Homeopathic mother tincture of Conium initiates reactive oxygen species mediated DNA damage and makes HeLa cells prone to apoptosis

Abstract

Adverse side-effects and lack of scientific validation of some chemotherapeutic agents prevent the use of many traditional medicines claimed to have anti-cancer effects. Ethanolic extract of Conium maculatum has long been used in traditional and alternative systems of medicine including homeopathy for the treatment of glandular enlargements, cancerous tumours or hard lumps of testicles, prostate, ovaries, breasts and/ or uterus, particularly in the breast. However, if and how it acts still remains scientifically unknown. This study aims to test if Conium extract (CE), used as mother tincture of Conium in homeopathy, has demonstrable anti-cancer potentials without having much cytotoxicity in normal cells. Cytotoxicity of the drug was tested by conducting MTT assay on both normal (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and HeLa cells. We also evaluated DNA fragmentation and DNA damage by DAPI and diphenylamine assay. The LDH activity assay was done to evaluate the percentages of apoptosis and necrosis. ROS accumulation also was evaluated to pin-point the actual events of apoptosis. Administration of drug clearly demonstrated its anti-cancer potentials as evidenced by the DNA damage analysis. The ROS activity also increased in case of the CE treated cells. LDH data revealed that the mode of cell death was mainly apoptotic and not necrotic. CE appears to induce apoptosis of cancer cells through ROS mediated pathway, and has negligible cytotoxicity against normal cells.

Quercetin induces cytochrome‐c release and ROS accumulation to promote apoptosis and arrest the cell cycle in G2/M, in cervical carcinoma: signal cascade and drug‐DNA interaction

“…After incubation with the drug, thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) was added to the wells at a concentration of 10 μg/ml; plates were then incubated for 3 h at 37 °C in the dark. After incubation, colour was developed using acidic isopropanol and quercetin dose was determined at which cells’ viability reduced to 50% in 18 h ; OD was noted at 595 nm, in a microtitre plate reader (Thermo, Florida, USA).…”

Identification of Potential Phytochemical Inhibitors From Conium maculatum Targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer via Molecular Docking Analysis

“…C. maculatum extracts have been demonstrated in many studies to exhibit anticancer activity in multiple kinds of cancer and have the potential as a source of novel therapeutic agents. Its ethanolic extract has previously been reported for anticancer activity against cancer cell lines [ 14 ].…”

“…C. maculatum is a plant used in homeopathic remedies that is utilized for the treatment of various medical conditions, including cancer. In a study conducted by Bishayee et al [ 14 ] in 2012, it was observed that an extract derived from C. maculatum , specifically the mother tincture used in homeopathy, exhibited notable anticancer properties when tested against HeLa cell lines. The mechanism underlying this anticancer activity was attributed to the initiation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated DNA damage, ultimately leading to cell death through apoptosis.…”

“…The mechanism underlying this anticancer activity was attributed to the initiation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated DNA damage, ultimately leading to cell death through apoptosis. Remarkably, the same Conium extract demonstrated a lower level of cytotoxicity when applied to normal cells [ 14 ]. Given the rich traditional history of the usage of this plant in homeopathy, we have chosen C. maculatum as the subject of our study.…”

Anticancer potential of Conium maculatum extract against cancer cells in vitro: Drug-DNA interaction and its ability to induce apoptosis through ROS generation

“…In homeopathy, it is used as a remedy for breast cancer and cancer of cervix uteri,[ 4 ] but its action has not yet been scientifically validated except for the report that it can inflict DNA damage by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). [ 5 ] In this study, we contemplate to elucidate the probable mechanism of action of the drug in inducing apoptosis in the cervix cancer cell line HeLa.…”