Reappraisal of a Classical Botanical Experiment in Ultra High Dilution Research. Energetic Coupling in a Wheat Model

Pongratz, W.; Endler, P. C.

doi:10.1007/978-94-015-8342-8_3

Cited by 20 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In particular, the As2O3 45x treatment of stressed seeds, which had induced an increase in germination of 6.4% and 12.1% in two successive experiments [8] and a stimulating effect on seedling stem growth of 24.0% [4], once again showed its efficacy, enhancing shoot growth by 24.7% (which is impressively close to 24.0%). The range of the observed effects (about 6-25%) is consistent with that reported in literature for a similar experimental setup based on seedling growth of wheat [6,18] or barley [19]. Effects of the same magnitude have been observed with other plant-based models, such as cowpea infected by root-knot nematodes [20] or tobacco infected with tobacco mosaic virus [7].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Moreover, the oscillatory trend of the effects, observed in figure 1, which yields a W-shaped representation, corresponding to a fixed pattern with 10 potency/dilution steps between 2 consecutive groups (5, 15, 25 etc. ), recalls the Vshaped pattern detected by other authors [5,6,18] when considering directly consecutive potency groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In this perspective, we attempted to reproduce a previous experiment which had yielded significant results based on the growth of wheat seedlings [4]. The in vitro germination and growth of wheat coleoptiles represented one of the first models adopted to investigate the effects of homeopathic potencies [5] and has become a classic test system for basic research in this field [6]. In the original experiment [4], we had observed a curative effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) at the 45 decimal potency on wheat seedling growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Biostatistical Insight into the As2O3 High Dilution Effects on the Rate and Variability of Wheat Seedling Growth

Brizzi

Lazzarato²,

Nani³

et al. 2005

Complement Med Res

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Background: Most criticism of homeopathy concerns the lack of scientific bases and theoretical models. Fundamental research could make important contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of action of homeopathic treatments. Plant-based bioassays are suitable for basic research - lacking the placebo effect and ensuring large data samples for structured statistical analyses. Objective: The aim of this study was to reproduce a previous experiment on the effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) high dilutions on wheat seedling growth in order to verify whether the same significant results could be obtained working in a different place and with a different experimental team. A further goal was to investigate high dilution effects on variability. Material and Methods: A structured experiment was performed blind over 9 weeks, using wheat seeds previously stressed with a sublethal dose of As2O3. The seeds were then treated with either potentized As2O3 (5x, 15x, 25x, 35x, 45x), potentized water (equivalent potencies) or diluted As2O3 (10-5, 10-15, 10-25, 10-35, 10-45). The working variable was the stem length, measured after 4, 5, 6 and 7 days. Results: Some potencies (As2O3 45x and H2O 45x) induced a relevant increase in seedling growth and/or a variability decrease. Diluted As2O3 did not induce any significant results. Conclusions: Confirmation of a significant stimulating effect on seedling growth and a significant decrease of variability was obtained with ultra-high dilutions at the 45x potency. The model of wheat germination and growth has been confirmed to be a good tool for basic research in homeopathy.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Biostatistical Insight into the As2O3 High Dilution Effects on the Rate and Variability of Wheat Seedling Growth

Brizzi

Lazzarato²,

Nani³

et al. 2005

Complement Med Res

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“…Moreover, traces of phosphorus are ubiquitously present in the environment. Also such changes have repeatedly been reported from different test systems [15,16,18,35,38,56]. However, the effects found are very small.…”

Section: Replication Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…Additionally, it is important that the results gained with different models are replicated by independent researchers [11][12][13]. In vivo as well as in vitro, several promising preclinical test systems with higher organisms, like plants, animals or human cell cultures are currently being investigated [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. Microorganisms have also been used as test organisms for potentised substances.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Potentised Substances on Growth Kinetics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe

et al. 2006

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Homeopathic potencies are used as specific remedies in complementary medicine. Since the mode of action is unknown, the presumed specificity is discussed controversially. Objective: This study investigated the effects of potentised substances on two yeast species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, in a stable and reliable test system with systematic negative controls. Materials and Methods: Yeast cells were cultivated in either potentised substances or water controls in microplates and their growth kinetics were measured photometrically. Water control runs were performed repeatedly to investigate the stability of the experimental set-up (systematic negative controls). Results: 4 out of 14 screened substances seem to have affected the growth curve parameters slope or yield. Out of these substances, azoxystrobin and phosphorus were chosen for 8 further replication experiments, which partly confirmed the results of the screening. On the average of all experiments, azoxystrobin affected the slope of the growth curve of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (p < 0.05), and phosphorus affected the slope of the growth curve of Schizosaccharomyces pombe (p < 0.05). No effects were seen in the water control runs. In addition, significant interactions between treatment with potentised substances and experiment number were observed in all experiments with potentised substances (p < 0.01), but not in the water control runs. Conclusions: Both yeast species reacted to certain potentised substances by changing their growth kinetics. However, the interactions found point to additional factors of still unknown nature, that modulate the effects of potentised substances. This stable test system with yeasts may be suitable for further studies regarding the efficacy of homeopathic potencies.

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Models with Plants, Microorganisms and Viruses for Basic Research in Homeopathy

Betti

Trebbi

Nani³

et al.

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Reappraisal of a Classical Botanical Experiment in Ultra High Dilution Research. Energetic Coupling in a Wheat Model

Cited by 20 publications

References 7 publications

A Biostatistical Insight into the As2O3 High Dilution Effects on the Rate and Variability of Wheat Seedling Growth

A Biostatistical Insight into the As2O3 High Dilution Effects on the Rate and Variability of Wheat Seedling Growth

Effects of Potentised Substances on Growth Kinetics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Models with Plants, Microorganisms and Viruses for Basic Research in Homeopathy

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