Ankaferd Influences mRNA Expression of Iron-Regulated Genes During Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) comprises a mixture of plants and stops bleeding via forming a protein network by erythroid aggregation. Bleeding causes reduction of iron levels in body. It has been indicated that ABS contains significant amount of iron. Thus, we investigated the biological activity of ABS-derived iron on iron-regulated genes during iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). IDA We selected Caco-2 and HepG2 cell lines as in vitro models of human intestine and liver, respectively. Iron deficiency anemia was induced by deferoxamine. The cells were treated with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) and ABS. Messenger RNA levels of iron-regulated genes were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to elucidate whether iron in ABS behaved similar to inorganic iron (FAC) during IDA. The results showed that ABS-derived iron influenced transcriptions of iron-regulated marker genes, including divalent metal transporter (Dmt1), transferrin receptor (TfR), ankyrin repeat domain 37 (Ankrd37), and hepcidin (Hamp) in IDA-induced Caco-2 and HepG2 cells. Our results suggest that when ABS is used to stop tissue bleeding, it might have an ability to reduce levels of IDA.