RESUMO
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
