Abstract:
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 thehistopathological 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.