Special Acidic Water Accelerates Wound Healing in Mice Study
- Authors
- Ailyn Fadriquela, Ma Easter Joy Sajo, Johny Bajgai, Dong-Heui Kim, Cheol-Su Kim, Soo-Ki Kim, Kyu-Jae Lee
- Journal
- Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.1155/2020/2459826
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- South Korea
- Health Condition
- Cutaneous Wounds
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Strong acidic electrolyzed water (StAEW) significantly improves wound healing in mice by influencing inflammation and tissue repair processes.
Key Finding
Strong acidic electrolyzed water accelerated wound healing in mice compared to saline and alcohol controls, with faster reduction of inflammatory markers and better management of oxidative stress.
Summary
Researchers tested a special acidic water created through electrolysis (a process using electrical current) on wound healing in mice. The treated wounds healed faster than wounds treated with saline (salt water) or alcohol, and the acidic water appeared to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) while promoting the growth of new tissue.
Practical Takeaway
While this mouse study suggests acidic electrolyzed water may have wound-healing properties, it is not yet tested in humans and should not be used as a medical treatment without clinical trials. The connection to hydrogen water specifically is unclear, as this study focused on the acidic properties of electrolyzed water rather than hydrogen content.
Abstract
Strong acidic electrolyzed water (StAEW) is known to inactivate microorganisms but is not fully explored in the medical field. This study is aimed at exploring StAEW as a potential wound care agent and its mechanism. StAEW (pH: 2.65, ORP: 1159 mV, ACC: 32.1 ppm) was sprayed three times a day to the cutaneous wounds of hairless mice for seven days. Wound morphological and histological features and immune-redox markers were compared with saline- (Sal-) and alcohol- (Alc-) treated groups. Results showed that the StAEW group showed a significantly higher wound healing percentage than the Sal group on days 2, 4, 5, and 6 and the Alc group on day 4. The StAEW group also showed earlier mediation on proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-1β, and keratinocyte chemoattractant. In addition, basic fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor were found to be significantly changed in favor of the fibroblast synthesis and angiogenesis. In line, the StAEW group showed a controlled amount of ROS and significantly decreased compared to the Alc group. The StAEW group also favored oxidative stress balance through antioxidant responses. Additionally, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 9 and MMP1 were also modulated for keratinocyte and cell migration. Taken together, this study has proven the wound healing effect of StAEW and its earlier mediation through oxidative and inflammatory responses.