Abstract. Previous studies have suggested that ozonated water is safe and possesses antibacterial effects for treatment of experimental peritonitis rats. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of ozonated water that was intraperitoneally injected into an experimental inflammatory mouse model. The concentrations of dissolved ozone decreased constantly and lineally, while the half-life of dissolved ozone was 36.8±2.7 min (27˚C). The 10-ppm ozonated water was injected intraperitoneally into mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute inflammation. The results showed that the intraperitoneal injection of ozonated water decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results suggest that ozonated water has anti-inflammatory properties and is a potential therapeutic option for acute inflammation.

Ozonated water is easier to handle than ozone gas. However, there have been no previous reports on the biological effects of ozonated water. We conducted a study on the safety of ozonated water and its anti-tumor effects using a tumor-bearing mouse model and normal controls. Local administration of ozonated water (208 mM) was not associated with any detrimental effects in normal tissues. On the other hand, local administration of ozonated water (20.8, 41.6, 104, or 208 mM) directly into the tumor tissue induced necrosis and inhibited proliferation of tumor cells. There was no significant difference in the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells following administration of ozonated water. The size of the necrotic areas was dependent on the concentration of ozonated water. These results indicate that ozonated water does not affect normal tissue and damages only the tumor tissue by selectively inducing necrosis. There is a possibility that it exerts through the production of reaction oxygen species (ROS). In addition, the induction of necrosis rather than apoptosis is very useful in tumor immunity. Based on these results, we believe that administration of ozonated water is a safe and potentially simple adjunct or alternative to existing antineoplastic treatments.