title: The relative abundance of oxygen alkyl-related groups in aliphatic domains is involved in the main pharmacological-pleiotropic effects of humic acids.
abstract: Despite the rather common presence of humic acid (HA), our full knowledge of its biological effect is still lacking. In this article, we first performed a physicochemical characterization of several HAs, and next, we evaluated their ability to affect interleukin-2 secretion, antibody secretion, wound healing (an in vitro model using HaCaT cells), cancer growth (the Lewis lung carcinoma model), and protection against hepatotoxicity. In all tested reactions, HA showed significant stimulation on immune reactions, including suppression of cancer growth and inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatotoxicity. These effects were dependent on its chemical properties. The pleiotropic effects of HA observed in this article suggest the possible role of these compounds in human nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA. vaclav.vetvicka@louisville.edu
authors.forename: Vaclav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vetvicka
authors.forename: Aruna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vashishta
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baigorri
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garcia-Mina
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yvin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D006812:Humic Substances; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010936:Plant Extracts