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Tournier AL, Bonamin LV, Buchheim-Schmidt S, Cartwright S, Dombrowsky C, Doesburg P, Holandino C, Kokornaczyk MO, van de Kraats EB, López-Carvallo JA, Nandy P, Mazón-Suástegui JM, Mirzajani F, Poitevin B, Scherr C, Thieves K, Würtenberger S, Baumgartner S. Scientific guidelines for preclinical research on potentised preparations manufactured according to current pharmacopoeias-the PrePoP guidelines. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2024:S2095-4964(24)00341-8. [PMID: 39013752 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2024.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pharmacopoeias regulate the manufacture of potentised pharmaceutical preparations used in different branches of complementary and integrative medicine. The physicochemical properties and biological activity of these preparations are often investigated in preclinical research, yet no guidelines for experimental research currently exist in this area. The present PrePoP guidelines aim to provide recommendations to promote high-quality, statistically sound, and reproducible preclinical research on potentised preparations. METHODS Input was gathered from researchers nominated by the relevant scientific societies using a simplified Delphi consensus approach covering the most relevant aspects of basic research methodology in the field including appropriate controls, sample preparation and handling, and statistics. After three rounds of feedback, a consensus was finally reached on the most important aspects and considerations for conducting high-quality research on potentised preparations. RESULTS We present a series of recommendations on a range of topics including experimental controls, system stability, blinding and randomisation, environmental influences, and procedures for the preparation of potentised samples and controls, and we address some specific challenges of this research field. CONCLUSION This expert consensus process resulted in a robust set of methodological guidelines for research on potentised preparations and provides a valuable framework that will inform and improve the quality of subsequent research in this emerging field. PLEASE CITE THIS ARTICLE AS Tournier AL, Bonamin LV, Buchheim-Schmidt S, Cartwright S, Dombrowsky C, Doesburg P, Holandino C, Kokornaczyk MO, van de Kraats EB, López-Carvallo JA, Nandy P, Mazón-Suástegui JM, Mirzajani F, Poitevin B, Scherr C, Thieves K, Würtenberger S, Baumgartner S. Scientific guidelines for preclinical research on potentised preparations manufactured according to current pharmacopoeias-the PrePoP guidelines. J Integr Med. 2024; Epub ahead of print.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander L Tournier
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; Homeopathy Research Institute, London SW7 4EF, United Kingdom.
| | - Leoni V Bonamin
- Graduate Program on Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo 01504-000, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Susann Buchheim-Schmidt
- Department of Medical Science, Deutsche Homöopathie-Union DHU-Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, 76227 Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Steven Cartwright
- Cherwell Laboratory for Fundamental Research in Homeopathy, Oxford OX2 8NU, Oxforeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph Dombrowsky
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Paul Doesburg
- Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Research Institute, 4144 Arlesheim, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carla Holandino
- Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Olga Kokornaczyk
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Research Institute, 4144 Arlesheim, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Jesús Antonio López-Carvallo
- Departamento de Acuicultura, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, 1790437 Coquimbo, Elqui, Chile
| | - Papiya Nandy
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, Kolkata, West Bengal 700068, West Bengal, India
| | - José Manuel Mazón-Suástegui
- Laboratorio de Homeopatía Acuícola y Semillas Marinas, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz 23096, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Fateme Mirzajani
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran; Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Science, Knowledge University, 44001 Erbil, Erbil, Iraq
| | | | - Claudia Scherr
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; Society for Cancer Research, Hiscia Research Institute, 4144 Arlesheim, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Karin Thieves
- Sola Salus, Institute for Homeopathic Research, 52511 Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | | | - Stephan Baumgartner
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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Pinto AAG, Nagai MYDO, Coimbra EN, Mohammad SN, Silva JS, Von Ancken A, Pinto SAG, Aguiar MS, Dutra-Correa M, Hortellani MA, Miranda A, Sarkis JEDS, Suffredini IB, Peres GB, Bernardi MM, Cartwright SJ, Bonamin LV. Bioresilience to Mercury Chloride of the Brine Shrimp Artemia Salina after Treatment with Homeopathic Mercurius Corrosivus. HOMEOPATHY 2021; 110:244-255. [PMID: 34474498 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1729562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Finding solutions to mitigate the impact of pollution on living systems is a matter of great interest. Homeopathic preparations of toxic substances have been described in the literature as attenuation factors for intoxication. Herein, an experimental study using Artemia salina and mercury chloride was developed as a model to identify aspects related to bioresilience. AIMS The aim of the study was to describe the effects of homeopathic Mercurius corrosivus (MC) on Artemia salina cysts hatching and on mercury bioavailability. METHODS Artemia salina cysts were exposed to 5.0 µg/mL of mercury chloride during the hatching phase. MC potencies (6cH, 30cH, and 200cH) were prepared in sterile purified water and poured into artificial sea water. Different controls were used (non-challenged cysts and challenged cysts treated with water, succussed water, and Ethilicum 1cH). Four series of nine experiments were performed to evaluate the percentage of cyst hatching. Soluble total mercury (THg) levels and precipitated mercury content were also evaluated. Solvatochromic dyes were used to check for eventual physicochemical markers of MC biological activity. RESULTS Significant delay (p < 0.0001) in cyst hatching was observed only after treatment with MC 30cH, compared with controls. This result was associated with an increase of THg concentration in water (p = 0.0018) and of chlorine/oxygen ratio (p < 0.0001) in suspended micraggregates, suggesting changes in mercury bioavailability. A specific interaction of MC 30cH with the solvatochromic dye ET33 (p = 0.0017) was found. CONCLUSION Changes in hatching rate and possible changes in Hg bioavailability are postulated as protective effects of MC 30cH on Artemia salina, by improving its natural bioresilience processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Adelaide G Pinto
