A bioassay with arsenic-stressed duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) was developed to study potentially regulative effects of homeopathic preparations. We compared potentized substances (nine different potency levels between 17 x and 33 x ) with two controls (unsuccussed and succussed water) regarding their influence on number- and area-related growth rate and color of fronds (leaves). Screening included 11 potentized substances: Arsenicum album, gibberellic acid, nosode, arsenic(V), phosphorus, Conchae, Acidum picrinicum, Argentum nitricum, Crotalus horridus, Hepar sulfuris, and Mercurius vivus naturalis.
Design:
Duckweed was stressed with arsenic(V) for 48 hours. Afterwards, plants grew in either potentized substances or water controls for 6 days. Growth rate and color of fronds were determined with a computerized image analysis system for different time intervals (days 0–2, 2–6, 0–6). A systematic negative control experiment with unsuccussed water was used to investigate the stability of the bioassay. All experiments were randomized and blinded.
Results:
Arsenicum album and nosode potencies increased frond number–related growth rate compared to controls (succussed water controls or pooled water controls [succussed and unsuccussed], p < 0.05, t test). Regarding color classification, no effects were observed.
Conclusions:
The experimental setup with L. gibba stressed by arsenic(V) provides a valuable tool to investigate regulative effects of potentized substances. In order to verify the effects of Arsenicum album and nosode potencies, further independent replication experiments are necessary.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
WalachH, JonasWB, IvesJet al.Research on homeopathy: State of the art. J Altern Complement Med, 2005; 11:813–829.
2.
ChaplinMF. The Memory of Water: An overview. Homeopathy, 2007; 96:143–150.
3.
WeingartnerO. The nature of the active ingredient in ultramolecular dilutions. Homeopathy, 2007; 96:220–226.
4.
MilgromLR. Is homeopathy possible?J R Soc Promot Health, 2006; 126:211–218.
5.
SwayneJ. Truth, proof and evidence: Homeopathy and the medical paradigm. Homeopathy, 2008; 97:89–95.
6.
ErnstE. Are highly dilute homoeopathic remedies placebos?Perfusion, 1998; 11:291–292.
7.
ErnstE, PittlerMH. Re-analysis of previous meta-analysis of clinical trials of homeopathy. J Clin Epidemiol, 2000; 53:1188.
8.
LindeK, ClausiusN, RamirezGet al.Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials. Lancet, 1997; 350:834–843.
9.
LindeK, ScholzM, RamirezGet al.Impact of study quality on outcome in placebo-controlled trials of homeopathy. J Clin Epidemiol, 1999; 52:631–636.
10.
LüdtkeR, RuttenAL. The conclusions on the effectiveness of homeopathy highly depend on the set of analyzed trials. J Clin Epidemiol, 2008; 61:1197–1204.
11.
HeirsM, DeanM. Homeopathy for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or hyperkinetic disorder. The Cochrane Library. Cichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, 2009; 3.
12.
BarnesJ, ReschKL, ErnstE. Homeopathy for postoperative ileus? A meta-analysis. J Clin Gastroenterol, 1997; 25:628–633.
13.
JacobsJ, JonasW, Jimenez-PerezM. Homeopathy for childhood diarrhea: Combined results and metaanalysis from three randomized, controlled clinical trials. Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2003; 22:229–234.
14.
JonasWB, LindeK, RamirezG. Homeopathy and rheumatic disease. Rheum Dis Clin North Am, 2000; 26:117–123.
15.
LüdtkeR, WiesenauerM. A meta-analysis of homeopathic treatment of pollinosis with Galphimia glauca. Wien Med Wochenschr, 1997; 147:323–327.
16.
TaylorMA, ReillyD, Llewellyn-JonesRHet al.Randomised controlled trial of homoeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series. BMJ, 2000; 321:471–476.
17.
MarschollekB, NelleM, WolfMet al.Effects of exposure to physical factors on homeopathic preparations as determined by ultraviolet light spectroscopy. Sci World J, 2010; 10:49–61.
18.
BaumgartnerS. The state of the basic research in homeopathy: Advice from an interdisciplinary conference. WittC, AlbrechtH. New Directions in Homeopathy Research. Essen: KVC Verlag, 2009; 107–130.
19.
KovacH, MuhryF, NovicS, MoserM. Wheat seedling growth after addition of toxic substances [in German]Mitteilung Inst Strukt Med Forschung, 1991; 3:43–63.
20.
BettiL, TrebbiG, MajewskyVet al.Use of homeopathic preparations in phytopathological models and in field trials: A critical review. Homeopathy, 2009; 98:244–266.
21.
MajewskyV, ArltS, ShahDet al.Use of homeopathic preparations in experimental studies with healthy plants. Homeopathy, 2009; 98:228–243.
22.
BrizziM, EliaV, TrebbiGet al.The efficacy of ultramolecular aqueous dilutions on a wheat germination model as a function of heat and aging-time. Evid Based Complement Altern Med, 2009December22e-pub ahead of print.
