Hydrogen Is Promising for Medical Applications

Hydrogen (H-2) is promising as an energy source for the next generation. Medical applications using H-2 gas can be also considered as a clean and economical technology. Since the H-2 gas based on electrolysis of water production has potential to expand the medical applications, the technology has been developed in order to safely dilute it and to supply it to the living body by inhalation, respectively. H-2 is an inert molecule which can scavenge the highly active oxidants including hydroxyl radical (.OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-), and which can convert them into water. H-2 is clean and causes no adverse effects in the body. The mechanism of H-2 is different from that of traditional drugs because it works on the root of many diseases. Since H-2 has extensive and various effects, it may be called a "wide spectrum molecule" on diseases. In this paper, we reviewed the current medical applications of H-2 including its initiation and development, and we also proposed its prospective medical applications. Due to its marked efficacy and no adverse effects, H-2 will be a next generation therapy candidate for medical applications.