Effect of homeopathic medicines on transplanted tumors in mice

E. M. Sunila, Kuttan Girija, K. C. Preethi, Kuttan Ramadasan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ultra low doses used in homeopathic medicines are reported to have healing potential for various diseases but their action remains controversial. In this study we have investigated the antitumour and antimetastatic activity of selected homeopathic medicines against transplanted tumours in mice. It was found that Ruta graveolens 200c and Hydrastis canadensis 200c significantly increased the lifespan of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma and Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites induced tumour-bearing animals by 49.7%, and 69.4% respectively. Moreover there was 95.6% and 95.8% reduction of solid tumour volume in Ruta 200c and Hydrastis 200c treated animals on the 31st day after tumour inoculation. Hydrastis 1M given orally significantly inhibited the growth of developed solid tumours produced by DLA cells and increased the lifespan of tumour bearing animals. Some 9 out of 15 animals with developed tumors were completely tumour free after treatment with Hydrastis 1M. Significant anti-metastatic activity was also found in B16F-10 melanoma-bearing animals treated with Thuja1M, Hydrastis 1M and Lycopodium1M. This was evident from the inhibition of lung tumour nodule formation, morphological and histopathological analysis of lung and decreased levels of γ-GT in serum, a cellular marker of proliferation. These findings support that homeopathic preparations of Ruta and Hydrastis have significant antitumour activity. The mechanism of action of these medicines is not known at present.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)390-394
Number of pages5
JournalAsian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume8
Issue number3
StatePublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alternative medicine
  • Homeopathy
  • Hydrastis
  • Lycopodium
  • Melanoma
  • Metastasis
  • Ruta
  • Thuja

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Oncology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Cancer Research

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