Safety Assessment of Ultra High Dilutions of Camphora officinarum: A Preclinical Investigation.

Background: Camphora officinarum (CO) is a commonly used homeopathic remedy for treating colds, collapse, and recurrent eruptive illnesses. Objective: Due to the non-availability of safety data on CO, the current study intended to determine the oral toxicity of CO in its ethanol-potentized dilutions 6C, 30C, and 200C in Wistar albino rats as per OECD guidelines. Materials and methods: A single oral dose of CO-6C, 30C, and 200C (2000 µl/kg) was administered, and the animals were monitored for behavior and mortality for up to 14 days in an acute toxicity study. In the subacute study, the effects of daily oral administration of CO-6C, 30C, and 200C (200 µl/kg) for 28 days were observed for clinical signs, change in body weight, and mortality. Hematological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses were assessed and organ weights were determined. Results: Results indicate no mortality of CO in its potencies in the acute toxicity study and was found to be safe at 2000 µl/kg dosage in the subacute toxicity study. CO (200 µl/kg/day) did not show any signs of toxicity in the hematological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses, along with organ weights. Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings suggest that CO in potencies of 6C, 30C, and 200C is safe up to a single oral dose of 2000 µl/kg body weight, and the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) was determined to be greater than 200 µl/kg/day.

Prescriptions of homeopathic remedies at the expense of the German statutory health insurance from 1985 to 2021: scientific, legal and pharmacoeconomic analysis.

The prescription of homeopathic remedies at the expense of the statutory health insurance (SHI) system in Germany has been criticized for years due to a lack of evidence. Now, on the planned abolition of the reimbursement of homeopathic medicines in Germany, the debate on this topic has been reignited. The aim of this paper is to show the costs and their development over time incurred by homeopathic remedies in the healthcare system from 1985 to 2021. For this purpose, 15 selected homeopathic medicines were chosen from the drug prescription report (Arzneiverordnungsreport) and analyzed with regard to their development of DDD (Defined Daily Dose) using data from the Wissenschaftliches Institut der Ortskrankenkassen (WidO, Scientific Institute of the General Local Health Insurance Funds) and compared with their respective rational pharmacological alternatives. The price comparison was based on the DDD costs and the pharmacy retail price of the smallest packaging in each case. The clinical study situation for the preparations was also analyzed. For this purpose, the clinical studies provided by the manufacturer and those on PubMed were divided into evidence levels and analyzed. In addition, the presentation of homeopathic remedies on company websites, in online pharmacies, in specialist information and package leaflets was analyzed with regard to side effects, interactions, indication, and information on the alleged effect/proof of efficacy. In many media, information on homeopathic medicines remained incomplete, and non-compliance with the Therapeutic Product Advertising Act (Heilmittelwerbegesetz) was noted. Naming of the products if often very suggestive, too. Manufacturers' claims of efficacy go far beyond what can be considered proven in terms of evidence-based medicine and the quality of most clinical studies is poor. Homeopathic remedies are on average significantly more expensive than their rational pharmacological alternatives. Furthermore, DDD costs have continued to rise over the years analyzed. In aggregate, from a pharmacoeconomic, legal, and scientific perspective, abolition of reimbursement of homeopathic medicines in Germany at the expense of the SHI system is well justified.

Acute and Sub-acute Oral Toxicity Assessment of Ferrum phosphoricum in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Ferrum phosphoricum (FP) has been used by traditional medicine practitioners for various ailments since ancient times. However, scientific evidence on the safety of FP is still unavailable. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the acute and sub-acute oral toxicity of homeopathic FP in experimental rats. METHODS: In an acute toxicity investigation, a single dose of 2,000 µL/kg of FP 6c, 30c and 200c was administered to female Wistar rats, which were monitored for up to 14 days according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guideline 423. For a sub-acute toxicity study, FP 6c, 30c and 200c (200 µL/kg) were administered to male and female rats for 28 days as per the OECD guideline 407. All the animals were observed for mortality, clinical signs and body weight during the study. At the end of the experiment, hematological, biochemical and histopathological assessments were performed. RESULTS: During the acute toxicity study, no mortality was observed in rats administered with FP, and thus the median lethal dose (LD50) was identified as >2,000 µL/kg. In the sub-acute study, no mortality or adverse clinical signs were noticed with FP treatment. Moreover, weekly body weight gain was normal. Hematological and biochemical investigations revealed no abnormalities. Furthermore, histological analysis of FP-treated rats' vital organs revealed no pathological changes. CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings imply that FP 6c, 30c and 200c potencies are safe and do not cause toxicity when given orally to Wistar albino rats for an extended period at a dose of 200 µL/kg.

