Research - Antioxidant
Anti-rheumatoid and anti-oxidant activity of homeopathic Guaiacum officinale in an animal model
Amrita Sarkar, Poulami Datta, Asok Kumar Das, Antony Gomes
Abstract
Background
Homeopathy is a popular form of complementary and alternative medicine. Guaiacum extract is said to be useful for pain and inflammation, but there appears to be no scientific evidence to support this.
Aims
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-rheumatic and anti-oxidant activity of homeopathic preparations of Guaiacum officinale (Gua) on experimental animal model.
Design
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was induced in male albino rats by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) at a dose of (0.25 mg heat killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis/ml of emulsion). Gua mother tincture (MT) (prepared from the latex part of the plant) (MT), Gua 30cc and 200cc were purchased commercially from King Company, Kolkata, India. Male albino Wistar rats (130 ± 10 g) were divided into 6 groups: Sham control; Arthritis control; Standard treatment indomethacin (0.25 mg 100 g−1 p.o. × 5 alternative days), Gua MT (1 ml kg−1 p.o. × 5 days) treated; Gua (30c 1 ml kg−1 p.o. × 5 days) treated; Gua (200c; 1 ml kg−1 p.o. × 5 days) treated. Anti-rheumatic activity was examined through physical, urinary, serum parameters. All the results were expressed in terms of mean ± SEM (statistical error of mean n = 6) at each dose level. The level of significance was determined through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results
It was observed that body weight, ankle and knee diameter, urinary parameters (hydroxyproline (OH-P), glucosamine, calcium (Ca2+), creatinine (CRE), phosphate (PO43−)), serum ACP (acid phosphatase)/ALP (alkaline phosphatase)/Ca2+/CRE/PO43−/gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)/Lipid peroxidation (LPO)/Glutathione (GSH)/Superoxide dismutase (SOD)/Catalase, serum GGT, serum interleukins like IL-1β/CINC-1/PGE2/TNF-α/IL-6, IL-12/IL-4/IL-6 levels were significantly affected. After treatment with Guaiacum in all 3 regimes was associated with normalization of these parameters compared to control group.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that homeopathic G. officinale possesses anti-rheumatic and anti-oxidant activity in experimental animal and these activities may be more significant in higher potencies.
Source : Homeopathy Journal
Link to Abstract
ANTIOXIDANTE EFFECT IN VITRO OF THE HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE ARSENICUM ALBUM, CUPRUM METALLICUM MANGANUM AND ZINCUM METALLICUM.
CELSO FERNANDES BATELLO
Dissertation presented as part of the demanded requirements to obtain the title of MA in Homeopathy by FACIS – IBEHE
Abstract
This dissertation, with the support of a theoretical practical foundation, presents the scenario where is inserted the problematic in question; The Antioxidant Effect in vitro of Homeopathic Medicines Arsenicum album, Cuprum metallicum, Manganum and Zincum metallicum.
It is demonstrated in the first chapters, of theoretical bibliographical substantiation, the Homeopathy and Oligotherapy as therapeutics techniques, as well as the importance of oxidation phenomena for a better comprehension of the organic phenomena, mainly in the genesis of many diseases. It is also experimentally demonstrated the homeopathic medicines antioxidant action in different dilutions in comparison with melatonin in various concentrations over the lipidic peroxidation in homogenate of mice brains measured though the malondialdehyde dosage obtained through the absorbency technique.
For the analysis of the results the Kruskal-Wallys and Dunn´s Multiple Comparisons tests were realized, that revealed significant differences among the experimented groups.
It was verified a greater lipidic peroxidation inhibiting effect with melatonin 1M, followed by melatonin 0.5M, Cuprum metallicum C12, Cuprum Metallicum C30, Arsenicum album C30, melatonine 0.24M, Manganum C30 and Arsenicum album C12.
It was proved that the melatonin has an in vitro lipidic peroxidation inhibiting effect, and so being adopted as reference. However the new fact arises from the observation of the significant lipidic peroxidation inhibition obtained with the usage of Homeopathic medicines, sometimes with dilutions that supersed the Avogadro number, as in the cases of Cuprum metallicum C30, Arsenicum album C30 and Manganum C30 in decreasing action order.
This work calls the attention for the possibility of existence of an antioxidant mechanism action of homeopathic medicine different from the know cause effect relationship.
Source : Homeopathy International
Link to Full Dissertation