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mirian Y de Oliveira Nagai
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ednar Nascimento Coimbra
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Jefferson Souza Silva
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adalberto Von Ancken
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandra Augusta G Pinto
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michelle Sanchez Aguiar
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maristela Dutra-Correa
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Adriana Miranda
- IPEN-Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research, São Paulo, Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ivana Barbosa Suffredini
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giovani Bravin Peres
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Martha Bernardi
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Leoni Villano Bonamin
- Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
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Dos Santos AP, Cardoso TN, Waisse S, Bonamin LV. Homeopathy in Experimental Cancer Models: A Systematic Review. HOMEOPATHY 2020; 110:76-85. [PMID: 33348419 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complementary and alternative medicine, including homeopathy, is widely used to improve well-being among cancer patients and reduce adverse effects of conventional treatment. In contrast, there are few studies on the use of homeopathic medicines to treat the disease itself. Yet, evidence of possible effectiveness of homeopathic high dilutions in experimental cancer models has been published during the past 20 years. AIM The aim of the study was to perform a systematic review of fundamental research studies on homeopathic high dilutions in cancer. METHODS Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline, we conducted a literature search in the database PubMed for original publications, from 2000 to 2018 and in English, on in vitro and in vivo experimental cancer models testing homeopathic high dilutions. RESULTS Twenty-three articles met the inclusion criteria-14 in vitro, eight in vivo, and one in vitro plus in vivo experimental models. Most studies were from India. Research prominently focused on cytotoxic effects involving apoptotic mechanisms. Intrinsic aspects of homeopathy should be considered in experimental designs to emphasize the specificity of such effects. CONCLUSION Fundamental research of homeopathy in cancer is still at an early stage and has mainly been performed by a few groups of investigators. The results point to an interference of well-selected homeopathic medicines with cell cycle and apoptotic mechanisms in cancer cells. However, these findings still need independent reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreza Pereira Dos Santos
- Research Center, Universidade Paulista, UNIP, Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thayná Neves Cardoso
- Research Center, Universidade Paulista, UNIP, Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvia Waisse
- Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, PUC-SP, Graduate Program in History of Science, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leoni Villano Bonamin
- Research Center, Universidade Paulista, UNIP, Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, São Paulo, Brazil
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Mota DCGD, Ferreira ÉC, Ferraz FN, Souza MVFD, Simões BL, Aleixo DL, Teixeira JJV, Araújo SMD. Effects of Highly Diluted Drugs on Experimental Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi In Vivo: Systematic Review. J Altern Complement Med 2020; 26:866-883. [PMID: 32551918 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2019.0472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To investigate, through a systematic review, the effects of the use of highly diluted drugs in the treatment of experimental infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Design: The authors searched for scientific publications in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, LILACS, and the Google Scholar search system, from 2000 to 2018, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. According to the criteria established, a total of 22 studies were included. Settings/Location: The study took place at the State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil. Subjects: Male mice (Mus musculus) or rats (Rattus norvegicus). Interventions: Highly diluted drugs. Outcome measures: The parameters evaluated in the studies were parasitological, clinical, immunological, histopathological and hematological. Results: The studies demonstrated that the effects of highly diluted drugs are related to their dynamizations, treatment regimen, and host susceptibility to T. cruzi infection, and depend on the initial information transmitted to the treated organism, making this information the "model" of how the treated organism will react. Regardless of the mechanism of action, these drugs provide a decrease in inflammation, which is one of the central phenomena of the pathogenesis of T. cruzi infection. Conclusions: This systematic review brings out the importance of the T. cruzi infection model as a reliable and valid model for studying different effects produced by highly diluted drugs. Considering the findings and in a broader perspective, this study contributes to considering these drugs as a possible way of dealing with "treatment" in general, presents the need to reexamine the biochemical model and develop a model for the effect of high dilutions in general, as well as for the treatment of parasitic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Bruna Lauton Simões
- Department of Biosciences and Pathophysiology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
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