Antioxidant capability and efficacy of Mega-H silica hydride, an antioxidant dietary supplement, by in vitro cellular analysis using photosensitization and fluorescence detection

Effects of hydrogen-occluding-silica microparticles on wound repair and cell migratory behavior of normal human esophageal epitheliocytes

Many conventional studies on molecular hydrogen have not examined cell migration ability and the relationship between apoptosis and the cytoskeleton. Here we investigated the influence of hydrogen-occluding silica microparticles (H₂-silica) on cell migration motility and changes of the cytoskeleton (F-actin) in normal human esophageal epithelial cells (HEEpiCs). As the results, cell migration was promoted, and formation of microvilli was activated in the 100 ppm (low concentration) scratched group. After performing a wound healing assay, cells exhibited migration after 48 hours and 72 hours for both 10 ppm and 100 ppm groups, suggesting that the wound-repairing effects could be attributed to the antioxidant ability of H₂-silica. In scratched groups, high levels of activated caspase-3 were relatively expressed and presented a tendency to increase the observed Bax/Bcl-2 ratio at more than 300 ppm groups. The above-mentioned results show that H₂-silica induced apoptosis in HEEpiCs, especially in the scratched cells. Toxicity may cause an exaggerated apoptosis. Furthermore, since the ratio of fascin/tubulin in the 100, 300, and 600 ppm groups tended to increase in both the scratched and the non-scratched control groups, H₂-silica was thought to be able to promote fascin action on normal cells and may be have a proliferative effect.

Influence of hydrogen-occluding-silica on migration and apoptosis in human esophageal cells in vitro

In the last decade, many studies have shown that hydrogen gas or hydrogen water can reduce the levels of reactive oxygen species in the living body. Molecular hydrogen has antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects and a preventive effect on oxidative stress-induced cell death. In the present study, we investigated solidified hydrogen-occluding-silica (H₂-silica) that can release molecular hydrogen into cell culture medium because the use of hydrogen gas has strict handling limitations in hospital and medical facilities and laboratories, owing to its physicochemical characteristics. Human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (KYSE-70) cells and normal human esophageal epithelial cells (HEEpiCs) were used to investigate the effects of H₂-silica on cell viability and proliferation. Cell migration was examined with wound healing and culture-insert migration assays. The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species were evaluated with a nitroblue tetrazolium assay. To assess the apoptotic status of the cells, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and cleaved caspase-3 were analyzed by western blot. The results showed that KYSE-70 cells and HEEpiCs were generally inhibited by H₂-silica administration, and there was a significant proliferation-inhibitory effect in an H₂-silica concentration-dependent manner compared with the control group (P < 0.05) in KYSE-70. Apoptosis-inducing effect on KYSE-70 cells was observed in 10, 300, 600, and 1,200 ppm H₂-silica, and only 1,200 ppm H₂-silica caused a 2.4-fold increase in apoptosis in HEEpiCs compared with the control group as the index of Bax/Bcl-2. H₂ silica inhibited cell migration in KYSE-70 cells, and high concentrations had a cytotoxic effect on normal cells. These findings should provide insights into the mechanism of inhibition of H₂-silica on human cancer cells in vitro.

The hydrogen-storing microporous silica 'Microcluster' reduces acetaldehyde contained in a distilled spirit

Acetaldehyde is a detrimental substance produced in alcoholic liquor aging. We assessed an ability of hydrogen-storing microporous silica 'Microcluster' (MC+) to reduce acetaldehyde, as compared with autoclave-dehydrogenated MC+ (MC-). Acetaldehyde was quantified spectrophotometrically by an enzymatic method. Authentic acetaldehyde was treated by MC+ for 20min, and decreased from 43.4ppm to 10.9ppm, but maintained at 49.3ppm by MC-. On the other hand, acetaldehyde contained in a distilled spirit was decreased from 29.5ppm to 3.1ppm at 20min by MC+, but not decreased by MC-. Addition of MC+ or MC- to distilled water without acetaldehyde showed no seeming effect on the quantification used. Accordingly acetaldehyde in a distilled spirit is reduced to ethanol by hydrogen contained in MC+, but not by the silica moiety of MC+. Hydrogen gas of 1.2mL was released for 20min from MC+ of 0.59g in water, resulting in dissolved hydrogen of 1.09ppm and an oxidation- reduction potential of -687.0mV indicative of a marked reducing ability. Thus, MC+ has an ability to reduce acetaldehyde in a distilled spirit due to dissolved hydrogen released from MC+.

