Extremely Low Doses of Arsenic Affect in vitro Pollen Germination

Abstract

Introduction: This study deals with the effects of extremely low doses or high dilutions of pharmacological compounds on in vitro pollen germination of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). Material and Methods: The biological efficacy of As₂O₃ at the 5th and 45th decimal dilution/succussion level (As 5x and As 45x) was tested on pollen previously stressed with As₂O₃ 150 or 200 μM. The outcome variable was the pollen germination rate, as detected blind after 3 h 30 min by an Axioplan microscope. Results: A directionally consistent recovery of germination percentage was observed in both As 5x and As 45x after stressing with As₂O₃ 150 μM. When pollen was stressed with As₂O₃ 200 μM only as 45x induced a general and significant germination increase. Conclusions: Our results suggest that both treatments might partially remove the inhibitory effect caused by the stressor. Similar effects were observed on the same model using weak extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) mediated through water. Although preliminary, the findings seem to indicate the in vitro pollen performance as adequate to study the effects of physicochemical subthreshold stimuli (extremely low doses or high dilutions of pharmacological compounds, weak ELF-MFs), mediated through water.

Systematic Review of Plant-Based Homeopathic Basic Research: An Update

“…45-50,52,54,56,57,59-68,70,71,74, [76][77][78] Thirteen publications reported on the use of adequate controls, testing for influences of the potentisation process and effects caused by dilution medium (►Tables 2 and 3). 45,47,48,57,[60][61][62]65,66,71,74,76,78 In all 13 publications, significant effects of homeopathic preparations were described (see ►Fig. 1).…”

“…1). 45,47,48,57,[60][61][62]65,66,71,74,76,78 The 13 publications scoring at least 5 points in the MIS and using adequate controls are described and analysed in more detail below.…”

“…78 Five studies used abiotically stressed plants and induced stress prior to an experiment. 47,48,60,62,76 In two of these studies, plants were stressed by artificial 62 or natural ageing. 76 In one study, wheat seeds were stressed with a pre-treatment of arsenic trioxide, which induced a 10% to 15% reduction in germination rate.…”

“…47 A pre-treatment of 150 µM or 200 µM arsenic trioxide reduced germination rate of kiwi fruit pollen by 26.2% and 42.3%, respectively. 48 In one study, plants were pre-treated with different concentrations of gibberellic acid to test an isopathic approach with decimal gibberellic acid potencies. 60 The pre-treatment did not induce stress, but an increase in stalk length of 10% to 25% compared to water controls.…”

Effects of Homeopathic Preparations of Mercurius corrosivus on the Growth Rate of Severely Mercury-Stressed Duckweed Lemna gibba L.

“…Significant effects from preparations beyond the Avogadro limit have also been reported for duckweed experiments with growth-enhancing effects, 21 as well as in several other studies. 29,[35][36][37][38][39][40] Specific effects at these high dilution levels, where the probability of finding any molecules of the potentised substance is extremely low, are not indicative of molecular-based interactions of material nature, but perhaps suggest informational and/or force-like (non-material) effects. Part of a prospective research approach, however, should also reflect the question of any nanoparticles of mercury being present in the homeopathic preparations used.…”