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- Title
Development of a Test System for Homeopathic Preparations Using Impaired Duckweed ( Lemna gibba L.).
- Authors
Jäger, Tim; Scherr, Claudia; Simon, Meinhard; Heusser, Peter; Baumgartner, Stephan
- Abstract
Objectives: 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.
- Subjects
ANALYSIS of variance; ARSENIC; BIOLOGICAL assay; BIOPHYSICS; COMPUTER software; DOSAGE forms of drugs; HOMEOPATHY; RESEARCH methodology; RESEARCH funding; T-test (Statistics); RESEARCH in alternative medicine; DATA analysis
- Publication
Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 2011, Vol 17, Issue 4, p315
- ISSN
1075-5535
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1089/acm.2010.0246