Overview and quality assessment of health economic evaluations for homeopathic therapy: an updated systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Likewise other medical interventions, economic evaluations of homeopathy contribute to the evidence base of therapeutic concepts and are needed for socioeconomic decision-making. A 2013 review was updated and extended to gain a current overview. METHODS: A systematic literature search of the terms 'cost' and 'homeopathy' from January 2012 to July 2022 was performed in electronic databases. Two independent reviewers checked records, extracted data, and assessed study quality using the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria (CHEC) list. RESULTS: Six studies were added to 15 from the previous review. Synthesizing both health outcomes and costs showed homeopathic treatment being at least equally effective for less or similar costs than control in 14 of 21 studies. Three found improved outcomes at higher costs, two of which showed cost-effectiveness for homeopathy by incremental analysis. One found similar results and three similar outcomes at higher costs for homeopathy. CHEC values ranged between two and 16, with studies before 2009 having lower values (Mean ± SD: 6.7 ± 3.4) than newer studies (9.4 ± 4.3). CONCLUSION: Although results of the CHEC assessment show a positive chronological development, the favorable cost-effectiveness of homeopathic treatments seen in a small number of high-quality studies is undercut by too many examples of methodologically poor research.

To help make decisions about homeopathy in healthcare, it is important, as with other medical treatments, to look at whether this treatment is effective in relation to its costs; in other words, to see if it is cost-effective. The aim of the current work was to update the picture of scientific studies available on this topic until 2012. To this purpose, two different researchers screened electronic literature databases for studies between January 2012 and July 2022 which assessed both the costs and the effects of a homeopathic treatment. They did this according to strict rules to make sure that no important study was missed. They reviewed the search results, gathered information from the studies, and assessed the quality of the studies using a set of criteria. They detected six additional new studies to the 15 already known from the previous work. Overall, they found that in 14 out of 21 studies, homeopathic treatment was at least equally effective for less or similar costs. For the remaining seven studies, costs were equal or higher for homeopathy. Of these seven, two were shown to be advantageous for homeopathy: indeed, specific economic analyses demonstrated that the benefit of the homeopathic treatment compensated for the higher costs. For the remaining five studies, the higher or equal costs of homeopathic treatment were not compensated by a better effect. The quality of the studies varied, with older studies generally being of lower quality compared to newer ones. The authors concluded that although the quality of research on homeopathy's cost-effectiveness has improved over time, and some high-quality studies show that it can be a cost-effective option, there are still many poorly conducted studies which make it difficult to offer a definitive statement. In other words, while there is some evidence that homeopathy can be effective in relation to its costs, there are still many studies that are not very reliable, which means that interested parties need to be cautious about drawing conclusions.

Quantitative assessment of antioxidant potential of selected homeopathic preparations in clinical practice.

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.

Toxicological assessment compilation of selected examples of raw materials for homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products - Part 2.

The present successor article comprises more than 180 substances representing a continuative compilation of toxicologically evaluated starting materials prompted by the wide use and high number of homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products (HMP) on the market together with the broad spectrum of active substances of botanical, mineral, chemical or animal origin contained therein, and by the equally important requirement of applying adequate safety principles as with conventional human medicinal products in line with the European regulatory framework. The February 2019 issue of the Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology journal includes the antecedent article bearing the same title and entailing safety evaluations of more than 170 raw materials processed in HMP. This part 2 article highlights scientific evaluation following recognized methods used in toxicology with a view to drug-regulatory authority's assessment principles and practice in the context of HMP, and offers useful systematic, scientifically substantiated and simultaneously pragmatic approaches in differentiated HMP risk assessment. As a unique feature, both articles provide the most extensive publicly available systematic compilation of a considerable number of substances processed in HMP as a transparent resource for applicants, pharmaceutical manufacturers, the scientific community and healthcare authorities to actively support regulatory decision making in practice.

Methodological Considerations in the Assessment of Effectiveness of Homeopathic Care: A Critical Review of the EPI3 Study.

BACKGROUND: EPI3 is an observational study of a representative sample of general practitioners (GPs) and patients in France, demonstrating that patient characteristics differ according to the prescribing preferences of their GPs for homeopathy. For selected conditions (musculoskeletal disorders, sleep disorders, anxiety/depression, upper respiratory tract infections), progression of symptoms and adverse events over follow-up in the homeopathy preference group did not significantly differ from other practice preferences, but there was a two-fold to four-fold lower usage of conventional medicines. The EPI3 study's validity was challenged due to absence of head-to-head comparison of medicines to conclude on a causal association between homeopathy and outcomes. METHODS: A critical review of the nine EPI3 publications was conducted, focusing on generalizability, selection bias, outcome measurements and confounding. RESULTS: The conceptual framework of EPI3 rests on a systemic construct, i.e., the homeopathic treatment concept assessed using the type of GP prescribing preference, taking into account the clinical, human and social aspects. The enrollment process enhanced the generalizability of findings. Validated instruments for outcome measurements were used for three conditions, and control of confounding was rigorous. CONCLUSION: EPI3 was conducted according to best practices. Homeopathy prescribing preference met specific patient needs with less use of conventional medicines and without an apparent loss in therapeutic opportunity.

