Effects of ultra high dilution of paraquat 30 ch on growth, chlorophyll content and yield of rice crop

The application of synthetic fertilizers reduces the natural fertility of the soil and contaminates groundwater. Some photosynthesis inhibitors at ultra-high dilution (UHD) increase photosynthesis, growth, and yield of crops. A weedicide Paraquat at UHD enhanced the growth and yield of potatoes in fields. The objective is to see whether the UHD of Paraquat is also effective on rice. This weedicide was serially diluted with distilled water and manually succussed in 30 steps following the preparation of homeopathic dilutions called potencies. In this way, the 30thpotency of Paraquat called Paraquat 30 cH was prepared and preserved in 90 % ethanol. Paraquat 30 cH was diluted with water 1:1000 (v/v) and sprayed on rice plants in a field measuring 0.3125 acres. The control plot of the same area was situated 300 meters away from the test plot. Three treatments were given at an interval of 7 days. The treated plot showed increased growth, chlorophyll content, and rice yield significantlycompared to control. The UHD of the weedicide produced precisely the opposite effect of the crude material on plants. The increased growth and yield of rice by Paraquat 30 cH may be due to the enhancement of photosynthesis of treated plants. The UHD of Paraquat increased the yield of rice by 19.35% over the control.

Extreme dilutions of mercuric chloride produce longer binding interaction with ?-amylase as compared to blank solvents

Background:High and ultra-low doses of HgCl2modulate α-amylase starch interaction through two different binding sites of the enzyme. Mercurius corrosivus at ultra-high dilution (UHD) is reported to have a long duration of action for 30-60 days.Objectives:(i) To see whether the mother tincture and UHDs of mercuric chloride could directly act on α-amylase without intervention of its substrate starch. (ii) To see whether the MT and UHDs produce longer binding interaction with α-amylase than the control.Methods:Mercuric chloride MT (0.15 M) or Merc corθ and its three UHDs, 30, 200, 1000 cH called potencies were in 90% ethanol. Blank 90% ethanol and deionised and distilled (DD) water were used as controls. All ethanol based ligands were diluted with DD water to reduce EtOH content to 0.09%. Using an ITC instrument each ligand was injected once at 10 µl into15µM α-amylase at 250C and the reaction was observed for 33.3 min. Results:While Merccorθ produced endothermic reaction, all other ligands did exothermic reaction. All ligands sustained heat change for the entire period of observation (33.3 min). Conclusions:Merc corθ and potencies produced exactly the opposite reaction at the protein binding sites. Merc cor200 cH and 1000 cH produced highest heat change (6 micro cal/sec) during interaction with α-amylase.(AU)

Cannabis as homeopathic medicine in extreme dilutions: Thermal analysis for their differentiation and action on a protein

Cannabis indica and C. sativa have been used in homeopathy in extreme dilutions, called potencies, for therapeutic purposes since 1841. The purpose of the present study is to see whether Cannabis dilutions have specific levels of free water molecules which characterize other homeopathic potencies. The second objective is to see whether Cannabis mother tincture (MT) and potencies act on the binding sites of a protein. The three potencies 8, 14 and 32 cH were prepared from Cannabis mother tincture (MT) by successive dilution followed by succussion in 8, 14 and 32 steps, respectively. The 3 potencies of diluent medium 90% EtOH were similarly prepared. Each potency was analysed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the free water level in it. The drug potencies and unpotentised EtOH were tested for their binding reaction with a protein human serum albumin (HSA) by isothermal calorimetry (ITC). MTs and the potencies differ from each other and also from water control and EtOH with respect to free water content as revealed by DSC. MTs, their potencies and EtOH bind to HSA showing difference in thermodynamic parameters in terms of stoichiometry, binding constant, change in enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy. Potencies may initiate their individual effect through binding with a protein thereby leading to subsequent biochemical events inside the cell.

