Investigation on the Effects and Mechanisms of Alkaline Natural Mineral Water and Distilled Water on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers In Vivo and In Vitro

Yilin Sun,Jingyi Zheng,Shengbao Cai,Junjie Yi

doi:10.3390/pr10030498

Yilin Sun, Jingyi Zheng + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10030498

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Journal: Processes	Publication Date: Mar 2, 2022
Citations: 5	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Kunming University of Science and Technology

Abstract

Studies have proven that alkaline water has a protective effect on gastric diseases. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear. Moreover, in some countries, especially in China, purified water (distilled water) is also an important form of drinking water, while its protective effect on gastric diseases is still unknown. This study aimed to compare the effects of distilled water (pH = 5.6 ± 0.3) and alkaline natural mineral water (pH = 9.3 ± 0.6) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in mice and to further clarify the underlying mechanisms. Pepsin activity, prostaglandin E-2 (PGE2) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as the oxidative stress pathway related proteins such as nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NADH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) were measured. After alkaline natural mineral water treatment, the levels of PGE2 and HSP70 were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Antioxidant indexes (SOD, GSH, and MDA) and Western blot results (Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1) showed that alkaline natural mineral water did not alleviate gastric ulcers by improving oxidative stress. Pepsin activity assay displayed that the pepsin activity was significantly declined after alkaline natural mineral water treatment compared with the distilled water treatment (p < 0.05). This study indicated that alkaline natural mineral water may alleviate the ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in mice by inhibiting the pepsin activity and increasing the levels of PGE2 and HSP70.

Highlights

Gastrointestinal diseases have become a global health concern, among which peptic ulcer is the most common multi-factorial gastrointestinal disease; about 10% of people worldwide suffer from peptic ulcer disease each year [1]
The results of gastric morphological tissue examination showed that compared with distilled water, alkaline natural mineral water could more effectively prevent gastric mucosal injury caused by ethanol
It indicates that compared with distilled water, drinking alkaline natural mineral water can significantly improve ethanol-induced gastric ulcers

Summary

Introduction

Gastrointestinal diseases have become a global health concern, among which peptic ulcer is the most common multi-factorial gastrointestinal disease; about 10% of people worldwide suffer from peptic ulcer disease each year [1]. There are many adverse factors (e.g., alcohol abuse, poor diet, drugs, and Helicobacter pylori infection), which can cause t gastric ulcers [2]. Among these factors, ethanol is the most common cause of gastric ulcer disease, and alcoholics tend to be more susceptible to gastric ulcers than non-alcoholics [3]. The levels of the protective factors prostaglandin E-2 (PGE2) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) are imbalanced in gastric ulcers induced by ethanol. The body will produce a stress response due to ethanol-induced gastric ulcers and protect gastric mucosa from injury by increasing the expression of HSP70 [9]. Increasingly, alternative therapies, including lifestyle changes, healthy diet choices, and the use of natural products and functional water, have become hot topics of interest [10]

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