Impact of socioeconomic and health-related factors on consumption of homeopathic and natural remedies in Spain in 2006, 2011 and 2017.

OBJECTIVE: Complementary and alternative medicine use and type of use may be influenced by sociodemographic and economic determinants through which we could identify characteristics of patients with greater trend to use it. This paper aims to describe the changes in the consumption of homeopathic and natural remedies in Spain for three time points in order to discern changes in rate of consumption, associated factors and whether their use has been affected by a period of economic recession. METHODS: This study utilized 2006, 2011 and 2017 cross-sectional data from the Spanish National Health Survey, a nationally representative survey of the population aged more than 15 years old and resident in Spain. Independent bivariate and multivariate descriptive analyses for each of the 3 years studied were performed. RESULTS: The rate of consumption of both homeopathic and natural remedies has decreased over the periods studied. In spite of this decrease, the consumer profile appears to remain stable over the three periods. The sociodemographic factors associated with their consumption were being female, being 30-64 years old, being separated/divorced, having higher education qualifications, being employed and belonging to a higher social class. Psychiatric morbidity, chronic health problems such as pain, mental health problems or malignant tumors, and absence of major cardiovascular events were the clinical factors associated. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that beyond the economic situation, the use of homeopathic and natural remedies obeys to the needs of the patients related to their state of health and the response they receive from the health system. It may be that women have different needs and expectations of the healthcare system and, given this breach of expectations, seek remedy to alleviate their needs outside the system and conventional medicine.

Por que a Homeopatia incomoda? / Why Homeopathy bothers?

Escolhemos o título acima porque, como praticantes de uma atitude médico-filosófica que vê o ser humano como uma unidade e integrado ao todo, jamais conseguimos nos furtar ao diagnóstico sistêmico. É hábito do homeopata o diagnóstico em sua totalidade, das partes integradas ao todo, buscando o porquê em tudo, até em um simples artigo de um simples jornal de uma simples cidade que integra o nosso pequeno planeta, diga ele respeito ou não à homeopatia. Inicialmente a homeopatia começou incomodando as religiões, pois quando Hahnemann experimentou substâncias em humanos, observou o aparecimento de sintomas físicos e psíquicos, estes últimos eram tidos até então como instâncias da alma e portanto propriedade dos religiosos. Além de destruir o tácito acordo entre medicina e religião, onde médicos cuidavam dos males do corpo e os religiosos dos males da alma, resgatou também a unidade que é o ser. Foi a primeira prova testemunhal na medicina ocidental da comprovação dessa unidade. (AU)

Promoting health economic evaluation studies in the AYUSH system of medicine: the need of the hour.

The double burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases is a major threat to the Indian public health system. AYUSH, an acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homeopathy, represents the Indian system of medicine recognized by the Government of India. Mainstreaming of AYUSH is one of the key strategies of the Indian government for tackling increasing disease burden through initiatives such as AYUSH wellness centers, telemedicine, and quality control measures for medications in the AYUSH system of medicine. Such investment of resources in health systems may require economic evaluations. However, such evaluations are lacking in the AYUSH system, except for a few in homeopathy and yoga. In the absence of evidence from economic evaluations, researchers and decision makers are guided mostly by clinical efficacy while formulating healthcare strategies. In view of the increasing use of AYUSH across the country, economic evaluations of the AYUSH system are the need of the hour to aid healthcare decision making.

Homeopathy Assessment-Contribution of the Human Sciences.

The recent questions about homeopathy raised by some sceptics have focused an awareness on this therapy and led different protagonists among the scientific community to seek a much-needed re-assessment. The inputs coming from external but benevolent experts will broaden the knowledge and the consciousness of the whole medical community, and more widely of the public, about the meaning and the value of homeopathy.Looking at this from the point of view of the human sciences gives a perspective on the universality of the philosophy that underlies homeopathic thinking, which is particularly visible in the methodological similarities between homeopathic provings and sociological or anthropological observations. It also explains how this view of health and care coincides with the expectations of the public, who no longer want a limited mechanical approach to the human body or more generally to the environment.The input to homeopathy of the human sciences, with their methodological tools and approaches, and highlighting the possibilities offered by mixed-methods research, could enable these notions to be heard and shared in the wider scientific community.

