The potentized homeopathic drug, Lycopodium clavatum (5C and 15C) has anti-cancer effect on hela cells in vitro

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.

Relative efficacies of insulin and poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid encapsulated nano-insulin in modulating certain significant biomarkers in arsenic intoxicated L6 cells

The present study evaluates relative efficacies of insulin and PLGA-loaded-nano-insulin (NIn) in combating arsenic-induced impairment of glucose uptake, insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction in L6 skeletal muscle cells. L6 cells were treated with 0.5 mM sodium arsenite for 30 min and then the cells were further treated with either 100 nM insulin (standardized dose) or either of the two doses, 50 nM and 100 nM of nano-insulin. Various biomarkers like pyruvate-kinase and glucokinase, ATP/ADP ratio, mitochondrial membrane potential, cytosolic release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, cell membrane potential and calcium-ion level were studied and analyzed to ascertain the status of mitochondrial functioning in all experimental and control sets of L6 cells. The size, morphology and zeta potential of formulated NIn were determined by using dynamic light scattering, scanning electronic and atomic-force microscopies. Expression of signalling cascades like GLUT4, IRS1, IRS2, UCP2, PI3, and p38 was critically analyzed. Overall results suggested that both insulin and NIn improved mitochondrial functioning in arsenite-intoxicated L6 cells, NIn showing better effects at a much lower dose (at nearly 10-fold decreased dose) than that produced by insulin. Nano-insulin being non-toxic and effective at a much lesser dose, therefore, has potential for therapeutic use in the management of arsenic induced diabetes.