Effect of Atropa belladonna and Echinacea angustifolia in homeopathic dilution on experimental peritonitis

Abstract

Atropa belladonna and Echinacea angustifolia have been used in homeopathy as modulators of inflammatory processes, in simple potency or 'accord of potencies', as recommended by homotoxicology. We evaluated their effects on leukocyte migration and macrophage activity induced by experimental peritonitis in vivo. Mice were injected (i.p.) with LPS (1.0mg/kg) and treated (0.3ml/10g/day, s.c.) with different commercial forms of these medicines. Echinacea angustifolia D4--a simple potency preparation--and Belladonna Homaccord, Belladonna Injeel, Belladonna Injeel Forte, Echinacea Injeel and Echinacea Injeel Forte--all in 'accord of potencies'--were tested. The association of A. belladonna and E. angustifolia in 'accord of potencies' produced an increase of polymorphonuclear cell migration (Kruskal-Wallis, P = 0.03) and a decrease of mononuclear cell percentages (Kruskal-Wallis, P < or = 0.04), when compared with control, mainly in preparations containing low potencies. The proportion of degenerate leukocytes was lower in the treated groups, compared to a control group (P < or = 0.05). The treated groups showed increased phagocytosis (P < or = 0.05), mainly in preparations containing high potencies. Our results suggest that A. belladonna and E. angustifolia, when prepared in 'accord of potencies', modulate peritoneal inflammatory reaction and have a cytoprotective action on leukocytes.

Inflammatory Process Modulation by Homeopathic Arnica montana 6CH: The Role of Individual Variation

“…Among the homeopathic medicines that have special interest in inflammation control [3, 25, 26], Arnica montana is one of most studied [16–20]. Nevertheless, in the recent scientific literature about homeopathy, there are many studies searching to demonstrate the efficacy of its effect, but few works are devoted to the comprehension of physiopathological changes in tissues after the exposition of animals to these medicines [6, 27, 28].…”

Immunomodulation of Homeopathic Thymulin 5CH in a BCG-Induced Granuloma Model

“…Besides serum thymic factor, high dilutions effects on inflammation by other endogenous and exogenous immune modulating substances were also described, such as bursin [64], glucocorticoid [11, 65], and plant extracts [66, 67]. All these substances, when in high diluted homeopathic preparation, may represent potential tools for these technical purposes.…”

Lymphozytenmigration unter Exposition homöopathischer Arzneimittel bei parodontaler Entzündung - eine kontrollierte Pilotstudie

“…Des Weiteren wurden unter anderem Atropa belladonna und Echinacea angustifolia auf ihre Wirkung hinsichtlich der Leukozytenmigration und Makrophagenaktivität mit der Methode nach Rabinovitch und De Stefano [27] getestet, die von Massoco et al [28] modifiziert wurde. Daraus ließen sich antigenspezifische Effekte belegen [29]. Andere Studien deuten darauf hin, dass über Engystol-N die Zytokinproduktion durch T-Lymphozyten im Blut stimuliert wird [30].…”