# Alleviation of cadmium toxicity in Medicago sativa by hydrogen-rich water.
> 水素水処理によるアルファルファのカドミウム毒性軽減効果


## Abstract

This study examined the effects of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on cadmium (Cd)-induced stress in alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Pretreatment with HRW at 10% saturation led to a significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), along with improvements in root elongation and seedling development. Elevated total and isozymatic activities of antioxidant enzymes, as well as increased ratios of reduced-to-oxidized (homo)glutathione, were recorded. In vivo reactive oxygen species (ROS) imaging and lipid peroxidation assays confirmed that plasma membrane integrity was better preserved in HRW-pretreated plants. Notably, Cd accumulation in plant tissues was lower following HRW pretreatment. These findings collectively indicate that HRW application may represent a viable strategy for mitigating heavy metal stress in agricultural settings.

### Mechanism

HRW pretreatment upregulates antioxidant enzyme activities and elevates the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, thereby suppressing ROS accumulation, reducing lipid peroxidation, preserving plasma membrane integrity, and decreasing cadmium uptake in plant tissues.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Cui W, Gao C, Fang P, Lin G, Shen W
- **Journal**: J Hazard Mater
- **Year**: 2013 (2013-09-15)
- **PMID**: [23846121](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23846121/)
- **DOI**: [10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.06.032](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.06.032)
- **Study type**: in vitro study
- **Delivery route**: hydrogen-rich water
- **Effect reported**: positive
- **H2 concentration**: 10%

## Delivery context

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

## Safety notes

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

See also:
- [Inhalation concentration and LFL / UFL](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/inhalation-concentration)
- [Consumer Affairs Agency accident cases](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/accident-cases)
- [Inhalation safety threshold lineage](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/lineage)

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> **Cite as**: H2 Papers — PMID 23846121. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/23846121
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [23846121](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23846121/)