This Article Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Thangapazham, R. L. Articles by Jonas, W. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Thangapazham, R. L. Articles by Jonas, W. B. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Homeopathic Medicines Do Not Alter Growth and Gene Expression in Prostate and Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro

Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland; Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India

Jaya P. Gaddipati, PhD

N. V. Rajeshkumar, PhD

Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

Anuj Sharma, MS

Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland; Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India

Anoop K. Singh, PhD

Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

John A. Ives, PhD

Samueli Institute, Alexandria, Virginia

Radha K. Maheshwari, PhD

Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

Wayne B. Jonas, MD

Samueli Institute, 1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314; wjonas{at}siib.org

Background: Homeopathy is an alternative medical system practiced in all parts of the world. Although several theories are proposed to explain the mechanisms of action, none are scientifically verified. In this study, the authors investigate the effect of selected homeopathic remedies often used to treat prostate and breast cancer. Materials and Methods: The authors investigated the effect of the homeopathic medicines Conium maculatum, Sabal serrulata, Thuja occidentalis, Asterias, Phytolacca, and Carcinosin on prostate and breast cancer cell (DU-145, LNCaP, MAT-LyLu, MDA-MB-231) growth and on gene expression that regulates apoptosis, using MTT and multiprobe ribonuclease protection assay. Results: None of the homeopathic remedies tested in different potencies produced significant inhibitory or growth-promoting activity in either prostate or breast cancer cells. Also, gene expression studies by ribonuclease protection assay produced no significant changes in mRNA levels of bax, bcl-2, bcl-x, caspase-1, caspase-2, caspase-3, Fas, or FasL after treatment with homeopathic medicines. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the highly diluted homeopathic remedies used by homeopathic practitioners for cancer show no measurable effects on cell growth or gene expression in vitro using currently available methodologies.

Key Words: homeopathy • DU-145 • LNCaP • MAT-LyLu • MDA-MB-231 • apoptosis • carcinosin

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Munshi, L. H. Ni, and M. S. Tiwana Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Present Day Oncology Care: Promises and Pitfalls Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol., August 5, 2008; (2008) hyn066v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]