Homeopathy 2010; 99(03): 177-182
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2010.05.002
Original Paper
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2010

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor expression in KATO-III cells after Helicobacter pylori stimulation under the influence of strychnos Nux vomica and Calendula officinalis

Roland Hofbauer
1   Medical University of Vienna, Department of Medicine I, Division of Oncology, Austria
,
Eva Pasching
1   Medical University of Vienna, Department of Medicine I, Division of Oncology, Austria
,
Doris Moser
2   Medical University of Vienna, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Austria
,
Michael Frass
1   Medical University of Vienna, Department of Medicine I, Division of Oncology, Austria
› Institutsangaben

Verantwortlicher Herausgeber dieser Rubrik:
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Publikationsverlauf

Received19. Juni 2009
revised31. März 2010

accepted17. Mai 2010

Publikationsdatum:
20. Dezember 2017 (online)

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Introduction: Previous studies have shown the stimulating effect of Helicobacter pylori on the gene expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) using the gastric epithelial cell line KATO-III. Strychnos Nux vomica (Nux vomica) and Calendula officinalis are used in highly diluted form in homeopathic medicine to treat patients suffering from gastritis and gastric ulcers.

Aim and method: To investigate the influence of Nux vomica and Calendula officinalis on HB-EGF-like growth factor gene expression in KATO-III cells under the stimulation of H. pylori strain N6 using real-time PCR with and without addition of Nux vomica and Calendula officinalis as a 10c or 12c potency.

Results: Baseline expression and stimulation were similar to previous experiments, addition of Nux vomica 10c and Calendula officinalis 10c in a 43% ethanolic solution led to a significant reduction of H. pylori induced increase in gene expression of HB-EGF (reduced to 53.12 ± 0.95% and 75.32 ± 1.16% vs. control; p<0.05), respectively. Nux vomica 12c reduced HB-EGF gene expression even in dilutions beyond Avogadro’s number (55.77 ± 1.09%; p<0.05). Nux vomica 12c in a 21.5% ethanol showed a smaller effect (71.80 ± 3.91%, p<0.05). This effect was only be observed when the drugs were primarily prepared in ethanol, not in aqueous solutions. The data suggest that both drugs prepared in ethanolic solution are potent inhibitors of H. pylori induced gene expression.

Roland Hofbauer and Eva Pasching contributed equally to this work.