In vitro evaluation of Sporothrix brasiliensis biotherapic

Sporothrix brasiliensisis one of themost virulent zoonosis which affects animals and humans. This fungus is responsible for subcutaneous infection and its contamination is possible through trauma to the skin. Sporotrichosis is highly prevalent in feline. And Rio de Janeiro appears to have the highest occurrence of cases. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the in vitroefficacy of Sporothrix brasiliensisbiotherapic, with and without an association to allopathic medicine commonly used in the treatment.Methodology: Conidiumcells of Sporothrix brasiliensiswill be cultured in Potato dextrose agar (PDA) for 5 to 7 days and yeast cells in Brain heart infusion (BHI) for 3 to 5 days. After incubation, the cells will be scraped with a drigalski handle and filtered using cells strainer into a tube and centrifuge for 5 minutes at 3000 RPM. The cells will be resuspended with Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), centrifuge again,and finally resuspended in PBS. After preparing the inocule, the microplates will be prepared. There will be 5groups in vitro. The first one will be the control group, only fungi. The second will be the treatment of fungi with homeopathic medicine (Sporothrix brasiliensis30DH). The third group will be the homeopathic medicine in association with itraconazole. The fourth will be the treatment with itraconazole only. And the last group will be the fungi with dynamized distilled water 30DH. Sporothrix brasiliensis30DHwill be prepared according to Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopeia. Results and discussions: The experiments are still in progress and the results will be analyzed through Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine statistically significant differences. Previous articles based on biotherapic treatments demonstrated successful results, so our research group is conducting these experiments to evaluate the effect in this model. Conclusion: Experiments will be made to verify the efficacy of biotherapic on sporotrichosis treatments.

Homeopathy on cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeand impact on fermentation

Studies have shownthat homeopathy modulates the activity of both single-and multi-celled organisms;therefore, we propose a study into the action of Arnica Montanaand S. cerevisiae fungus nosode on growth "in vitro", and on the fermentation of S. cerevisiaeon brewer's wort. Methods:250 µL of medication in 30% alcohol were placed in 5 mL of Sabouraud Broth (SB) or wort, with 20 µL of fungus ata McFarland standard of 0.5 and in a dilution of 1:100. Fungal growth was evaluated via spectrophotometry at 600 nm or a cell count in a Neubauer chamber in a kinetic of 1 to 5 days' incubation at 25ºC. The production of alcohol by the fungus was evaluated using the BRIX index in the samekinetic. 1x107fungi/mL were previously incubated with medication for 5 days and, afterwards, placed in 20 mL of fresh wort, incubated at 25ºC for 7 days and evaluated for growth and sugar consumption. Resultsand Discussion: The SB results revealed that after 2days incubation with Arnica30CH, an increase in fungal growth was observed (p<0.0001), whilewith nosode 6 and 30CH there was a reduction in growth after 2 and 5 days incubation (p<0.001). The fungi incubated with Arnica30CH exhibited increased sugar consumption after 2 and5 days incubation (p<0.05), while the nosode 30CH resulted in lower sugar consumption after 2 and 3 days incubation (p<0.05). The results for fungal growth and sugar consumption with the wort were similar to those using SB.The fungalcultures previously incubated with homeopathic medication and subsequent incubation with fresh wortindicated a loss of distinction, bothin terms of fungal growth and sugar consumption. This piece of data may suggest action by the homeopathic medication only when in contact with the cells. Conclusion: The treatment of the S. cerevisiae fungus using Arnica and the S. cerevisiae nosode produced a significant modulation in fungal growth and sugar consumption.

Evaluation of the in vitrofungicidal activity of the dynamized essential oil of Aloysia polystachyabefore and after freezing

The method of preserving substances of natural origin should not only maintain the microbiological safety of the product but also the integrity of its therapeutic potential. Essential oils obtained from plants are complex mixtures of substances and it issuggested to keep them under refrigeration for better conservation. On the other hand, homeopathic mother tincture prepared from plant is kept at room temperature. Aim: This work aimed to evaluate if the freezing process changes the in vitro antifungal activity potential of the homeopathic preparation Aloysia polystachya1CH against Candida albicans. Methodology:The inoculum of C. albicansATCC 10231 was cultivated in culture médium Sabouroud (Himedia®), standardized on a spectrometer and distributed in a 96-well plate. Then, A. polystachya1CH was added to the wells, prepared accordingtothe Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (FHB, 3rd edition) from A. polystachya essencial oil. An aliquot of this homeopathic preparation was frozen and after 40 days it was submitted to the same methodology for evaluation of the antifungal activity. After incubation, the plates were read with triphenyltetrazolic (TTC) (Vetec®). Results and discussion: The results of the in vitroevaluation showed that the freezing process retained the antifungal activity of the dynamized essential oil of A. polystachya1CH against C. albicans. Conclusion: Under the conditions evaluated in this study, the freezing method presented as a viable method of conservation of dynamized plant material.

