Stimulation of natural killer cells by homoeopathic complexes: An in vitro and in vivo pilot study in advanced cancer patients

Abstract

The present study was designed in order to evaluate the effects of five homoeopathic complex preparations on functional activity natural killer cells (NKCs) in advanced cancer patients. We examined the effects of Coenzyme Compositum®, Ubichinon Compositum®, Glyoxal Compositum®, Katalysatoren® and Traumeel® on the functional activity of NKCs. Experimental procedures included in vitro and in vivo trials. The in vitro trials were performed in NKCs isolated from 12 healthy volunteers (aged 44 ± 4 years) and incubated with the five homoeopathic complex preparations. The in vivo trials were performed in 15 advanced cancer patients (aged 55 ± 12 years) supplemented for 3 months with the homoeopathic preparations. All five homoeopathic preparations significantly increased the cytotoxic activity of the NKCs at the lowest NKCs/target cell ratio 12:1 (p < 0·05). The order of activity was: Ubichinon Compositum® > Glyoxal Compositum® > Katalysatoren® > Traumeel® > Coenzyme Compositum®. In the advanced cancer patients, the homoeopathic preparation significantly increased NKCs cytotoxic activity (p < 0·05). The homoeopathic complex preparations tested in this study can be used as an adjuvant immunotherapy in advanced cancer patients.

Homeopathy: Curative, Concurrent and Supportive Cancer Treatment Potential

“…Just as NKC activating remedies are synergistic with conventional NKC inhibiting chemotherapeutics [28], combinations of treatments with caspase-independent and caspasedependent cytotoxicity should be synergistic.…”

“…Concurrent immunotherapy uses immune cells to identify and destroy cancer and virally infected cells, reducing the tumor burden and potential for malignant transformation that conventional cancer treatment must address [28]. NKCs produce immunosurveillant cytokines IL-2, IL-12, IL-18, and IL-21.…”

“…NKCs quickly and selectively kill cancer and virally infected cells via non major histocompatibility complex class-I (MHC-I) restricted action, before high levels of cell membrane MHC-I molecules are evident [28]. However, conventional chemotherapeutics such as bortezomib, chlorambucil, cladribine, docetaxel, MG-132, paclitaxel, and vinblastine, inhibit NKC-mediated cancer and virally infected cell killing, without preventing NKC activation [28]. Thus, concurrent treatments able to activate NKCs complement conventional chemotherapeutics.…”

“…Thus, concurrent treatments able to activate NKCs complement conventional chemotherapeutics. Aloe vera, ascorbic acid, and flavonoids increase NKC activity [28]. In a three-month long in vivo trial, the homeopathic treatments Ubichinon Compositum® Glyoxal Compositum ® , Katalysatoren ® and Traumeel ® Coenzyme Compositum®, listed from most to least cytotoxic, demonstrated increased natural killer cell (NKC) cytotoxic activity, p<0.05 [28].…”

“…In a three-month long in vivo trial, the homeopathic treatments Ubichinon Compositum® Glyoxal Compositum ® , Katalysatoren ® and Traumeel ® Coenzyme Compositum®, listed from most to least cytotoxic, demonstrated increased natural killer cell (NKC) cytotoxic activity, p<0.05 [28]. Paired-sample t-test of data means and one-way ANOVA analysis of chemotherapy effects on biological markers were used [28].…”