Effects of Humic Substances and Phenolic Compounds on the In Vitro Toxicity of Aluminium

The effects of natural chelators [humic acids (HA), caffeic acid (CFA), p-coumaric acid (PCA), protocatechuic acid (PA), vanillic acid (VA), salicylic acid (SA), and 4-hydroxyacetophenone (HY)] and effects of well-known chelators [EDTA and citric acid (CA)] on the in vitro toxicity of aluminium (Al) were investigated with the L-929 murine, Vero simian, and MRC-5 human cell lines. Moderate in vitro cytotoxic effects were induced by Al on the three cell lines (IC50 values ranking from 5.6 to 7.6 mM). Furthermore, an increased toxicity was observed when Al was concurrently administered with CA, SA, VA, PCA, and HY. Inversely, significant cytoprotective effects were noted with EDTA, HA, CFA, and PA. The role of chelators, and especially the position and the number of reactive moieties of the phenolic compounds tested, can be highlighted to explain the different toxicological Al behavior observed.