Homeopathy treatment of Malassezia Pachydermatis in vitro

A common clinical occurrence in dogs is otitis externa caused by excessive growth of yeasts Malassezia pachydermatis, which can become chronic after wrong treatments, in which microbial resistance can occur. Homeopathic remedies can be considered a successful alternative, selecting the medicine through the similitude principle. Herein, 50 µL of a 1:1000 dilution of Malassezia pachydermatis suspension at 0.5 McFarland scale was used to seed the yeast into Sabouraud dextrose agar plates using a Drigalski spreader to proceed with colony unit counting. Before being seeded, the yeast suspensions were treated with 1% of different homeopathic treatments previously selected from a pilot study, which means Sulphur 6cH, Dolichos pruriens 6cH, and Kali carbonicum 6cH, being water, and succussed water used as controls. For comparison, a set of Sabouraud dextrose agar plates containing 1% Tween 80 was seeded in parallel. The treatments were made blind and evaluated in triplicate. Contaminated cultures were withdrawn. The number of colonies per plate was assessed, and smears were made from the cultures to classify yeast growth according to cytomorphology on ImageJ®software. The preliminary results show no significant effect of all tested medicines compared to the controls. High data variability was also observed, mainly in those cultures whose medium was prepared with Twin 80. In conclusion, at this point of the study, no evidence of the effects of the studied medicines on Malassezia pachydermatis growth in vitro could be identified. The analysis of cytomorphology is still in course.

Efeito de ultradiluições homeopáticas em modelos in vitro: revisão da literatura / Effect of homeopathic ultradilution on in vitro models: literature review

Introdução: Existem questionamentos quanto aos efeitos das ultradiluições (UDs) homeopáticas por ultrapassarem o número de Avogadro. Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre os efeitos das UDs em modelos in vitro. Métodos: Foi realizada uma busca sistemática na base de dados PubMed de estudos sobre UDs simples em modelos in vitro a partir de 2007. Resultados: 28 publicações cumpriram os critérios de inclusão/exclusão; 26 estudos demonstraram efeitos evidentes de UDs simples em modelos in vitro, a maioria originada em países onde a homeopatia tem alto grau de institucionalização. Conclusões: Estudos in vitro demonstram inquestionavelmente a atividade biológica de UDs acima do número de Avogadro, dando conta do efeito das mesmas na prática clínica. A maioria das pesquisas se origina em países onde a homeopatia é uma racionalidade médica oficialmente aceita, o que facilita o acesso a recursos de pesquisa. (AU)

Background: the effects of homeopathic high dilutions (HDs) are debated because they exceed Avogadro’s number, Aim: to perform a literature review on the effects of HDs on in vitro models. Methods: a systematic search was performed in database PubMed for studies assessing simple HDs on in vitro models published from 2007 onwards. Results: 28 publications met the inclusion/exclusion criteria; 26 studies demonstrated patent effects of simple HDs on in vitro models; most such studies were conducted in countries where homeopathy attained a high level of institutionalization. Conclusions: in vitro models patently evidence biological activity of HDs above Avogadro’s number and account for effects found in clinical practice. Most studies were conducted in countries where homeopathy is officially recognized, which facilitates the access to research. (AU)

Effects of homeopathic high dilutions on in vitro models: literature review

Background: the effects of homeopathic high dilutions (HDs) are controversial because they exceed Avogadro’s number. Aim: to perform a literature review on the effects of HDs on in vitro models. Methods: a systematic search was performed in database PubMed for studies assessing simple HDs on in vitro models published from 2007 onward. Results: 28 publications met the inclusion/exclusion criteria; 26 studies demonstrated patent effects of simple HDs on in vitro models; most such studies were conducted in countries where homeopathy attained a high level of institutionalization.Conclusions: in vitro models patently evidence biological activity of HDs aboveAvogadro’s number and account for effects found in clinical practice. Most studies were conducted in countries where homeopathy is officially recognized, which facilitates access to resources for the development of research.(AU)

Efeito de ultradiluições homeopáticas em modelos in vitro: revisão da literatura / Effects of homeopathic high dilutions on in vitro models: literature review

