Effect of Biologically Active Hydrogen-Generating Powder Mixed with Food in a Model of Liver Injury in Rats

ABSTRACT Background Hydrogen was determined to have good efficacy for reducing key blood level biomarkers associated with liver injury suggesting the compound may provide novel option for the treatment of several liver diseases by decreasing of accumulation of toxins and reduction of levels of serum liver enzymes. Materials and methods The present pharmacological study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a gastric hydrogen generating powder called “AquaActive” (AA) in a rat model of liver injury, the partial bile duct ligation (pBDL), following administration of 0.2% AA formulated in rat pellets food for 14 days. Results The data indicate that treatment with AA at a dose of 150 mg/kg/day can effectively slow the progression of liver injury that is triggered by bile duct ligation in rats. At both 7 and 14 days post-pBDL surgery, treatment with AA exhibited reductions in ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and total bilirubin, most of which were statistically significant. At 7 days, the compound showed statistically significant decreases in ALP, GGT and total bilirubin levels. Although the values of some parameters decreased in the vehicle group by 14 days, additional reductions due to AA treatment were sustained for ALP, AST and for GGT and total bilirubin. GGT and total bilirubin level after 14 days of treatment compared to the vehicle-treated control group were observed to be highly significant (p<0.05). Conclusion Thus AA, gastric hydrogen generating powder demonstrated a good efficacy for reducing key parameters associated with liver function in the pBDL model.