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8/group): group I (the control group); group II (the HA group), humic acid (562 mg/kg) was given over 10 days by oral gavage; group III (the iron group), iron III hydroxide polymaltose (250 mg/kg) was given over 10 days by intraperitoneal route; and group IV (the HA plus iron group), received the iron (similar to group II) plus humic acid (similar to those in groups II and III) group. Blood and two tissue samples both from liver and heart were obtained for biochemical and histopathological evaluations. Iron deposition, the iron-induced hepatotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity were demonstrated by histopathological and biochemical manner. However, no significant differences were observed in the serum biochemical values and the histopathological results among the iron and the HA plus iron groups in the liver tissue but not in the heart tissue. The protective effects of humic acid against iron-induced cardiotoxicity were shown but not against hepatotoxicity in our study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey

    Yasir Furkan Cagin, M. A. Erdogan, Y. Atayan, Y. Bilgic & Y. Seckin

  2. Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

    N. Sahin

  3. Department of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

    A. Polat

  4. Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

    E. Eyol

  5. Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

    C. Colak

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  1. Yasir Furkan Cagin
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Correspondence to Yasir Furkan Cagin.

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Cagin, Y.F., Sahin, N., Polat, A. et al. The Acute Effect of Humic Acid on Iron Accumulation in Rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 171, 145–155 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0507-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0507-0

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