Protective effects of silica hydride against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

The protective effects of MegaHydrate silica hydride against liver damage were evaluated by its attenuation of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Male ICR mice were orally treated with silica hydride (104, 208 and 520 mg/kg) or silymarin (200 mg/kg) daily, with administration of CCl(4) (1 mL/kg, 20% CCl4 in olive oil) twice a week for eight weeks. The results showed that oral administration of silica hydride significantly reduced the elevated serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver that were induced by CCl(4) in mice. Moreover, the silica-hydride treatment was also found to significantly increase the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), as well as increase the GSH content, in the liver. Liver histopathology also showed that silica hydride reduced the incidence of liver lesions induced by CCl(4). The results suggest that silica hydride exhibits potent hepatoprotective effects on CCl(4)-induced liver damage in mice, likely due to both the increase of antioxidant-defense system activity and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Features and Mechanism of H- Anion Emission from 12CaO·7Al2O3 Surface

The hydrogen anion (H-) and other anionic species (O-, OH-, e-) in the gas phase, emitted from the synthesized crystal surface of 12 CaO x 7 Al2O3-H- (C12A7-H-), have been observed. The emission intensity of all the anionic species strongly depends on the sample surface temperature and the extraction field. H- has the highest emission branch ratio, and the extraction field can reduce its apparent activation energy. H- emission current at a microA/cm2-level has been achieved, which is about 4 orders of magnitude higher than that obtained from the thermal desorption process of CaH2. The observed anions of H- and OH- are attributed to their migration from the C12A7-H- cages onto the surface [i.e., Y-(cages) --> Y-(surface) --> Y-(gas phase) (Y = H, OH)]. The weak O- and electron emission would both arise from the dissociation of O2-: O2-(surface) --> O-(surface) + e-(surface) --> O-(gas phase) + e-(space).

Differential metabolic effects on mitochondria by silica hydride using capillary electrophoresis

Working as an extension of a newly developed method for a capillary electrophoretic analysis of purine nucleotides, nucleosides, bases, and catabolism, an assay of the differential metabolic properties by a novel organosiliceous anionic hydride compound, silica hydride, was evaluated with Chinese hamster ovary mitochondria using a 50-microm poly(acryloylaminopropanol)-coated, fused-silica capillary. The results of this organellar differential analysis indicate a correlation of increased redox pair of NADH to NAD(+) ratios by two times and an increase in ATP levels in the assayed mitochondria by six times. Glucose levels in the organelles were half of the original values. This study validates the electrophoretic method utilizing live organelle fractions for differential metabolic analysis and additionally illustrates some of the emerging novel properties of silica hydride. As confirmation of the results obtained in this assay, additional methods of standard protocol were used to monitor the mitochondrial metabolic activity.

Evaluation of Hydroxyl Radical-Scavenging Abilities of Silica Hydride, an Antioxidant Compound, by a Fe2+-EDTA-Induced 2-Hydroxyterephthalate Fluorometric Analysis

The hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity and efficacy of a novel organosiliceous anionic hydride compound, silica hydride, were quantified by a recently developed method. The method measures a direct relationship between the hydroxyl radical scavenging capability of the antioxidant compound and the linear decrease in signal from a fluorescent 2-hydroxyterephthalate product created by reacting an Fe(2+)-EDTA complex in the presence of a potential radical scavenger. A fluorescence signal half-inhibition, IC(50), value of 1.4 +/- 0.1 muM was obtained for silica hydride compounds. The validity of the analysis was verified by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, spectrophotometric analysis of NAD(+)/NADH ratios, mitochondrial membrane potential measurements, and assays of both cytochrome c (Fe(3+)) to cytochrome c (Fe(2+)) and epinephrine to adenochrome reductions.