Natural Iron Chelators as Potential Therapeutic Agents for the Treatment of Iron Overload Diseases

Abstract

Iron overload disease is a group of heterogeneous disease, which is caused either due to hereditary or acquired condition. Excess of iron participate in redox reactions that catalyzes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increases oxidative stress, which causes cellular damage and encourage the cell injury and cell death. The electronic databases of Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar have been intensively searched for the research as well as review articles published with the full text available and with the key words such as natural iron chelating agent, synthetic iron chelating agents, iron overload disease, oxidative stress and antioxidant which were appearing in the title, abstract or keywords. In light of the literature review presented in this artial, based on meta-analyses, we suggest that iron chelating agents were used for the management of iron overload disease. These agents were having wide spectrum of activity, they were not only used for the management of iron overload disease but also used as anticancer and antioxidant in various oxidative stress mediated diseases. Last from many years Desferoxamine (DFO) was used as standard iron chelator but currently two new synthetic iron chelators such as Deferiprone (DFP) and Deferasirox (DFS) are available clinically. These clinically available synthetic iron chelators were having serious side effects and certain limitations. Phytochemicals such as flavonoids and polyphenols compounds were having iron chelating as well as antioxidant property with no or minimal side effects. Hence, this review provides an updates on natural iron chelation therapy for the safe and efficacious management of iron overload diseases.

Manuka combinations with nigella sativa and hydroxyurea in treating iron overload of pediatric β-thalassemia major, randomized clinical trial

“…However, serious adverse events, including iron overload and organ damage, have been reported in those therapies in β-thalassemia patients [ [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] ]. In contrast, natural iron chelator has been proposed as an alternative to synthetic iron chelator or combined with them for a better outcome and lesser adverse events [ [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , 26 ].…”

“…Previous clinical studies have investigated the impact of natural iron chelators on iron overload diseases [ 13 ]. In line with that, other clinical studies have investigated alternative therapeutics modalities for iron overload diseases, considering the economic status of poor nations and the differences in efficacy between synthetic and natural iron chelators [ [14] , [15] , [16] ].…”