High and ultra low concentrations of Mercuric chloride initiate their specific action on binding sites of invertase and modify its interaction with sucrose

Background: Mercuric chloride is known to inhibit the activity of enzymes. It is used in homeopathy at ultra low concentration (ULC) and is known as Mercurius corrosivus (Merc cor). ULCs of Merc cor are reported to promote enzyme activity. Objective: To see whether the mother tincture (θ) of Merc cor and its ULCs interact with an enzyme invertase at its binding sites and influence enzyme's action on its substrate sucrose. Methods: Merc cor θ (0.15 M HgCl2) was diluted with deionized and distilled (DD) water 1:100 and succussed 10 times to prepare Merc cor 1 cH or 1st potency. This potency was further diluted and succussed in 200 and 1000 steps to prepare 200cH and 1000cH potencies, respectively. Merc cor 200 cH and 1000cH were prepared in 90% ethanol. The two potencies and blank 90% EtOH were diluted with DD water 1:1000 to minimize ethanol content to a negligible amount 0.09%. The control was DD water (0.99g/M). The drugs, EtOH and water control were mixed separately with 0.037 mM invertase in DD water. Using an isothermal calorimetry (ITC) instrument the substrate sucrose (65mM) was injected at 2 µl every 2 min into 300 µl invertase solution 20 times at 25 0C. Molecular modeling study was done to predict possible binding sites and nature of binding between the enzyme and HgCl2, and between the enzyme and water. Potencies after dilution are virtually water. Fluorescence spectra of invertase (4µM) mixed with drug/control solutions were also obtained to see the effect of drugs on protein folding. Results: Thermodynamic parameters like binding constant (K), change in enthalpy(ΔH), entropy(ΔS) and Gibbs free energy(ΔG) showed marked variation in treatment effects on the enzyme. Molecular modeling study also shows variation in binding between invertase and HgCl2, and between invertase and water. Fluorescence spectra show variation in quenching related to different treatments. Conclusion: Merc cor mother tincture and its potencies interact at different binding sites of invertase and modify the enzyme's action on sucrose. So, potencies act as modulators of ligand, sucrose. Drug solutions induce conformational changes in the enzyme. (au)

Raman spectroscopy reveals variation in free OH groups and hydrogen bond strength in ultrahigh dilutions

OBJECTIVE: To decipher the nature of water structure in two ultrahigh diluted (UHD) homeopathic drugs by Laser Raman Spectroscopy. METHOD: Two homeopathic drugs Calcarea carbonica (Calc.) and Sepia officinalis (Sep.) in 8cH, 202cH, and 1002cH and their diluent medium 90% ethanol in 8cH and 202cH were used in the present study. Laser Raman spectra of all the samples were obtained in the wave number region of 2400 – 4200 cm-1. The intensity ratio at vibration frequencies between 3200 and 3420 (R1) and that between 3620 and 3420 (R2) were calculated for each UHD of the samples. RESULTS: The spectra show a marked difference in intensities in the stretching vibrations of CH and OH groups of all the samples. R1 values for three UHDs of Calc. and Sep. show negative and positive relationships, respectively. In the case of R2 values, the relationship in three UHDs is 81002 for Calc., and 8> 202 < 1002 for Sep. In the case of control (ethanol UHDs) both R1 and R2 show a negative relationship. CONCLUSION: R1 denotes a relative number of OH groups with strong and weak hydrogen bonds. R2 indicates the relative number of OH groups with broken and weak H-bonds. Therefore, the UHDs of the two drugs and the control are different from each other with respect to hydrogen bond strength of OH groups and the number of free OH groups or non-hydrogen bonded water molecules.

Free water molecules and hydrogen bonding form the basis of variation in homeopathic potencies as revealed by vibrational spectroscopy

Using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) we have demonstrated that homeopathic potencies of Natrum mur, Cantharis, Nux vomica and Sulphur show differences with respect to the number of free water molecules and strength of hydrogen bonding. The purpose of the present study is to confirm this phenomenon in three potencies of two more drugs Calcarea carb and Silicea. Design: The potencies used for each of the two drugs were 30cH, 200cH and 1000cH. The control was 90% ethanol as also the potentized drugs. The control, as well as the potencies, were diluted with distilled water to reduce the level of ethanol to 0.03 molar fraction in each of them. FTIR spectra of all the potentized drugs, control and sterile distilled water (reference water) were taken in the wave number region of 4000-2800 cm-1. The full width at half maximum (fwhm) of OH band was measured for each spectrum. The width was divided into two in the middle. The difference spectrum (absorbance of drug solution - absorbance of reference water) for each potency and the control was obtained after normalization of the spectrum at 3410 cm-1. One difference spectrum so obtained for a potency was subtracted from another to find out if there is a difference between two different potencies. Results: The half width half maximum (hwhm) in both the high and low-frequency sides of the OH band is far less narrow in potencies than in the control as compared to that in water. The difference spectra for different potencies show different levels of fall in intensity at the wave number region of dip at 3630 cm-1...

