Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41009043›Full record

ReviewAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Biomedical Applications of Humic Substances: From Natural Biopolymers to Therapeutic Agents.

Yana Gvozdeva, Petya Peneva, Plamen Katsarov

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Yana GvozdevaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.ORCID 0000-0002-7622-6060
Petya PenevaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.ORCID 0000-0001-9473-4600
Plamen KatsarovDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.ORCID 0000-0002-9158-6208

Funding

European Union-NextGenerationEU, through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria BG-RRP-2.004-0007-C01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Humic substances, which include humic acid and fulvic acid, are natural biopolymers formed from the decomposition of organic matter. There is growing interest in them because of their diverse potential in the biomedical field. Their complex structures, rich in various functional groups, provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. Recent studies demonstrate that humic substances can scavenge reactive oxygen species, modulate cytokine production, inhibit viral fusion, promote wound healing, and enhance gut microbiota balance. Humic acid and fulvic acid also exhibit anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells, while protecting healthy tissues from oxidative stress. Furthermore, their chelating capacity underlies detoxifying activity and heavy metal binding effects. Despite promising research, variability in composition and potential cytotoxicity under certain conditions emphasize the need for standardized extraction methods and rigorous preclinical evaluation. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the biological effects of humic substances, exploring the mechanisms behind their actions and their potential biomedical applications. It highlights both the benefits and the limitations associated with their use in drug delivery systems.

Indexed as

antioxidant potentialbiomedical applicationfulvic acidhumic acidhumic substances

Identifiers

PMID41009043
PMCPMC12466450

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.