23.
BrizziM, LazzaratoL, NaniDet al.A biostatistical insight into the As2O3 high dilution effects on the rate and variability of wheat seedling growth. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd, 2005; 12:277–283.
24.
BinderM, BaumgartnerS, ThurneysenA. The effects of a 45 × potency of Arsenicum album on wheat seedling growth: A reproduction trial. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd, 2005; 12:284–291.
25.
CarvalhoLM, CasaliVWD, CeconPRet al.Effect of homeopathy on recovery of feverfew plants [Tanacetum partenium (L.) Schultz Bip] under water stress. Rev Bras Plantas Med, 2004; 6:20–27.
26.
BettiL, TrebbiG, NaniDet al.Models with plants, microorganisms and viruses for basic research in homeopathy. BonaminL. Signals and Images. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer, 2008; 97–111.
27.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Lemna sp. growth inhibition test. Guideline 221. Paris: OECD, 2006.
28.
ASTM. Standard Guide for Conducting Static Toxicity Tests with Lemna gibba G3. E 1415-91 (Reapproved 2004)West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2004.
29.
ISO. Water quality: Determination of toxic effect of water constituents and waste water to duckweed (Lemna minor). Duckweed growth inhibition test. International Standard ISO 20079. Geneva, Switzerland, 2005.
30.
NaumannB, EberiusM, AppenrothKJ. Growth rate based dose-response relationships and EC-values of ten heavy metals using the duckweed growth inhibition test (ISO 20079) with Lemna minor L. clone St. J Plant Physiol, 2007; 164:1656–1664.
31.
AlvaradoS, GuédezM, Lué-MerúMet al.Arsenic removal from waters by bioremediation with the aquatic plants Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and lesser duckweed (Lemna minor)Bioresource Technol, 2008; 99:8436–8440.
32.
CharlierH, AlbertsonC, ThornockCet al.Comparison of the effects of arsenic (V), cadmium (II), and mercury (II) single metal and mixed metal exposure in radish, Raphanus sativus, fescue grass, Festuca ovina, and duckweed, Lemna minor. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol, 2005; 75:474–481.
33.
MkandawireM, TaubertB, DudelE. Limitations of growth-parameters in Lemna gibba bioassays for arsenic and uranium under variable phosphate availability. Ecotoxicol Environ Safety, 2006; 65:118–128.
34.
ScherrC, SimonM, SprangerJ, BaumgartnerS. Duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) as a test organism for homeopathic potencies. J Altern Complement Med, 2007; 13:931–937.
35.
ScherrC, SimonM, SprangerJ, BaumgartnerS. Effects of potentised substances on growth rate of the water plant Lemna gibba L. Complement Ther Med, 2009; 17:63–70.
36.
FuscoR, MonarcaS, BiscardiDet al.Leaching of mutagens into mineral water from polyethyleneterephthalate bottles. Sci Total Environ, 1990; 90:241–248.
37.
HornaO, NalliaS, CooperaD, NicellJ. Plasticizer metabolites in the environment. Water Res, 2004; 38:3693–3698.
38.
MonarcaS, De FuscoR, BiscardiDet al.Studies of migration of potentially genotoxic compounds into water stored in PET bottles. Food Chem Toxicol, 1994; 32:783–788.
39.
WagnerM, OehlmannJ. Endocrine disruptors in bottled mineral water: Total estrogenic burden and migration from plastic bottles. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2009; 16:278–286.
40.
LahnsteinL, BinderM, ThurneysenAet al.Isopathic treatment effects of Arsenicum album 45 x on wheat seedling growth: Further reproduction trials. Homeopathy, 2009; 98:198–207.
41.
SharmaVK, SohnM. Aquatic arsenic: Toxicity, speciation, transformations, and remediation. Environ Int, 2009; 35:743–759.
42.
SmedleyPL, KinniburghDG. A review of the source, behaviour and distribution of arsenic in natural waters. Appl Geochem, 2002; 17:517–568.
43.
BelonP, BanerjeeA, KarmakarSRet al.Homeopathic remedy for arsenic toxicity? Evidence-based findings from a randomized placebo-controlled double blind human trial. Sci Total Environ, 2007; 384:141–150.
44.
BelonP, BanerjeeP, ChoudhurySCet al.Can administration of potentized homeopathic remedy, Arsenicum album, alter antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer in people living in high-risk arsenic contaminated areas? I. A correlation with certain hematological parameters. Evid Based Complement Altern Med, 2006; 3:99–107.
45.
Khuda-BukhshAR, Roy-KarmakarS, BanerjeeAet al.A follow-up study on the efficacy of the homeopathic remedy Arsenicum album in volunteers living in high risk arsenic contaminated areas. Evid Based Complement Altern Med, 2009August24e-pub ahead of print.
