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Kumar A, Prajapati S, Sharma M, Singh T, Choudhary N, Bharti AC, Sharma R, Gupta P. Quantitative assessment of antioxidant potential of selected homeopathic preparations in clinical practice. Drug Metab Pers Ther 2022:dmdi-2022-0169. [PMID: 36577508 DOI: 10.1515/dmpt-2022-0169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Antioxidant property like radical scavenging is a primary target to elucidate the efficacy mechanism of a drug against diseases linked to oxidative stress such as cancer, metabolic disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. In alternative therapies, homeopathy is one of the preferred choices by patients and clinicians due to its potential to cure chronic and complex illnesses. However, the efficacy of homeopathic preparations at high diluted potencies attracts rational criticism due to insufficient scientific knowledge supporting the mechanism of action. Therefore, an attempt was made to estimate the total phenolic content (TPC) and radical scavenging activity of clinically prescribed homeopathic drugs. METHODS With gallic acid as a reference control, mother tinctures (MTs) and different potencies of Eucalyptus globulus (EG), Syzygium jambolanum (SJ), Ruta graveolens (RG), and Thuja occidentalis (TO) were used to perform Folin-Ciocalteu test, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. RESULTS The results showed TPC of MTs equivalent to µg/mL of gallic acid viz; EG (4,872.5 ± 133.2), SJ (8,840.5 ± 14.8), RG (985.6 ± 39.1), and TO (341.5 ± 19.5) with significant ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging potential. Whereas 30C and 200C potencies of each homeopathic drug showed undetectable phenolic content and insignificant radical scavenging potential compared to vehicle control, i.e., alcohol 90% (2.0 ± 1.5). CONCLUSIONS The reported efficacy of 30C and 200C potencies of homeopathic medicines against oxidative stress-related illnesses might be due to mechanisms other than radical scavenging. Furthermore, the assays studied can be helpful in drug standardization and quality control of MTs that are used as starting material in homeopathic preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Kumar
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Drug Standardization Unit, Dr. DP Rastogi Central Research Institute of Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, Noida 201301, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Department of Zoology, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi- 110007 , India
| | - Suneel Prajapati
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Drug Standardization Unit, Dr. DP Rastogi Central Research Institute of Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, Noida 201301, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mahima Sharma
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Drug Standardization Unit, Dr. DP Rastogi Central Research Institute of Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, Noida 201301, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Tejveer Singh
- Department of Zoology, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi- 110007 , India
| | - Neha Choudhary
- Centre for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Alok C Bharti
- Department of Zoology, Molecular Oncology Laboratory, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Department of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India
| | - Pankaj Gupta
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Drug Standardization Unit, Dr. DP Rastogi Central Research Institute of Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, Noida 201301, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Mondal J, Samadder A, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Psorinum 6 × triggers apoptosis signals in human lung cancer cells. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE-JIM 2016; 14:143-53. [PMID: 26988436 DOI: 10.1016/s2095-4964(16)60230-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide in vitro evidence of Psorinum treatment against cancer cells in a controlled study. METHODS Effects of homeopathic Psorinum 6× on cell viability were initially determined in several cancer cell lines, including A549, HepG2 and MCF-7, using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and an ethanol 6× control. The cell line that exhibited highest inhibition was selected and used in the following experiments. A range of Psorinum 6× doses was used to explore treatment effects on cell cycle arrest, cell death (apoptosis), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and change in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. Expression of several signal proteins related to apoptosis and cell survival were quantified with Western blotting and confocal microscopy. Further, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was used to determine possible drug-DNA interactions, as well as the induction of conformational changes. RESULTS Treatment of cancer cell lines with Psorinum showed greater anticancer effects in A549 cells than in others. In A549 cells Psorinum treatment inhibited cell proliferation at 24 h after treatment, and arrested cell cycle at sub-G1 stage. It also induced ROS generation, MMP depolarization, morphological changes and DNA damage, as well as externalization of phosphatidyl serine. Further, increases in p53 expression, Bax expression, cytochrome c release, along with reduction of Bcl-2 level and caspase-3 activation were observed after Psorinum 6× treatment, which eventually drove A549 cells towards the mitochondria-mediated caspase-3-dependent pathway. CD spectroscopy revealed direct interaction of Psorinum with DNA, using calf thymus-DNA as target. CONCLUSION Psorinum 6× triggered apoptosis in A549 cells via both up- and down-regulations of relevant signal proteins, including p53, caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesmin Mondal
