Hydrophilic Phytochelators in Iron Overload Condition

Abstract

Background: Iron overload can cause many complications and damage many organs as well as physiologic functions. Consumption of phetochemicals and flavonoids with iron chelating ability, instead of synthetic iron chelators, can be less harmful and more effective. The aim of this review is to investigate hydrophilic phytochelators in iron overload condition. Methods: In this review, the possible natural iron chelators including quercetin, rutin, bailcalin, silymarin, resveratrol, mimosine, tropolone, curcumine, catechin, kojic acid, and caffeic acid were investigated. Furthermore, the mechanisms through which they chelate iron were discussed. Results: The mentioned antioxidants eliminated excessive iron, decreased iron absorption, exerted antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity without causing adverse effects and other metal deficiencies in iron overload condition. Conclusion: The combination of synthetic chelators with these antioxidants or their replacement with natural chelators could be possible treatments for iron overload.

Natural Antioxidants in Anemia Treatment

“…They also have a lower cost and toxicity compared to synthetic drugs. These natural chelators form complexes with metals and could be used in the treatment of iron overload without inducing another micromineral deficiency, being an advantage that synthetic drugs do not have [ 76 ].…”

“…The natural iron chelators contain a catechol or gallate fragment that acts as a binding site for metals and further is eliminated from the body. In addition to the ability to chelate iron and eliminate free radicals, these antioxidants can be effective in iron overload by reducing the iron load in the liver, increasing iron excretion in feces and urine, reducing serum ferritin, removing iron from ferritin and transferrin, increasing hepcidin expression, reducing iron absorption in the intestine, increasing iron absorption and incorporation into the heme, and inducting osteo- and cardio-protective effects [ 76 ].…”

“…Hydrophilic chelators, on the other hand, favor the elimination of excess iron, reduce iron absorption, and exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, without having other side effects [ 36 ]. Combining synthetic iron chelators with these antioxidants, or even replacing them with chelators from natural sources, would be a possible treatment for iron overload [ 76 ]. By chelating iron, flavonoids decrease high oxygen toxicity, for example, by inhibiting HO • production from the Fenton reaction [ 77 ].…”