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Quantification of Humic and Fulvic Acids in Humate Ores, DOC, Humified Materials and Humic Substance-Containing Commercial Products
Published on: March 18, 2022
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Functional groups as functional drivers: structure-activity relationships in humic substances for medical
Pengfei Xin1, Qingmei Liu2, Kuanshou Zhang3
1Department of Stomatology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China. xinpengfei@sxbqeh.com.cn.
Environmental Geochemistry and Health
|November 12, 2025
Summary
Humic substances (HSs) show therapeutic potential, driven by specific functional groups. Further research is needed to understand their structure-activity relationships for modern medicine applications.
Area of Science:
- * Environmental Science and Pharmacology
- * Interdisciplinary research bridging chemistry, biology, and medicine
Background:
- * Humic substances (HSs) have historical medicinal use, but mechanistic understanding is lacking.
- * Limited translation into modern therapeutics due to poor structure-activity relationship knowledge.
- * Disciplinary imbalance in research, with Environmental Sciences dominating over Pharmacology & Pharmacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To analyze the research landscape of humic substances in medicine using bibliometrics.
- * To critically review the structure-activity relationships of HSs for therapeutic applications.
- * To identify research gaps and future directions for HS-based therapeutics.
Main Methods:
- * Bibliometric analysis of 1860 Web of Science publications (2000-2025).
- * Critical literature review focusing on HS functional groups and biological activity.
- * Trend analysis of research focus shifts over time.
Main Results:
- * Research focus shifted from adsorption to HS-based nanocarriers and photothermal therapy.
- * Key functional groups identified: carboxylic, phenolic hydroxyl, quinone moieties, and amphiphilic structures.
- * Specific groups correlate with pH-responsive delivery, metal chelation, redox regulation, and enhanced drug bioavailability.
Conclusions:
- * HSs possess diverse functional groups crucial for their biological activities.
- * Limited preclinical validation hinders translation of HSs into therapeutics.
- * Future research requires standardized HS characterization, clinical trials, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
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