Transfer of the effect of potentized mercuric chloride on á-amylase fromone test tube to another through capillary water

In a series of experiments we showed that treatment of a plant or animal with a dilutedand agitated substance might affect other plants or animals connected to the former by the capillarywater in cotton threads. The aim of the present study was to establish whether drug effect could betransferred in a cell-free medium.Design: Two test tubes, each containing 1 ml of 1% starch solution and 1 ml of á-amylase, wereconnected by means wet cotton threads encased in a polythene tube. One of the tubes alsocontained Mercurius corrosivus (Merc-c) 30 cH and the other ethanol solution (control). After 15min, the enzyme activity was stopped with DNSA, and the breakdown product of starch, maltose,was estimated. A third, separate tube contained all the tested materials except for Merc-c and thecontrol solution. In a second experiment two tubes, one containing 1,200 ppm and the other 200ppm of maltose, were similarly connected over 15 min. Both experiments were repeated 20 times.Results: In the first experiment, the amount of maltose was similar in both connected tubes, but itwas significantly lower in the unconnected tube. In the second experiment, maltose concentrationin both tubes remained unchanged.Conclusion: The information of Merc-c 30 cH was effectively transferred through capillary waterbetween two tubes in cell-free medium. This effect was not due to physical transfer of either solventor solutes. Water seems to the most probable carrier of information in diluted and agitatedsolutions...

Homeopathic drugs complementary, antidotal and inimical to Nux vomica produce stronger anti-alcoholic effect on toads than Nux

In homeopathy some drugs are known to act as complementary, antidotal or inimical to a particular drug. Practitioners can follow this rule when they apply one drug following another. Potentized Nux vomica can reduce acute hypnotic effect of alcohol on toads. Sulphur and Sepia are reported to be complementary to Nux-vom, while Coffea cruda and Zincum met are antidotal and inimical to Nux, respectively [...] Methods: Five batches of toads, each comprising 20 individuals, were treated by partial immersion in a drug diluted with distilled water 1:500 for 20 min. The control consisted of 90% ethanol diluted with distilled water 1:500. The drugs were Nux vom 200 CH, Sulphur 200 CH, Sepia 200 CH, Coffea 200 CH and Zincum 200 CH. Toads of each batch were separately exposed to 260mM ethanol solution and tested every 10 min to see if they had lost their righting reflex (RR)[...] Results: Toads treated with the five drugs took significantly longer time (P<0.01, one-way ANOVA) to lose RR than those treated with the control. The time taken to lose RR was significantly longer (P<0.01, one-way ANOVA) with Sulphur 200 CH, Sepia 200 CH, Coffea 200 CH and Zincum 200 CH than with Nux vom 200 CH alone. The situation was same when Nux treatment was followed by each of the four drugs. Of the five drugs Coffea showed the strongest anti-hypnotic effect. Conclusion: 1. Drugs complementary, antidotal and inimical to Nux vom showed the same anti-alcoholic effect as Nux in terms of increased tolerance to alcohol anesthesia. 2. The anti-alcoholic effect of Nux vom was markedly superseded by the above four drugs. 3. Of all the drugs tested Coffea showed the strongest anti-alcoholic effect. 4. It appears that the above four drugs produced their individual dominant effect cancelling the individual effect of Nux vom.

