Arsenic as a promoter in the effect of humic substances on plasma prothrombin time in vitro.

Protocatechuic acid can be oxidized and polymerized to from humic substances (humic acid and fulvic acid). Should AS2O3 occur in the process of oxidative polymerization, humic acid output can increase by 1.5 - 2.3 times and, in the case of fulvic acid, at least 10 times. After protocatechuic acid is oxidized and polymerized, the resultant humic and fulvic acids both exhibit the ability to shorten the prothrombin time of human pool plasma in vitro. This ability becomes more apparent when AS2O3 serves as a promoter in the course of oxidative polymerization as described above. However, AS2O3 or protocatechuic acid alone is unable to shorten the prothrombin time of human pool plasma.