PURPOSE: To obtain a modified huminate producing high physiological and detoxifying effects in spite of its very low toxicity and having wound treting action about 100 times as high as that of conventional natural or synthetic humic substances.

CONSTITUTION: The modified huminate is a modified alkali metal or ammonium huminate at least part of which comprises molecules of formula I and II (R1, R3 and R4 are OH or H; R2 is CO or CH2; and R5 and R6 are H, OH or OCH3; but R4-R6 are not simultaneously H). The compd. is obtd by oxidizing compds. of the formula I and II in an aq. alkali soln. at 15-40°C, adjusting the reaction mixture to pH4.5-7.0, in particular pH5.5-6.5 and/or buffering it and purifying the resultant low molecular alkali metal huminate by chromatography or other method to remove an unfavorable byproduct. The compd. has high performance in various uses such as a wound treating drug, a highly effective artificial heart bog bath, a stressed fish treating drug, an antiseptic for water, etc., a medicine for a nose and a shampoo for dandruff symptom.