Introdução: Existem questionamentos quanto aos efeitos das ultradiluições (UDs) homeopáticas por ultrapassarem o número de Avogadro. Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre os efeitos das UDs em modelos in vitro. Métodos: Foi realizada uma busca sistemática na base de dados PubMed de estudos sobre UDs simples em modelos in vitro a partir de 2007. Resultados: 28 publicações cumpriram os critérios de inclusão/exclusão; 26 estudos demonstraram efeitos evidentes de UDs simples em modelos in vitro, a maioria originada em países onde a homeopatia tem alto grau de institucionalização. Conclusões: Estudos in vitro demonstram inquestionavelmente a atividade biológica de UDs acima do número de Avogadro, dando conta do efeito das mesmas na prática clínica. A maioria das pesquisas se origina em países onde a homeopatia é uma racionalidade médica oficialmente aceita, o que facilita o acesso a recursos de pesquisa. (AU)

Transfer of the effect of potentized mercuric chloride on á-amylase fromone test tube to another through capillary water

Objective: In a series of experiments we showed that treatment of a plant or animal with a dilutedand agitated substance might affect other plants or animals connected to the former by the capillarywater in cotton threads. The aim of the present study was to establish whether drug effect could betransferred in a cell-free medium.Design: Two test tubes, each containing 1 ml of 1% starch solution and 1 ml of á-amylase, wereconnected by means wet cotton threads encased in a polythene tube. One of the tubes alsocontained Mercurius corrosivus (Merc-c) 30 cH and the other ethanol solution (control). After 15min, the enzyme activity was stopped with DNSA, and the breakdown product of starch, maltose,was estimated. A third, separate tube contained all the tested materials except for Merc-c and thecontrol solution. In a second experiment two tubes, one containing 1,200 ppm and the other 200ppm of maltose, were similarly connected over 15 min. Both experiments were repeated 20 times.Results: In the first experiment, the amount of maltose was similar in both connected tubes, but itwas significantly lower in the unconnected tube. In the second experiment, maltose concentrationin both tubes remained unchanged.Conclusion: The information of Merc-c 30 cH was effectively transferred through capillary waterbetween two tubes in cell-free medium. This effect was not due to physical transfer of either solventor solutes. Water seems to the most probable carrier of information in diluted and agitatedsolutions.(AU)

Homeopathic drug standardization through biological evaluations: An untrodden avenue

Background: There is a dearth of chemico-analytical or instrumental methods for standardization and quality control of higher dilutions of homeopathic drugs. Aim: This review highlights the challenges in standardization of anti-inflammatory homeopathic drugs and suggests a battery of biological assays for their standardization. Methods: We retrieved a total 57 scientific reports from the experimental studies and scientific reviews published between January 1999 and June 2014 related to anti-inflammatory homeopathic drugs and their high dilutions. These comprised of 18 reports on preclinical evaluation, 15 on source materials, 9 on isolated constituents and 15 studies on in-vitro experiments. Few recent citations which supported the initial studies were added later during the compilation of the manuscript. Conclusion: Standardization and quality control of homeopathic mother tinctures and high dilutions warrants an urgent attention. As biological activities are observed to be attributed to the high dilutions which are practically devoid of active ingredients, their standardization may be done through the suggested battery of biological investigations. It is suggested that the current methods of standardization of homeopathic drugs need to be upgraded to include sensitive, reproducible and relevant biological assays so that the end users are assured of the quality, efficacy, and safety of homeopathic dilutions. (AU)

Las bases científicas de la homeopatía / The scientific basis of homeopathy

A través de un recorrido por los principios de la Homeopatía y la evolución de sus ideas es posible delimitar las líneas de investigación que podrían desarrollarse para responder las dudas e interrogantes que surgen de la aplicación de esta disciplina,situada entre las ciencias médicas, humanas, biológicas y físicas.A continuación se presenta el resumen de diversas investigaciones que han comprobado, por ejemplo, que los medicamentos homeopáticos sí actúan en células, modelos animales y seres humanos, aunque no se ha logrado explicarcómo; además, se pone de manifiesto que los criterios para evaluar no pueden ser idénticos a los que se emplean en la farmacología clásica, si bien existe cierta similitud.Se concluye que a pesar de que hay demasiados aspectos de la Homeopatía que siguen sin tener una explicación coherente en términos científicos clásicos, no deben rechazarse sin miramientos, sino estudiarse. (AU)

