RESUMO
Introduction: Influenza viruses have been responsible for highly contagious acute respiratory illnesses with high mortality, mainly in the elderly, which encourages the development of new drugs for the treatment of human flu. The biotherapics are medicines prepared from biological products, which are not chemically defined. They are compounded following the homeopathic procedures indicated for infectious diseases with known etiology [1]. Aim: The purpose of the present study is to verify cellular alterations induced by a biotherapic prepared from the infectious influenza A virus. Methodology: This biotherapic was prepared for this study in the homeopathic potency of 30X according to the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopeia [2]. The concentration of 10% was not cytotoxic to cells, as verified by neutral red assay. The cellular alterations observed in MDCK cells were analyzed by optical microscopy for the quantification of mitosis, nucleoli and lipid bodies. The mitochondrial activity was assessed by MTT assay and the phosphosfructokinase-1 (PFK-1) enzyme activity was analyzed on the MDCK cells treated for 5, 10 and 30 days. Macrophages J778.G8 were treated with this biotherapic to evaluate the immunostimulatory cytokine release. Results: The cellular alterations observed in MDCK cells were verified by optical microscopy. The number of lipid bodies present in MDCK cells stimulated for 10 days was significantly lower (p <0.05) when compared to controls. The biotherapic significantly increased (p <0.05) the number of mitosis and the mitochondrial activity of MDCK cells stimulated for 10 and 30 days. These changes were confirmed by a significant reduction (p <0.05) on the PFK-1 activity. These results suggest that the biotherapic was able to activate the Krebs cycle and pentosephosphate metabolism to the generation of amino acids and nucleotides, situations common to cells whose rate of mitosis is increased. The quantification of immunostimulatory cytokines by macrophages J774.G8 indicated that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-?) production was higher (p <0.05) in the supernatant of the macrophages pre-treated with this biotherapic and infected with influenza virus, suggesting an activation of the macrophages by this biotherapic. Conclusion: This biotherapic is able to induce some cellular alterations, which show strong evidence that it might be a promising option for the human flu. New experiments are being developed to understand the mechanisms of action of this biotherapic.(AU)
Assuntos
Influenza Humana , Terapias ComplementaresRESUMO
Introduction: Influenza viruses have been responsible for highly contagious acute respiratory illnesses with high mortality, mainly in the elderly, which encourages the development of new drugs for the treatment of human flu. The biotherapics are medicines prepared from biological products, which are not chemically defined. They are compounded following the homeopathic procedures indicated for infectious diseases with known etiology [1]. Aim: The purpose of the present study is to verify cellular alterations induced by a biotherapic prepared from the infectious influenza A virus. Methodology: This biotherapic was prepared for this study in the homeopathic potency of 30X according to the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopeia [2]. The concentration of 10% was not cytotoxic to cells, as verified by neutral red assay. The cellular alterations observed in MDCK cells were analyzed by optical microscopy for the quantification of mitosis, nucleoli and lipid bodies. The mitochondrial activity was assessed by MTT assay and the phosphosfructokinase-1 (PFK-1) enzyme activity was analyzed on the MDCK cells treated for 5, 10 and 30 days. Macrophages J778.G8 were treated with this biotherapic to evaluate the immunostimulatory cytokine release. Results: The cellular alterations observed in MDCK cells were verified by optical microscopy. The number of lipid bodies present in MDCK cells stimulated for 10 days was significantly lower (p <0.05) when compared to controls. The biotherapic significantly increased (p <0.05) the number of mitosis and the mitochondrial activity of MDCK cells stimulated for 10 and 30 days. These changes were confirmed by a significant reduction (p <0.05) on the PFK-1 activity. These results suggest that the biotherapic was able to activate the Krebs cycle and pentosephosphate metabolism to the generation of amino acids and nucleotides, situations common to cells whose rate of mitosis is increased. The quantification of immunostimulatory cytokines by macrophages J774.G8 indicated that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-?) production was higher (p <0.05) in the supernatant of the macrophages pre-treated with this biotherapic and infected with influenza virus, suggesting an activation of the macrophages by this biotherapic. Conclusion: This biotherapic is able to induce some cellular alterations, which show strong evidence that it might be a promising option for the human flu. New experiments are being developed to understand the mechanisms of action of this biotherapic.