Variation in free and bound water molecules indifferent homeopathic potencies as revealed by their Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)

Homeopathic potencies 12cH and above cross the Avogadro number, and as such do not containany original drug molecules in their aqueous ethanol medium. It is thought H-bonded waterstructures preserved by ethanol carry the information of initial drug molecules. Potentized drugs show some differences with respect to their infrared (IR) absorption spectra. In a water-ethanol solution, free water molecules vary according to the concentration of ethanol. In the present study the concentration of ethanol has been kept constant at 0.03 molar fractions in 6 differenthomeopathic potencies. Aim: to see whether different homeopathic potencies having fixed ethanolcontent show variation in FTIR spectra and also free water molecules. Two potencies like 8cH and32cH of three homeopathic drugs Natrum mur, Cantharis and Nux vomica were used in thestudy, and their ethanol concentration was kept fixed at 0.03 molar fraction. The control wasconsidered to be aqueous ethanol at the same concentration. Spectrum of reference water wasalso taken. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectra were obtained in the wavenumber region of 4000 – 2800 cm-1. The half-width at half-maximum was measured for eachspectrum. The intensity of each spectrum was normalized at 3410 cm-1 close to the peak. The difference spectrum (absorbance of drug solution – absorbance of reference water) for each drugand the control was obtained. FTIR spectra showed variation in absorbance intensity on both thehigh and low frequency side of the O-H stretching band in different drugs as well as the control. The C-H stretching band of 2977 cm-1 also showed variation in intensity in different drugs...

High dilutions of homeopathic remedies induce relaxation of rat aorta precontracted with noradrenalin

BACKGROUND Homeopathic potencies have been reported to produce alteration of contraction in isolated rat ileum in an organ bath. Potentized homeopathic drugs like Lycopus V and Aurum met are used for the treatment of hypertension. AIM The purpose of this study is to see whether Lycopus V 30 CH and Aurum met 30 CH could produce relaxation of isolated rat aorta in the organ bath. METHODS The aorta of rats were dissected out, placed in Krebs-Henseleit solution, cleared of connective tissue and endothelium and cut into 2-2.5 mm long rings. The rings were fixed in organ baths with the upper end connected by a string to an isometric transducer which was finally attached through a data acquisitation equipment to a computer. Aurum met 30 CH Lycopus V 30 CH, and their medium 90% ethanol were added separately to the bathing fluid containing the aorta rings which were precontracted with noradrenalin (NA). RESULTS Both the drugs produced significant relaxation of the aorta (p<0.001) precontracted with NA (10-7 M). The control did not show any marked effect on the NA induced contraction of aorta. CONCLUSION A potentised drug is thought to be specifically structured water which can transform the water structure in the bathing fluid and the isolated tissue immersed in the fluid into its own form. This in turn produces the observed relaxation. Both Lycopus V 30 CH and Aurum met 30 CH are effective in reducing NA induced contraction of rat aorta. Drugs can directly act on the isolated rat aorta without any system of influence. KEY WORDS High dilution drug, isolated aorta, hypertension, noradrenalin.

Introdução e objetivo: Segundo alguns estudos, diluições homeopáticas alteram a contratilidade de íleo isolado de rato, em banho de órgãos. Os medicamentos homeopáticos como Aurum metallicum Lycopus virginicus são usados no tratamento da hipertensão. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se Lycps 30 cH e Aur 30 cH podem induzir o relaxamento da aorta isolada de ratos, em banho de órgãos. Métodos: A aorta foi dissecada e, livre de tecido conjuntivo e endotelio, foi colocada em solução de Krebs-Henseleit, sendo seccionada em anéis de 2 a 2,5 cm de comprimento. Os anéis foram fixados em banho de órgãos, a extremidade superior ligada por um cabo a um transdutor isométrico, por sua vez ligado a dispositivos de registro de dados em um computador. Aur 30 cH, Lycps 30 cH e etanol 90%, foram adicionados separadamente ao líquido do banho contendo os anéis de aorta previamente contraídas pela noradrenalina (NA) ou norpinefrina (NE). Resultados: Os dois medicamentos testados induziram relaxamento significativo (p <0,001), do preparada de aorta contraída por NA (10-7 M), enquanto que a solução de controle não produziu efeitos significativos. Conclusão: Ambas as drogas foram usadas em diluições homeopáticas demasiado elevadas para admitir a presença de moléculas da substância original. Assim, o mecanismo farmacológico tradicional envolvendo as moléculas da droga e receptores no músculo liso da aorta deve ser descartado. Embora reconhecidamente diferente, o mecanismo envolvido permanece desconhecido. Lycps 30 e Aur 30 CH mostraram-se eficazes na redução da contratilidade da aorta de ratos, induzida por NA. As drogas podem agir diretamente na aorta isolada de ratos sem influência sistêmica.