In Vitro Assessment of Cytoprotective Effects of CANOVA against Cell Death Induced by the Anti-malarial Artesunate - A Preliminary Experiment.

BACKGROUND: Artesunate (ATS) is a semi-synthetic compound derived from artemisinin, which is widely accepted in the treatment of malaria. However, there is evidence that ATS, under certain in vitro conditions, induces several impairments to normal cell functions. Canova (CA) is a Brazilian homeopathic formulation indicated for patients with depressed immune system. CA shows both in vitro and in vivo protective effects against mutagenic/carcinogenic compounds. Therefore, we aimed to assess in vitro the cytoprotective effects of CA against the cytotoxicity of ATS in Vero cells. METHODS: Viability of Vero cells exposed to ATS was assessed by MTT assay, whereas the anti-cytotoxic effect of CA was evaluated by apoptosis and necrosis quantification with fluorescent dyes. RESULTS: After 24 hours of ATS treatment, a reduction in cell viability was observed at 32 and 64 µg/mL, the latter being statistically significant (p < 0.05) in relation to the negative control. The concentration of 64 µg/mL was chosen for the subsequent experiments. ATS significantly induced both apoptosis and necrosis in Vero cells in relation to controls (p < 0.01). We also observed a statistically significant decrease in the number of apoptotic cells observed in the CA 16% + ATS co-treatment compared with ATS treatment (p < 0.01). Treatment with CA alone also had no influence on either type of cell death. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that ATS is cytotoxic in the assessed conditions. However, such cytotoxicity was attenuated when the cells were treated simultaneously with ATS and CA.

Fatores associados ao uso de práticas integrativas e complementares por hipertensos e diabéticos / Factors associated with the use of Complementary and Integrative Practices by hypertensive and diabetic patients

As Práticas Integrativas e Complementares (PICs) são utilizadas por hipertensos e diabéticos e contribuem com a qualidade de vida dessa população. A divulgação de conhecimentos sobre PICs poderá contribuir para ampliação da oferta desses serviços e de um cuidado integral à saúde. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a prevalência e os fatores associados ao uso de PICs por hipertensos e ou diabéticos. Trata-se de uma pesquisa transversal. Participaram deste estudo 124 indivíduos que autodeclararam hipertensão e ou diabetes, moradores do Município de Rondonópolis, MT. Os dados foram coletados nos domicílios dos pesquisados e utilizou-se modelos de regressão logística para análise dos dados. A prevalência do uso de PICs foi de 22,22%, sendo as plantas medicinais a prática mais utilizada (71,43%). A maioria (66,44%) dos entrevistados utilizou PICs por indicação de familiares. O uso de PICs foi associado à escolaridade (RP = 0,35; IC95% 0,14 – 0,89) e ansiedade (RP: 4,4; IC95% 1,34 -14,43). Os hipertensos e diabéticos com maior escolaridade apresentam menores chances para uso de PICs e aqueles com ansiedade mostram-se mais propensos à essas práticas. Os dados apontam para uma reduzida prevalência de uso de PICs e para a necessidade de ampliação de oferta de práticas integrativas para a população.(AU)

Complementary and Integrative Practices (CIPs) are used by hypertensive and diabetic patients and contribute to the quality of life of this population. The dissemination of knowledge about CIPs can contribute to expanding the offer of these services and providing a more comprehensive health care. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and factors associated with the use of CIPs by hypertensive and/or diabetic patients. This was a cross-sectional survey. 124 individuals who identified themselves as having hypertension and/or diabetes and living in the city of Rondonópolis, MT, participated in this study. Data were collected in the respondents' homes and logistic regression models were used for data analysis. The prevalence of the use of CIPs was 22.22%, with medicinal plants being the most used practice (71.43%). The majority (66.44%) of respondents used CIPs as indicated by family members. The use of CIPs was associated with education (PR: 0.35; 95%CI 0.14 – 0.89) and anxiety (PR: 4.4; 95%CI 1.34 -14.43). Hypertensive and diabetic patients with a higher education are less likely to use CIPs and those with anxiety are more prone to these practices. The data point to a reduced prevalence of use of CIPs and the need to expand the offer of integrative practices to the population.(AU)

