Sappan Wood Ethanol Extract (Caesalpinia sappan L.) as Adjuvant and Substitute of Iron Chelator in Acute Iron Overload Rat Model

Abstract

I ron overload is a phenomenon caused by the accumulation of excess iron (Fe) in the body. Regular blood transfusion therapy in thalassemia patients can induce its accumulation (Mishra and Tiwari, 2013). Furthermore, the inability to produce hepcidin in hereditary hemochromatosis also causes this condition due to excess absorption (Kowdley et al., 2019). Iron can act as an electron carrier and catalyst for different processes, such as the Fenton reaction (Gattermann et al., 2021). The reaction often leads to the production of hydroxyl free radicals known as reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can induce oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation when their level exceeds that of antioxidants (Sousa et al., 2020). Iron overload in the body causes damage to body organs, such as the liver, heart, spleen, kidney, and brain (