Hydrogen + Propofol Combo Improves Sepsis Survival in Mice
Effect of combination therapy with propofol and hydrogen-rich saline on organ damage and cytokines in a murine model of sepsis
Research hubs: Immune System · Respiratory System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Yunchuan Hong, Hongguang Chen, Yonghao Yu, Ke-Liang Xie
- Journal
- Chinese Critical Care Medicine
- Year
- 2017
- PMID
- 28420464
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Participants
- 140
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 5 mL/kg H2-rich saline i.p. at 1 hour and 6 hours after CLP
- Duration
- 1 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 2 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Combining the anesthetic propofol with hydrogen gas significantly improves survival and reduces inflammation in mice with sepsis.
Key Finding
In septic mice, combining propofol and hydrogen-rich saline improved 7-day survival to 55% compared to 40% with propofol alone and 40% with hydrogen alone, while also reducing inflammatory markers and organ tissue damage more effectively than either treatment individually.
Summary
Researchers tested whether combining two treatments—propofol (a sedative drug) and hydrogen-rich saline (salt water containing dissolved hydrogen)—could help mice survive sepsis, a life-threatening infection response. In mice with induced sepsis, the combination treatment improved survival rates and reduced inflammatory markers (immune signaling molecules) and tissue damage in the lungs, liver, and kidneys compared to either treatment alone.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage mouse study showing that hydrogen-rich saline combined with propofol may help reduce inflammation and organ damage in sepsis. However, these results cannot be directly applied to humans yet—animal studies often don't translate to human benefit, and propofol is a prescription medication requiring medical supervision. Further research in humans would be needed to determine if hydrogen-rich saline has any role in sepsis treatment.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objective: To investigate the effect of combining propofol with hydrogen on organ damage and inflammation of sepsis in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mice model. Methods: One hundred and forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into groups (n = 28): sham group, CLP group, propofol group, H2…