Transfer of anti-alcoholic effect of Nux Vomica 200 cH through water from one group of toads to another under alcohol anesthesia

Background: A common practice is to give homeopathic medication to nursing mothers to treat their children, assuming that the drug will be conveyed by the milk. In the case of conventional treatment, the drug molecules are indeed passed on from the mother to her breastfed infant. However, high dilutions (HD) above 12 cH, i.e., over Avogadro’s number, are traditionally held to lack any molecule from the starting material. If that is the case, then, does medication taken by the mother actually reach the child? To answer to that question, we developed plant models and demonstrated the transfer of HD effects between 2 groups of plants. Aims: To demonstrate the transfer of HD effects in an animal model in a much shorter time. Methods: Two batches of toads were respectively placed in two beakers, one containing Nux vomica 200 cH diluted with water 1:500 (direct treatment), and the other the same amount of distilled water were connected by cotton thread soaked in water and encased in a polyethylene tube (connected group); a third batch of toads (control) were placed in a beaker with 90% ethanol diluted with distilled water 1:500; all the animals were left 30 minutes, and then transferred to 3 independent beakers containing 209 mM ethanol. Every 10 minutes, the motionless toads were removed from the beakers, and placed on supine position, failure to recover the upright position after 60 sec was considered as loss of the righting reflex (RR). The experiment was replicated using large adult toads. Results: The percentage of toads losing the RR increased with the time of exposure to 209 mM ethanol in the 3 groups of toads ... Conclusion: Nux-v 200 cH countered the hypnotic effect of alcohol in young toads, and this effect was transferred through capillary water in the cotton thread, supporting the transfer of the effect of homeopathic medication from mother to child.

Introdução: A prescrição de medicamentos homeopáticos às mães de lactentes é uma prática habitual, sob o pressuposto de que a droga é transmitida pelo leite materno. No caso do tratamento convencional, moléculas da droga são efetivamente transmitidas de mãe para filho. Porém, tradicionalmente se considera que altas diluições (AD) acima da 12 cH, ou seja, acima do número de Avogadro, não conservam qualquer molécula da substância original. Nesse caso, será que a medicação tomada pela mãe alcança realmente a criança? Para responder essa questão, desenvolvemos um modelo animal e demonstramos a transferência dos efeitos de AD entre 2 grupos de animais. Objetivos: Demonstrar a transferência dos efeitos de AD num modelo animal, num período de tempo mais breve. Métodos: Dois lotes de sapos foram respectivamente colocados durante 30 minutos em 2 béqueres, um contendo Nux vomica 200 cH diluído 1:500 em água destilada (tratamento direto) e o outro, a mesma quantidade de água destilada (grupo conectado) conectados através de fio de algodão molhado com água e coberto por um tubo de polietileno; um terceiro grupo de sapos (controle) foi colocado num béquer com solução de etanol 90% em água destilada. Os animais foram após transferidos para 3 béqueres, respectivamente, contendo etanol a 209 mM. A cada 10 minutos, os sapos imóveis eram removidos dos béqueres e colocados em posição supina. Aqueles que não recuperaram a posição ereta em até 60 segundos foram considerados como tendo perdido o reflexo de endireitamento (RE). O experimento foi replicado com sapos adultos. Resultados: A percentagem de sapos que perderam o RR aumentou com o tempo de exposição ao álcool, nos 3 grupos... Conclusão: Nux-v 200 cH inibiu o efeito hipnótico do álcool nos sapos, e este efeito foi transmitido pela água capilar no fio de algodão, dando suporte à hipótese de que o efeito dos medicamentos homeopáticos é transferido da mãe para o filho.