Research Center for Environment and Health (GSF)#FE 75184, BA 31/139166/02/U, 2002-2004, PI: Perminova I.V.
Humic substances as natural adaptogens: evaluation of the biological effects and their relationship to the molecular properties General concept The humic substances (HS) play several key functions in soil, freshwater and marine environments. The fertilizing effects of HS on the plant growth and detoxifying action towards different ecotoxicants are most widely acknowledged and have been intensively studied over the last years. At the same time, the ability of HS to strengthen the resistance of living organisms to non-specific stress factors is frequently reported, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Given the particular importance of the natural adaptogens for sustaining the human and environmental health, the mechanistic studies on the adaptogenic properties of HS should be given an extreme priority. They can contribute substantially into the knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of the co-evolution of the living systems with their non-living environments and provide the missing scientific backgrounds for the systematic use of HS for agricultural and medical applications. The goal of the proposed project is to acquire a systematic knowledge on the membranotropic and immunoadaptogenic properties of differently fractionated and modified HS and on their relationship to the structure, and to elaborate the practical approaches to preparation of the biologically active humic materials. To reach the goal, the following objectives are to be fulfilled:
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