Developments on drug discovery and on new therapeutics: highly diluted tinctures act as biological response modifiers

Abstract

BackgroundIn the search for new therapies novel drugs and medications are being discovered, developed and tested in laboratories. Highly diluted substances are intended to enhance immune system responses resulting in reduced frequency of various diseases, and often present no risk of serious side-effects due to its low toxicity. Over the past years our research group has been investigating the action of highly diluted substances and tinctures on cells from the immune system.MethodsWe have developed and tested several highly diluted tinctures and here we describe the biological activity of M1, M2, and M8 both in vitro in immune cells from mice and human, and in vivo in mice. Cytotoxicity, cytokines released and NF-κB activation were determined after in vitro treatment. Cell viability, oxidative response, lipid peroxidation, bone marrow and lymph node cells immunophenotyping were accessed after mice in vivo treatment.ResultsNone of the highly diluted tinctures tested were cytotoxic to macrophages or K562. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages treated with all highly diluted tinctures decreased tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) release and M1, and M8 decreased IFN-γ production. M1 has decreased NF-κB activity on TNF-α stimulated reporter cell line. In vivo treatment lead to a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) production was increased by M1, and M8, and lipid peroxidation was induced by M1, and M2. All compounds enhanced the innate immunity, but M1 also augmented acquired immunity and M2 diminished B lymphocytes, responsible to acquired immunity.ConclusionsBased on the results presented here, these highly diluted tinctures were shown to modulate immune responses. Even though further investigation is needed there is an indication that these highly diluted tinctures could be used as therapeutic interventions in disorders where the immune system is compromised.

Inhalation therapy with M1 inhibits experimental melanoma development and metastases in mice

“…To address this problem, our research group has been systematically evaluating medicines that have already been shown to produce target effects against in vitro cancer models. 12 Considering the importance of drug discovery or the implications that could be derived from novel properties of new compounds, we tested M1, a commercial homeopathic medicine used as complementary therapy for cancer, in an experimental mouse model for the skin cancer melanoma. Here, we observed several indications demonstrative of a successfully formulation in the treatment of melanoma: 1) mice treated with M1 have reduced both melanoma metastases and primary tumor formation; 2) tumors of M1 treated mice have reduced angiogenesis and proliferation, while higher levels of tumor death and beta-catenin, which are 'good' prognostic markers; and 3) fewer frequency of the tumor associated MDSC characterized by the markers CD11/Gr-1 in addition to lower expression of AT1R in these cells.…”

“…16 M1 is composed by the following sub-stances diluted in water, with vigorous shaking in-between dilutions, all together in the same flask: Aconitum napellus-20 Hahnemann's dilution (DH), Arsenicum album-18 DH, Asa foetida-20 DH, Calcarea carbonica-16 DH, Chelidonium majus-20 DH, Cinnamon-20 DH, Conium maculatum-17 DH, Echinacea purpurea-20 DH, Gelsemium sempervirens-20 DH, Ipecacuanha-13 DH, Phosphorus 20 DH, Rhus toxicodendron-17 DH, Silicea-20 DH, Sulfur-24 DH, and Thuja occidentalis-19DH, as previously described. 12 Mice and cell line C57BL/6 mice, 7e10 weeks of age (n = 69), were used in experiments according to the approval of the local ethics committee, which certified the procedures using mice in this study are in agreement with the Experimental Animal Brazilian Council and Canadian Council on Animal Care (CEUA certification no 653). Experiments were conducted using pool of mice of equal sex.…”

“…8e11 Following high throughput screening, a homeopathic medicine termed 'M1' was the most successful candidate based on several parameters of immune responses mediated by CD8 + T lymphocytes in mice lymph nodes. 12 This commercial medicine has been indicated by homeopathic doctors in Brazil to complement the therapy of patients with immunologicrelated disorders, such as cancer. Despite many cancer patients claim to benefit from homeopathic treatments, 13 M1 was not investigated yet in pre-clinical studies for melanoma.…”

Homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron has dual effects on the inflammatory response in the mouse preosteoblastic cell line MC3T3-e1

“…7 de Oliveira et al investigated that the action of highly diluted substances and tinctures on cells from the immune system including Rhus tox, and showed that highly diluted tinctures modulate the immune response. 28 Although, many studies have reported the antiinflammatory and anti-arthritis effect of Rhus tox, the mechanisms underlying the effects observed in both in vivo and in vitro systems remains unclear. This study demonstrates the anti-arthritis activity of homeopathic dilution of Rhus tox using a mouse preosteoblastic cell line model.…”

Aquaculture Drugs: Sources, Active Ingredients, Pharmaceutic Preparations and Methods of Administration

“…Tinctures are alcoholic or partially alcoholic solutions of nonvolatile extracts of vegetable or animal origin drugs or of pure chemical compounds [68]. Tinctures vary in strength but usually do not exceed 10% active principle in strength.…”