Abstract
Zamzam is a Muslim holy water from a well in Al-Haram in the holy city of Makkah. It has alkaline pH and high levels of minerals such as calcium, sodium, and magnesium. A previous study found that alkaline water induces antioxidant activity during oxidative stress. This study aimed to evaluate Zamzam's antioxidant activity during oxidative stress induced by Nerium oleander in mice.
Forty 6- to 8 -week-old Blab/c mice were classified into four groups: control, Zamzam water, Nerium oleander, and Zamzam water Nerium oleander. The weight of each mouse was measured at the beginning, after 3 and 6 weeks, and at the end of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, a blood sample was collected from each mouse in plain and EDTA tubes for estimation of hematological and chemical parameters. respectively. Furthermore, the mice were sacrificed, and the heart, liver, and kidney were immediately collected and washed with saline. These organs were used for histopathological and biochemical tests. The hematological parameters (RBCs count, hemoglobin. hematocrit, and MCV, besides serum ALT, AST, total CK, CK-MB, and ctroponin I were measured for each mouse. Moreover, lipid peroxidation (LPO), carbonyl carbon (CC), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were estimated in cardiac, hepatic, and kidney homogenates.
The mice in the Zamzam water group had significantly higher weight gain by the end of 3 and 6 weeks (p<0.05), and at the end of the experiment (p<0.01). The hematological parameters had no statistically significant differences between the four groups. Serum AST, ALT, total CK, CK-MB, and c-troponin I showed statistically significant differences among all groups (p<0.01). Both LPO and CC levels in cardiac homogenate were significantly reduced in the Zamzam water group (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). Moreover. GSH level and catalase, GSH Px. and SOD activities were significantly elevated in the Zamzam water group in the same homogenate. In hepatic homogenate, GSH level and catalase activity were increased significantly in the Zamzam water group (p<0.05). Finally, the LPO level was significantly decreased (p<0.01), while catalase activity increased (p<0.05) in the Zamzam water group.
Zamzam water has an antioxidant capacity during oxidative stress. This capacity may result from the induction of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. Moreover, Zamzam's minerals and chemical elements have nutritional value that induces weight gain in mice.