Growth of yeast cultures as in vitro model for investigating homoeopathic medicines

ABSTRACT

1 The question of a sensitive response in the growth of yeast cell cultures to treatments with homoeopathic dilutions (potencies), has been raised in a number of recent publications. A further set of growth trials with this model performed at our Institute are reported here. 2 The actions of 8x to 16x decimal potencies of AgNO3, CuSO4, HgCl2 and NaCl on the growth of cell cultures of Schizosaccharomyces pombe were investigated. This included a set of trials with experimental poisoning of the cells by toxic levels of CuSO4 and subsequent study of the remedial action by potencies of the same substance. 3 Yeast cells were grown in batch culture in a glucose/malt extract medium. Growth was interrupted shortly before the end of the exponential growth phase and total cell concentrations were assessed by means of a Coulter Counter. The obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis. Each treatment range was tested in three separate trials. 4 The results obtained failed to indicate any response in the growth rate of Sch. pombe to the potency treatments