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Zamzam water is a natural alkaline water which has become alkaline as a result of the natural environment. It comes from what is considered as one of the oldest springs in the world. The water contains high concentrations of alkaline minerals as well as trace and heavy metals. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the effects of five weeks ingestion of Zamzam water on the liver and kidney functions of rats. Adult female Wistar rats weighing 150–200 g were divided into two groups, with 15 rats in each. The control group was supplied daily by bottled water and the Zamzam water group was supplied daily by 500 ml of Zamzam water for five weeks. The rats were weighed weekly and, at the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from all rats for the biochemical determination of serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea, creatinine, albumin, and uric acid, using calorimetric methods. Liver and kidney tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered-formalin solution and further embedded in wax blocks for routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and were examined for histopathological changes using a light microscope. The results of the current study showed that there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the weight of the Zamzam group when compared to the control group after five weeks of ingestion. Liver and kidney function tests did not show any significant difference when compared with the controls (P > 0.05). In addition, histological examination of the liver and kidney tissues did not show any toxicological changes. In conclusion, the results showed that the ingestion of Zamzam water did not alter serum levels of kidney function tests and liver enzymes; and did not result in a noticeable change in the liver and kidney histology. Thus, the high concentrations of elements in Zamzam water do not induce hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity and the water is considered safe for long-term consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MW exhibited the highest flow value followed by ZW, SW and TW. • MW exhibited the highest compressive strength followed by ZW, SW and TW. • Using MW, ZW or SW as a mixing water led to an improvement in the microstructure. • ZW and SW can accelerate the polymerization process. This research is the first attempt to study the possibility of employing magnetic water (MW), Zamzam water (ZW) and seawater (SW) as mixing water for alkali-activated slag (AAS) pastes. The results of workability, pH value, compressive strength and microstructure of different specimens mixed with each type of water were compared with those mixed with tap water (TW). The X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the results. The results showed that using MW, ZW or SW increased the workability, pH value and compressive strength of AAS pastes. The microstructures of the samples prepared with these water types were modified as confirmed by SEM, whilst the polymerization processes were accelerated as confirmed by TGA. It was found that MW has the height improvement followed by ZW and SW, respectively, whilst TW came in the last place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zamzam water is well documented for plenty of medicinal value for curing illness. In the present study, the effects of perinatal consumption of Zamzam and normal drinking water by the pregnant mice on their offspring’s physical parameters, early sensory motor reflexes, locomotor activities, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the homogenize brain tissue and blood parameters were compared. To achieve that; Zamzam water was given to female Swiss-Webster strain mice as the only source of drinking fluid and the control animals were administered plain tap water. Treatment started from the first day of pregnancy and continued until the postnatal day fifteen of delivery. All offspring were subjected to various tests. The rate of body weight gain remained relatively unaffected until the second week of weaning period, however; in the last week the offspring exposed to Zamzam water gained significant body weight as compared to their control offspring. Furthermore, the opening of eyes and appearance of body hairs in Zamzam exposed pups remained unaffected as compared to the controls. The sensory motor reflexes in Zamzam exposed pups after birth and during the first two weeks of weaning period were significantly increased. Locomotor Activity Test performed in the male and female offspring after weaning period showed a significant decrease in the male and increase in the female on most of the elements of this test due to Zamzam exposure. AChE activity in the homogenized brain tissue and blood parameters were unaffected as compared to the controls, the present Zamzam effects in the offspring are possibly via in utero action and/or via mother’s milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Radioprotectors are useful compounds to reduce radiation toxicity of normal cells. Many natural radioprotectors have antioxidant power and display fewer toxicity and side effects than the chemical ones. Alkaline waters such as Zamzam have antioxidant power potentially. This study aimed to investigate the radioprotective effect of Zamzam water in mice bone marrow exposed to gamma radiation by micronuclei test. Method Five study groups including control group which was fed by ordinary water, the second group was fed by Zamzam water, and radiation groups were received 2Gy gamma with ordinary and Zamzam water for 10 days and another for 20 days. The frequency of micronuclei and polychromatic erythrocytes to normochromatic erythrocytes ratio were calculated by micronuclei test. Result In the absence of radiation, no significant difference was found between Zamzam group and control in the number of micronuclei in normochromatic erythrocytes, micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes, and the polychromatic erythrocyte to polychromatic erythrocyte plus normochromatic erythrocyte ratio. But all of these indices were significantly different between irradiated and non-irradiated groups. The frequency of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes was not significantly different between 10 and 20 days Zamzam irradiated groups, but the reduction in micronuclei in normochromatic erythrocytes and an increase in the polychromatic erythrocyte to polychromatic erythrocyte plus normochromatic erythrocyte ratio compared to ordinary water were seen in 20 days Zamzam group. Dose reduction factor was 1.36 and 2 for Zamzam water groups of 10 days and 20 days, respectively. Conclusion The results demonstrated that Zamzam alkaline water could reduce clastogenic and cytotoxic effects of gamma irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many Muslims drink Zamzam water for use either medicinally or religiously. Millions of