Efficacy of Chininum Sulphuricum 30C against Malaria: An in vitro and in vivo Study

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> New effective, economical and safe antimalarial drugs are urgently needed due to the development of multi-drug-resistant strains of the parasite. Homeopathy uses ultra-diluted doses of various substances to stimulate autoregulatory and self-healing processes to cure various ailments. The aim of the study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antimalarial efficacy of a homeopathic drug, Chininum sulphuricum 30C. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In vitro antiplasmodial activity was screened against the <i>P. falciparum</i> chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) strain, and cell viability was assessed against normal human dermal fibroblasts and HepG2 cells. Suppressive, preventive and curative studies were carried out against <i>P. berghei</i>-infected mice in vivo. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Chininum sulphuricum (30C) revealed good antiplasmodial activity in vitro, with 92.79 ± 6.93% inhibition against the 3D7 strain. The cell viability was 83.6 ± 0.6% against normal human dermal fibroblasts and 95.22 ± 5.1% against HepG2 cells. It also exhibited suppressive efficacy with 95.56% chemosuppression on day 7 with no mortality throughout the follow-up period of 28 days. It also showed preventive activity against the disease. Drug treatment was also safe to the liver and kidney function of the host as evidenced by biochemical studies. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Chininum sulphuricum 30C exhibited considerable antimalarial activity along with safety to the liver and kidney function of the host.