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Table 2 Comparison between QC and conventional iron chelators

From: Quercetin attenuates neurotoxicity induced by iron oxide nanoparticles

Iron chelating agents

Quercetin (QC)

Deferoxamine (DFO)

Deferasirox (DFX)

Deferiprone (DFP)

Type (source)

Natural (flavonoid) [176]

Natural (siderophore) [176]

Synthetic [176]

Synthetic [176]

Molecular weight

302.236 g/mol (see Foot note link 13)

500–900 g/mol [273]

373 g/mol [267]

139 g/mol [267]

Half-life

11–28 h [176]

20–30 min [270]

8–16 h [270]

2–3 h [270]

Routes of excretion

Urinary [172], fecal [171]

Urinary, fecal [270] [299]

Fecal [279]

Urinary [270]

Structure

View full size image

View full size image

Recommended dose

500–1000 mg/day for short time (web ref, 14)

500 mg twice daily for 12 weeks (see Foot note link 15)

20–60 mg/kg/day

over 8–24 h [271]

20–40 mg/kg/day

once daily [271]

75–100 mg/kg/day

in three divided doses [271]

Administration

Oral and intravenously (see Foot note link 15). powder and capsule (see Foot note link 14)

Subcutaneous and intravenous [267]

Oral [279](dispersible tablet) [271]

Oral [92]tablets and solution [271]

Stoichiometry (chelator:iron)

1:1

2:1

3:1 [18, 189]

1:1 [292]

2:1 [292]

3:1 [292]

Adverse effects

Generally safe. at doses, more than 1000 mg/day may cause headaches, stomach aches, and tingling sensations (see Foot note link 14)

Neurological side effects at high doses [271], ocular and auditory toxicity, renal complications, growth retardation [276, 277], local allergic reactions [278]

Skin rash, gastrointestinal complications, [283], enhancing liver enzymes [271]

Gastrointestinal complications, musculoskeletal pain, neutropenia [284], and enhancing liver enzymes [271]

Advantages

No side effects in desirable doses and duration of medication (web ref, 14 and 15), supplied by natural sources, and longer plasma half-life than current chelators (e.g. DFO, DFX, and DFP)

Long-term experience and data available [299]

Orally active, once-daily dosing [299] and long-plasma half-life [270]

Orally active [92], low molecular weight, and high ability to penetrate tissues

Disadvantages

Requires high dose and low BBB crossing

Not absorption from the gastrointestinal tract [270], rapidly clearance and requires to prolong infusion [300], and poor compliance [184]

Expensive [299] and requires monitoring renal and liver function [272]

Moderate-plasma half-life [270], requires three times daily dosing and probability of negative effects [271], limited experience and data (see foot not link 16), and requires assessment of complete blood counts [270]

FDA approval

No

Yes [278]

Yes [278]

Yes, except the United States and Canada [270]