Scientific Appearance and Homeopathy. Determinants of Trust in Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Several studies have investigated the motivations driving the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). Nevertheless, the general public view of these therapies remains relatively unexplored. Our study identifies the social factors that determine a person's trust in alternative therapies, like homeopathy or acupuncture, drawing conclusions from the results of the Spanish National Survey on the Social Perception of Science and Technology (N = 6,357). We show that trust in the effectiveness of CAM therapies is not mutually exclusive with a belief in science for the general public, pointing to a certain level of disinformation. The comparison with superstitions confirms a clear differentiation with the drivers of trust in analyzed CAM therapies. We argue that scientific appearance of these alternative therapies, in terms of prescription, communication and marketing, may play an important role in determining trust in them for a large part of the population. Furthermore, we confirm that women and those with higher socio-economic status are more likely to express trust in the effectiveness of CAM therapies. Additionally, distrust of the influence of big pharma on health policies seems to have an effect on viewing CAM therapies as more effective. Finally, we argue that media and pharmacies may have an effect on the scientific-like perception of CAM therapies, contributing to the social construction of trust in its effectiveness. Therefore, widespread confusion about the scientific validation of homeopathy may be among the main factors driving its successful extension as a practice.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treatment with additional enrollment to a homeopathic integrated care contract in Germany.

BACKGROUND: A number of German statutory health insurance companies are offering integrated care contracts for homeopathy (ICCHs) that cover the reimbursement of homeopathic treatment. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these contracts are highly debated. METHODS: To evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treatment after an additional enrollment in an ICCH, a comparative, prospective, observational study was conducted in which participants in the ICCH (HOM group) were compared with matched (on diagnosis, sex and age) insured individuals (CON group) who received usual care alone. Those insured with either migraine or headache, allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis and depression were included. Primary effectiveness outcomes were the baseline adjusted scores of diagnosis-specific questionnaires (e.g. RQLQ, AQLQ, DLQI, BDI-II) after 6 months. Primary cost-effectiveness endpoints were the baseline adjusted total costs from an insurer perspective in relation to the achieved quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Costs were derived from health claims data and QALYs were calculated based on SF-12 data. RESULTS: Data from 2524 participants (1543 HOM group) were analyzed. The primary effectiveness outcomes after six months were statistically significant in favor of the HOM group for migraine or headache (Δ = difference between groups, days with headache: - 0.9, p = 0.042), asthma (Δ-AQLQ(S): + 0.4, p = 0.014), atopic dermatitis (Δ-DLQI: - 5.6, p ≤ 0.001) and depression (Δ-BDI-II: - 5.6, p ≤ 0.001). BDI-II differences reached the minimal clinically important difference. For all diagnoses, the adjusted mean total costs over 12 months were higher in the HOM group from an insurer perspective, with migraine or headache, atopic dermatitis and depression suggesting cost-effectiveness in terms of additional costs per QALY gained. CONCLUSION: After an additional enrollment in the ICCH, the treatment of participants with depression showed minimally clinically relevant improvements. From an insurer perspective, treatment with an ICCH enrollment resulted in higher costs over all diagnoses but seemed to be cost-effective for migraine or headache, atopic dermatitis and depression according to international used threshold values. Based on the study design and further limitations, our findings should be considered cautiously and no conclusions regarding the effectiveness of specific treatment components can be made. Further research is needed to overcome limitations of this study and to confirm our findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov , NCT01854580. Registered 15 March 2013 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01854580.

In Vitro Assessment of Homeopathic Potencies of Hydrastis canadensis on Hormone-Dependent and Independent Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Conventional treatment such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiotherapy has decreased the mortality rate among cancer patients but has also revealed long-term side effects. Drug resistance and toxicity to normal cells compound the problems associated with the use of modern medicines. Hence, complementary or alternative treatment options are being explored. The current study, using different homeopathic potencies of Hydrastis canadensis, was conducted to distinguish between any effects they might have on hormone-dependent and independent breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of homeopathic medicine Hydrastis on hormone-dependent (MCF 7) and hormone-independent (MDA-MB-468) breast cancer cells was assessed using viability and colony-forming assays after 48 or 72 hours of treatment. Flow cytometry-based Annexin V-PI (propidium iodide), caspase 3 and cell cycle analysis was performed following treatment of cells with mother tincture or various potencies of Hydrastis (1C, 2C, 30C, 200C). RESULTS: Different potencies of Hydrastis displayed selective cytotoxic effects against MCF 7 cells, but only marginal effects against MDA-MB-468. The maximum cytotoxicity was established in the case of 1C following 72 hours of treatment. Treatment of breast cancer cells revealed an increase in the G0/G1 cell population, along with an increase in the caspase 3 levels and induction of apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Hydrastis may have a selective cytotoxic effect against hormone-dependent breast cancer MCF 7 cells, leading to cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, which could be the plausible reason for the induction of apoptosis. The results need to be validated in vivo.