In-Vitro Research
1 . Preethi K , et al . Induction of apoptosis of tumor cells by some potentiated homeopathic drugs : implications on mechanism of action . Integr Cancer Ther . 2012 ; 11 ( 2 ): 172- 82 . The homeopathic medicines , Ruta 200C , Carcinosinum 200C , Hydrastis 200C , Thuja 200C , and Thuja 1M , were tested for their ability to induce apoptosis as seen by cell morphology , DNA laddering , expression of genes related to apoptosis , and TUNEL assay in in vitro cell lines . Similarly , the effect of these homoeopathic medicines on apoptosis was measured by micro-array analysis . In addition , the activity of Ruta 200C was compared with that of the mother tincture from which it was derived . An analysis of the results showed that Ruta 200C produced morphological changes in the Dalton ' s lymphoma ascites tumor cells and induced DNA laddering . Carcinosinum 200C increased apoptotic gene p53 and Ruta 200C decreased anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2 . A microarray analysis of cells treated with the medicines indicated a strong correlation between the application of the medicines and an increase in the levels of many of the enzymes related to apoptosis . A comparison of the effects of Ruta 200C and mother tincture indicated that the potentiated drugs had a biological activity similar to that of the mother tincture .
2 . Arora S , Tandon S . DNA fragmentation and cell cycle arrest : a hallmark of apoptosis induced by Ruta graveolens in human colon cancer cells . Homeopathy . 2015 ; 104 ( 1 ): 36-47 . In this study , scientists investigated the anti-cancer effect of various homeopathic potencies of Ruta graveolens ( Ruta ) on COLO- 205 ( colon cancer cells ) cell line , as evidenced by cytotoxicity , migration , clonogenecity , morphological and biochemical changes and modification in the levels of genes associated with apoptosis and the cell cycle . In COLO- 205 cells maximal effects were seen with mother tincture ( MT ) and 30C potencies , wherein a decrease in cell viability along with a reduced clonogenecity and migration capabilities were noted . In addition , morphological and biochemical alterations such as nuclear changes ( fragmented nuclei with condensed chromatin ) and DNA ladder-like pattern ( increased amount of fragmented DNA ) in COLO-205 cells indicating apoptotic related cell death were seen . The expression of apoptosis and cell-cycle related regulatory genes assessed by reverse transcriptase-PCR revealed an up-regulation of caspase 9 , caspase-3 , Bax , p21 and p27 expression and down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression in treated cells . The mode of cell death was suggestive of intrinsic apoptotic pathway along with cell cycle arrest at the G2 / M of the cell cycle . The findings indicate that Ruta showed potential as a therapy against colon cancer .
Plant Research
1 . Lutz B , et al . Development of a whole plant bioassay to test effects of potentized calcium carbonate in pillule formulation . Complement Ther Med . 2018 ; 40:13-21 . The aim here was to assess a preclinical test system to identify and investigate the effects of homeopathically potentised substances , specifically , a plant bioassay and its capacity to distinguish homeopathic remedies from placebo , applied as sucrose pillules . Pea seeds ( Pisum sativum L ) were soaked for 24 hours in water with dissolved homeopathic or placebo pillules , or in water only . Shoot length was measured at 14 days after planting and treatment groups were compared by analysis of variance ( ANOVA ). The stability of the system was validated by systematic negative control experiments . A screening of 13 potentised preparations showed that Calcium carbonicum influenced pea shoot growth ( p < 0.05 ). Three independent series of main experiments were performed with homeopathically potentised Calcium carbonicum to assess reproducibility . A meta-analysis of all data revealed significant effects of Calcium carbonicum 12C and 30C on pea shoot growth .
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