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741235, India
| | - Asmita Samadder
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741235, India.,Department of Zoology, Dum Dum Motijheel College, Kolkata-700074, India
| | - Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741235, India
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Bell IR, Sarter B, Koithan M, Banerji P, Banerji P, Jain S, Ives J. Integrative nanomedicine: treating cancer with nanoscale natural products. Glob Adv Health Med 2014; 3:36-53. [PMID: 24753994 PMCID: PMC3921611 DOI: 10.7453/gahmj.2013.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Finding safer and more effective treatments for specific cancers remains a significant challenge for integrative clinicians and researchers worldwide. One emerging strategy is the use of nanostructured forms of drugs, vaccines, traditional animal venoms, herbs, and nutraceutical agents in cancer treatment. The recent discovery of nanoparticles in traditional homeopathic medicines adds another point of convergence between modern nanomedicine and alternative interventional strategies. A way in which homeopathic remedies could initiate anticancer effects includes cell-to-cell signaling actions of both exogenous and endogenous (exosome) nanoparticles. The result can be a cascade of modulatory biological events with antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. The Banerji Protocols reflect a multigenerational clinical system developed by homeopathic physicians in India who have treated thousands of patients with cancer. A number of homeopathic remedy sources from the Banerji Protocols (eg, Calcarea phosphorica; Carcinosin-tumor-derived breast cancer tissue prepared homeopathically) overlap those already under study in nonhomeopathic nanoparticle and nanovesicle tumor exosome cancer vaccine research. Past research on antineoplastic effects of nano forms of botanical extracts such as Phytolacca, Gelsemium, Hydrastis, Thuja, and Ruta as well as on homeopathic remedy potencies made from the same types of source materials suggests other important overlaps. The replicated finding of silica, silicon, and nano-silica release from agitation of liquids in glassware adds a proven nonspecific activator and amplifier of immunological effects. Taken together, the nanoparticulate research data and the Banerji Protocols for homeopathic remedies in cancer suggest a way forward for generating advances in cancer treatment with natural product-derived nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris R Bell
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson (Dr Bell), United States
| | - Barbara Sarter
- Hahn School of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of San Diego, California, and Bastyr University - California (Dr Sarter), United States
| | - Mary Koithan
- College of Nursing, The University of Arizona (Drs Koithan), United States
| | | | - Pratip Banerji
- PBH Research Foundation, Kolkata, India (Drs Banerji), India
| | - Shamini Jain
- Samueli Institute, Alexandria, Virginia (Dr Jain), United States
| | - John Ives
- Samueli Institute, Alexandria, Virginia (Dr Ives), United States
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Samadder A, Das S, Das J, Paul A, Boujedaini N, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. The potentized homeopathic drug, Lycopodium clavatum (5C and 15C) has anti-cancer effect on hela cells in vitro. J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2013; 6:180-7. [PMID: 23972240 DOI: 10.1016/j.jams.2013.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Revised: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a disease that needs a multi-faceted approach from different systems of medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether homeopathically-potentized ultra-high dilutions of Lycopodium Clavatum (LC-5C and LC-15C, respectively) have any anti-cancer effects on HeLa cells. Cells were exposed to either LC-5C (diluted below Avogadro's limit, i.e., 10(-10)) or LC-15C (diluted beyond Avogadro's limit, i.e., 10(-30)) (drug-treated) or to 30% succussed ethanol ("vehicle" of the drug). The drug-induced modulation in the percent cell viability, the onset of apoptosis, and changes in the expressions of Bax, Bcl2, caspase 3, and Apaf proteins in inter-nucleosomal DNA, in mitochondrial membrane potentials and in the release of cytochrome-c were analyzed by utilizing different experimental protocols. Results revealed that administration of LC-5C and LC-15C had little or no cytotoxic effect in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but caused considerable cell death through apoptosis in cancer (HeLa) cells, which was evident from the induction of DNA fragmentation, the increases in the expressions of protein and mRNA of caspase 3 and Bax, and the decreases in the expressions of Bcl2 and Apaf and in the release of cytochrome-c. Thus, the highly-diluted, dynamized homeopathic remedies LC-5C and LC-15C demonstrated their capabilities to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, signifying their possible use as supportive medicines in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmita Samadder
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal, India
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