Through a tour of the principles of homeopathy and the evolution of his ideas is possible to delineate the lines of research that could be developed to answer the doubts and questions that arise from the application of this discipline, between the medical and social sciences, biological and physical.The summary of several studies that have found, for example is presented, that homeopathic medicines do act on cells, animal models and humans, but has not been able to explainhow; moreover, shows that the criteria for evaluating may not be identical to those used in classical pharmacology, while there is some similarity.We conclude that although there are too many aspects of homeopathy that still lack a coherent explanation in classical scientific terms, should not be rejected without consideration, but studied. (AU)

Pesquisa básica em homeopatia: revisão bibliográfica / Basic research on homeopathy: a bibliographic revision

A homeopatia fundamenta-se em princípios distintos do modelo científico clássico, tornando difícil sua compreensão e aceitação pelo meio acadêmico tradicional, que se apoia no paradigma cartesiano. Para que se consiga legitimar a homeopatia perante a episteme moderna, torna-se fundamental a produção de pesquisas que... (AU)

Statistical analysisof the effect of high dilutions of arsenic in a large dataset from a wheat germination model

This paper describes the statisticalanalysis of a series of experiments using a simple biological mosdel (wheat germination in vitro), where a large number of wheat seeds were treated with homeopathic potencies of Arsenic trioxide. Some potencies, such as As2O3 40x, 42x and 45x, have repeatedly shown a significant stimulating effect on germination compared to controls, whereas As2O335x has a significant inhibiting effect. In some experiments the seeds... (AU)

Statistical analysis of adaptive response in sister chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes after treatment with very... to control variability

Previous studies have been interpreted as suggesting that low concentrations of N-methyl-N'-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) have an adaptive effect in the cultured lymphocytes of responsive donors (that is, the cells are protected against the mutagenic effects of a subsequent challenge with a higher concentration of MNNG). The objectives of the present study were to investigate, under stringent experimental conditions, whether a protective effect...(AU)

Electric measurement of ultra-high dilutions: a blinded controlleds experiment

This experiment was designed to test the hypothesis put forward by P. Bourkas, A. Delinick and C. Karragiannopoulos of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) that Ultra High Succussed Dilutions (UHSD) can be distinguished from control solutions by an Electric Measurement Device (EMD), developed by the NTUA team. A pre-formulated experimental protocol was followed, measuring in random sequence test solutions of double-distilled and deionised water... (AU)

Pruebas fisico-quimicas y biologicas de laboratorio con preparaciones homeopaticas de Yumel / Physical chemical and biological tests of laboratory with homeopathic preparations of Yumel

Los autores desarrollaron un trabajo de investigacion en el laboratorio con preparaciones de Yumel (Guatteria gaumeri Greenman) para demostrar la accion de la dinamizacion con diferentes diluciones decimales empleando para tal analisis el espectrometro UV-Visivel y Fluorometria. Fueron realizadas tambien pruebas biologicas in vitro frente a cultivos de Trypanosoma cruzi y Trychomona vaginalis con resultados alentadores en relacion sl Trypanosoma estando en evaluacion la actividad frente a la Trychomona(AU)

A pilot statistical study with homoeopathic potencies of Arsenicum album in wheat germination as a simple model

A blind, randomized laboratory trial to study homoeopathic potencies of Arsenicum album on wheat germination is proposed as a simple model which allows a rigorous statistical analysis. The parametric tests show that the differences between the treatment groups cannot be explained as a mere effect of intrinsic seed variability

Effects of homoeopathic preparations of organic acids and mineral on the oxidative metabolism of human neutrophils

A number of different potencies of commercially available homoeopathic preparations in saline solution were tested for their ability to regulate the oxidative metabolism (superoxide production) and adhesion function of human neutrophils in vitro. l5//to 30//inhibition of oxidative metabolism was caused by Sulphur 6x, Manganum phosphoricum 6x and 8x, and Magnesium phosphoricum 6x and 8x. Phosphorus slightly reduced superoxide production, with varying results in a series of experiments. Using Magnesium phosphorus, small inhibitory effects (8-11//) were noted even at high potencies. Among the organic acids, a group (Acidum malicum 4x and Acidum fumaricum 4x) enhanced superoxide production, while others either inhibited the response (Acidum citricum and Acidum succinicum, 3x and 4x) or had no effect (Acidum ketoglutaricum and Acidum cis-aconitum). Attempts to reproduce these effects using solutions prepared in the laboratory confirmed the inhibitory effects of Manganum phosphoricum 6x and organic acids in 3x, while other data indicated that critical factors in the methodology of preparation may affect the results