Special Water Speeds Up Wound Healing Better Than Common Antiseptics
- Authors
- Hae Sun You, Ailyn Fadriquela, Ma Easter Joy Sajo, Johny Bajgai, Jesmin Ara, Cheol Su Kim, Soo-Ki Kim, Jin Rok Oh, Kwang Yong Shim, Hyun Kyo Lim, Kyu-Jae Lee
- Journal
- Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1248/bpb.b17-00219
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- South Korea
- Health Condition
- Cutaneous Wounds
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) helps wounds heal faster in mice by improving the body's antioxidant response and reducing inflammation better than traditional treatments like Betadine and alcohol.
Key Finding
Slightly acidic electrolyzed water reduced wound size more effectively than conventional treatments like Betadine and alcohol in hairless mice, with improvements linked to enhanced antioxidant activity and reduced inflammatory responses.
Summary
Researchers tested slightly acidic electrolyzed water (water treated with electricity to create specific chemical properties) on skin wounds in hairless mice. When applied three times daily for seven days, this treated water reduced wound size more effectively than standard treatments like Betadine or alcohol. The water appeared to work by boosting the body's natural antioxidant defenses (molecules that protect cells from damage) and reducing inflammatory chemicals in the blood.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study that suggests electrolyzed water may have wound-healing properties, but results from mice do not directly translate to humans. Much more research, including human trials, would be needed before drawing conclusions about its effectiveness for wound care in people. The study does not involve hydrogen water specifically, but rather electrolyzed water with different chemical properties.
Abstract
Acidic electrolyzed water is an innovative sanitizer having a wide-spectrum of applications in food industry, and healthcare industry but little is known on its effect and mechanism in wound healing. The study was conducted to identify the effect and mechanism of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) on cutaneous wounds in hairless mice. SAEW (pH: 5–6.5, oxidation reduction potential: 800 mV, chlorine concentration: 25 ppm) was prepared through electrolysis of water and was applied to the wounds of hairless mice three times a day for seven days. Wound size, immune response and oxidative stress were explored and compared to conventional agents such as Betadine and alcohol. We found that SAEW-treated group showed the highest wound reduction percentage (p<0.01). Antioxidant activities such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase and myeloperoxidase activities of SAEW group surpassed the total reactive oxygen species in skin. Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related-factor-2 and aryl hydrocarbon receptor were upregulated in SAEW group. Further, SAEW recruited the production of intracellular calcium and promoted its utilization for faster healing. In line, SAEW treatment decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, keratinocyte chemoattractant, and tumor necrosis factor-α] in serum. Other hallmarks of wound healing, matrixmetalloproteinases (MMP)1 and MMP9 were also upregulated. Collectively, our study indicates that SAEW is effective in wound healing of hairless mice via immune-redox modulation, and heals better/faster than conventional agents.