Open AccessAnti-inflammatory homoeopathic drug dilutions restrain lipopolysaccharide-induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines: In vitro and in vivo evidence
Author(s) -
Umesh B Mahajan,
Ajit K Walke,
Mahendra V Kardile,
Sameer N. Goyal,
Sumit Siddharth,
Chanakya Nath Kundu,
Shreesh Ojha,
Chandragouda R. Patil
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
indian journal of research in homeopathy/indian journal of research in homoeopathy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.119
H-Index - 2
eISSN - 2320-7094
pISSN - 0974-7168
DOI - 10.4103/ijrh.ijrh_94_16
Subject(s) - pharmacology , in vivo , oxidative stress , lipopolysaccharide , cytokine , proinflammatory cytokine , serial dilution , malondialdehyde , chemistry , nitric oxide , superoxide dismutase , anti inflammatory , immunology , medicine , inflammation , biochemistry , biology , pathology , alternative medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry
Context: The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine release and oxidative stress are validated experimental parameters used to test anti-inflammatory activity. We investigated the effects of homoeopathic mother tinctures, 6 CH, 30 CH and 200 CH dilutions of Arnica montana, Thuja occidentalis and Bryonia alba against LPS (1 μg/ml)-induced cytokine release from RAW-264.7 cells and human whole-blood culture. Materials and Methods: For in vivo evaluations, mice were orally treated with 0.1 ml drug dilutions twice a day for 5 days followed by an intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 mg/kg LPS. After 24 h, the mice were sacrificed and serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide were determined. The extent of oxidative stress was determined in the liver homogenates as contents of reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Results: The tested drug dilutions significantly reduced in vitro LPS-induced release of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 from the RAW-264.7 cells and human whole blood culture. Similar suppression of cytokines was evident in mice serum samples. These drugs also protected mice from the LPS-induced oxidative stress in liver tissue. Conclusions: Our findings substantiate the protective effects of Arnica, Thuja and Bryonia homoeopathic dilutions against LPS-induced cytokine elevations and oxidative stress. This study authenticates the claims of anti-inflammatory efficacy of these homoeopathic drugs