RESUMO
The most common way to perform succussions is to place a liquid preparation inside a glass vessel and beat it vigorously against a hard elastic surface, either manually or using a mechanical apparatus. This procedure has been assumed able to transfer mechanical energy to the molecular level, where it becomes available to perform chemical work. Such interpretation has been enforced by observed changes in the electrical conductivity (EC) of High Dilutions (HD) due to succussion. In order to address this question, we compared the electrical conductivity changes of HD prepared from Vincristine sulfate (VCR) samples with those of an inert solvent. Samples were produced through manual and mechanical succusions in order to observe the influence of bubbles production. The results confirmed the timing of EC changes but these were equivalent for VCR and solvent, except for VCR 1cH samples. Also, the production of bubbles does not affect the EC in an extent able to distinguish succussion procedures. We concluded that the physical-chemical properties of HD can be modeled by chemical and diffusive mechanisms typical of distilled water.(AU)
A maneira mais comum de realizar sucussões é manter uma preparação líquida dentro de um frasco de vidro, e agitá-la violentamente usando um dispositivo mecânico ou batendo-a, manualmente, contra um anteparo rígido, porém elástico. Este procedimento tem sido interpretado como um mecanismo capaz de transferir a energia mecânica da agitação, para níveis moleculares, onde ela se tornaria disponível para a realização de trabalho químico. Tal interpretação tem sido estimulada pela observação de alterações na condutividade elétrica (CE) de Altas Diluições (HD), devido à sucussão. Visando modelar esta questão, comparou-se a alteração da CE de amostras preparadas a partir de Sulfato de Vincristina (VCR) com amostras equivalentes (controle) preparadas apenas com o solvente água destilada. As amostras foram produzidas por sucussão mecânica e manual, a fimd e observar a influência da produção de bolhas. Os resultados confirma que a CE varia com o tempo, porém tais variações são equivalentes para VCR e controle, exceto para as amostras VCR 1cH. Também, a produção de bolhas não afeta a CE de forma a permitir usá-la para distinguir os diferentes procedimentos de sucussão. Concluimos que as propriedades físico-químicas da HDs podem ser modeladas por mecanismos químicos e difusivos, típicos para a água destilada.(AU)
Assuntos
Homeopatia , Dinamização , Condutividade Elétrica , Medicamento Homeopático , Água Destilada , Altas Potências , Desenho de FármacosRESUMO
The most common way to perform succussions is to place a liquid preparation inside a glass vessel and beat it vigorously against a hard elastic surface, either manually or using a mechanical apparatus. This procedure has been assumed able to transfer mechanical energy to the molecular level, where it becomes available to perform chemical work. Such interpretation has been enforced by observed changes in the electrical conductivity (EC) of High Dilutions (HD) due to succussion. In order to address this question, we compared the electrical conductivity changes of HD prepared from Vincristine sulfate (VCR) samples with those of an inert solvent. Samples were produced through manual and mechanical succusions in order to observe the influence of bubbles production. The results confirmed the timing of EC changes but these were equivalent for VCR and solvent, except for VCR 1cH samples. Also, the production of bubbles does not affect the EC in an extent able to distinguish succussion procedures. We concluded that the physical-chemical properties of HD can be modeled by chemical and diffusive mechanisms typical of distilled water.
A maneira mais comum de realizar sucussões é manter uma preparação líquida dentro de um frasco de vidro, e agitá-la violentamente usando um dispositivo mecânico ou batendo-a, manualmente, contra um anteparo rígido, porém elástico. Este procedimento tem sido interpretado como um mecanismo capaz de transferir a energia mecânica da agitação, para níveis moleculares, onde ela se tornaria disponível para a realização de trabalho químico. Tal interpretação tem sido estimulada pela observação de alterações na condutividade elétrica (CE) de Altas Diluições (HD), devido à sucussão. Visando modelar esta questão, comparou-se a alteração da CE de amostras preparadas a partir de Sulfato de Vincristina (VCR) com amostras equivalentes (controle) preparadas apenas com o solvente água destilada. As amostras foram produzidas por sucussão mecânica e manual, a fimd e observar a influência da produção de bolhas. Os resultados confirma que a CE varia com o tempo, porém tais variações são equivalentes para VCR e controle, exceto para as amostras VCR 1cH. Também, a produção de bolhas não afeta a CE de forma a permitir usá-la para distinguir os diferentes procedimentos de sucussão. Concluimos que as propriedades físico-químicas da HDs podem ser modeladas por mecanismos químicos e difusivos, típicos para a água destilada.