pilgrims drink it and take bottles of it to their home countries. Heated scientific and political debates appeared after BBC reported in May 2011 that Zamzam water is poisonous, because of the high levels of arsenic. The World Health Organizations classifies arsenic as a human carcinogen, but some types of arsenic are also used as medicines. Adequate scientific studies on the Zamzam water are absent. This paper will provide, for the first time, basic and comprehensive information regarding the geochemical properties of Zamzam water for more than 30 indicators and using the state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. The data will help us to understand the sources of pollution under discussion, reactions at both local and international levels; and will highlight the potential healing capacity of Zamzam water. Thirty Zamzam water samples were collected by three distinct methods; from 10 pilgrims living in different locations in Germany in 2007, 10 samples from shops in Frankfurt and Berlin in 2011, and 10 samples directly from Makkah in 2011. The samples were analyzed 2weeks after collection for more than 30 indicators: pH, EC, Eh, Cl, F, Br, NO3, PO4, SO4, HCO3, Ag, Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn beside others. Four major instruments were used; the IC, the ICPOES, the ICPMS and the HGAAS. The quality of the water did not change for 2years and there was an excellent agreement among the results of the 30 water samples as well as between the results of the 2years for the same samples analyzed in 2007 and 2008. The water is alkaline (average pH is 8) with an average Li concentration of 15μgL−1. The average concentrations of As and NO3 showed values three times higher than the WHO standards (27μgL−1 and 150mgL−1, respectively). The averages of Ca and K were 95 and 50mgL−1, respectively. Very urgent steps are required to scientifically screen for the elevated parameters As, NO3, Ca, and K in all Zamzam water sources and locations with full transparency. The resultant information should be made available to the public, and the relationship between pollution and human health should be addressed. The alkalinity of Zamzam water and the presence of trace amounts of As and Li may cause the healing power. However, a scientific strategy should be developed and adopted to enable further research and studies on toxicology and treatment technologies could be applied if needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Oxidative stress is considered the main event in the pathogenesis. of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Zamzam water, being natural alkaline with exceptional characteristics, is capable of enhancing antioxidant mechanisms. In this context; the present study has aimed to investigate the protective effects of zamzam water alone or in combination with gliclazide against the streptozotocin (STZ) induced DN model in rats. DN was initiated by a single intraperitoneal dose of STZ. Three days later, diabetic rats were classified into 5 groups; a normal control group, a diabetic control group, a group receiving gliclazide, a group receiving zamzam water, and a group receiving both gliclazide and zamzam water. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were determined. Then rats were euthanized and serum was isolated for assessment of glucose, insulin, kidney function tests and nitric oxide (NO). Furthermore kidney contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were estimated. Histopathology or renal tissues and immunohistochemistry of caspase 3 were determined. In addition, islets of Langerhans were separated from normal rats by collagenase digestion method to study the effects of zamzam water on insulin release in-vitro. Furthermore, chemical analysis of zamzam water has been done. Zamzam water significantly decreased STZ-induced hyperglycemia, BP, HR, oxidative stress biomarkers, impairment in renal functions (urea, creatinine, albumin), morphological changes in kidney and apoptosis. Likewise, zamzam water markedly elevated insulin levels both in in-vivo and in in-vitro experiments. The effects were more pronounced in combination with gliclazide. Zamzam water has a promising renoprotective effect against STZ induced DN through its anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic potentials. [Display omitted] • Antidiabetic effect & triggers insulin release. • Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory impact. • Normalized blood pressure, heart rate, renal function tests and renal histopathological structures. • Anti-apoptotic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Zamzam water (ZW) is natural water consumed by many Muslims worldwide. • ZW treatment increased the cancer cell growth. • Treatment with ZW suppressed the effect of chemotherapeutic agents. • ZW treatment activated MAPK signaling pathway. • Activated ERK1/2 play a role in ZW mediated suppression of chemotherapy-induced cell death. Many Muslims believe that water from the Zamzam well is the cure for every disease. Zamzam water (ZW) is naturally alkaline water consumed by millions of people worldwide. The current study investigated the effect of ZW on cell viability and apoptosis in breast, colorectal and ovarian cancer cell lines and compared the effect with that of drinking water (DW). Three different ZW samples collected from different sources at different periods were used. To balance the tonicity, ZW and DW were buffered using PBS and the pH was adjusted to 7.4. For the treatment, ZW and DW were diluted to 50% with RPMI medium (10% FBS). Cancer cell lines were treated with ZW or DW, with and without chemotherapeutic agents, for 24 h. Apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry whilst the level of protein expression was determined by Western blotting. The results showed that treatment with ZW significantly increased cell proliferation compared to DW control. Treatment with ZW significantly suppressed the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on decreasing cell viability and inducing apoptosis in all the cancer cell lines compared to chemotherapeutic agents alone treated in DW. Furthermore, ZW treatment increased the phosphorylation of CRAF, MEK1/2, ERK1/2 and P38 proteins in these cell lines. Notably, treatment with ZW suppressed the effect of chemotherapy-induced reduction of CRAF, MEK1/2, ERK1/2 and P38 phosphorylation in breast and ovarian cancer cell lines. We also showed that silencing of ERK1/2 significantly increased the chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in breast and colorectal cancer cell lines. These data suggest that MAPK proteins; especially activated ERK1/2 may play a role in ZW mediated suppression of chemotherapy-induced cell death. These findings clearly demonstrate that ZW protects cancer cells from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis through activation of the ERK1/2-MAPK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]