Abstract
Zamzam water is alkaline mineral natural water consumed by millions of Muslims worldwide, who believe in its global healing effects. It is known that environmental toxins and oxidative stress are common mechanisms in the pathogenesis and complication of many diseases. Thus, the aim of the current study is to find out if Zamzam water can minimize liver toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride. In three experiments, the effects of Zamzam water were compared to ordinary bottled water. This involved measurement of bilirubin, liver enzymes and different antioxidant parameters in serum of rats. In experiments 1 and 2, single injection of high and low doses was tested, respectively. In experiment 3, a repeated (4 days) very small dose was tested. In the three experiments, test groups were injected with carbon tetrachloride dissolved in olive oil, while control animals were injected with equivalent volume of olive oil only. In all experiments, carbon tetrachloride was associated with significant rise in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). In the single high dose experiment, serum AST and ALT were significantly lower in carbon tetrachloride treated rats given Zamzam water, than those given ordinary bottled water. This same trend persisted in the single small dose experiment and disappeared in very small repeated dose one. Plasma level of all tested antioxidant parameters in the three experiments did not follow a pattern which could explain the amelioration effect of Zamzam water on carbon tetrachloride liver toxicity. These results indicate that Zamzam water is a potential protective agent against carbon tetrachloride liver toxicity in rats. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanism of the beneficiary effect of Zamzam water, and to evaluate the effect of Zamzam water on other conditions of oxidative stress.
Highlights
The susceptibility of animals to oxidative stress depends on the critical balance between its antioxidant capacity and the level of oxidative stress [1]
The aim of the current study is to investigate if Zamzam water can minimize liver toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats
In each of three experiments, the rats were divided in two groups; one group continued on ordinary bottled water, while the other was shifted to the test water, Zamzam water, for a further week
Summary
The susceptibility of animals to oxidative stress depends on the critical balance between its antioxidant capacity and the level of oxidative stress [1]. Tsai et al [6] demonstrated that electrolyzed reduced water protected the liver against carbon tetrachloride toxicity in mice. This water minimized UV light induced skin damage, a process mediated by oxidative processes [4]. The beneficial effects of alkaline water are assumed to be due to its alkaline nature, its composition in terms of minerals and trace elements may play a role. Despite the low levels of elements or trace elements in water, their contribution is still likely, at least for some of them [9]. If harmful contaminants of water are taken care of, water, in addition to its hydration property, may have other important effects
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