The use of plant-based bioassays in homeopathic basic research

Objectives: The objective was to evaluate homeopathic basic research studies that use plant-based bioassays. With this in view, a compilation was made of the findings of three systematic literature reviews covering plant-based bioassays in the three fields of healthy, abiotically, or biotically stressed plants. This compilation focused on investigations using advanced experimental methods and detailed descriptions, also with the aim of supporting the design of future experiments.

Methods: Publications included had to report on studies into the effects of homeopathic preparations on whole plants, seeds, plant parts and cells. Outcomes had to be measured by established procedures and statistically evaluated. A Manuscript Information Score (MIS) was applied using predefined criteria to identify publications with sufficient information for adequate interpretation (MIS ≥ 5). Additional evaluation focused on the use of adequate controls to investigate specific effects of homeopathic preparations, and on the use of systematic negative control (SNC) experiments to ensure the stability of the bioassay. Only a fraction of the studies reported here were performed with ‘ultra high’ dilutions, whereas other studies were performed with moderate or high dilutions.

Results: A total of 157 publications were identified, describing a total of 167 experimental studies. 84 studies included statistics and 48 had a MIS ≥ 5, thus allowing adequate interpretation. 29 studies had adequate controls to identify specific effects of homeopathic preparations, and reported significant effects of decimal and centesimal homeopathic potencies, including dilution levels beyond Avogadro’s number. 10 studies reported use of SNC experiments, yielding evidence for the stability of the experimental set-up.

Conclusion: Plant models appear to be a useful approach for investigating basic research questions relating to homeopathic preparations, but more independent replication trials are needed in order to verify the results found in single experiments. Adequate controls and SNC experiments should be implemented on a routine basis to exclude false-positive results.

Keywords

Review - Basic research - Homeopathy - Potentisation - Agriculture - Phytopathological models - Field trials - Impaired plants - Noxa

• References

• 1 Van Wijk R., Albrecht H. Classification of systems and methods used in biological basic research on homeopathy. Homeopathy 2007; 96 (04) 247-251.
• 2 Majewsky V., Arlt S., Shah D. et al. Use of homeopathic preparations in experimental studies with healthy plants. Homeopathy 2009; 98 (04) 228-243.
• 3 Betti L., Trebbi G., Majewsky V. et al. Use of homeopathic preparations in phytopathological models and in field trials: a critical review. Homeopathy 2009; 98 (04) 244-266.
• 4 Jäger T., Scherr C., Shah D. et al. Use of homeopathic preparations in experimental studies with abiotically stressed plants. Homeopathy 2011; 100 (04) 275-287.
• 5 Andrade F., Casali V., DeVita B., Cecon P., Barbosa L. Efeito de homeopatias no crescimento e na produc ao de cumarina em chamba (Justicia pectoralis Jacqu.). Rev Bras Pl Med 2001; 4 (01) 19-28.
• 6 Sukul N., Singh R., Sukul S. et al. Potentized drugs enhance growth of Pigeon pea. Environ Ecol 2008; 26 (03) 1115-1118.
• 7 Sukul N., Singh R., Sukul S. et al. Potentised drugs promote growth of Lady’s finger. Clin Exp Homeopat 2009; 1: 1-10.
• 8 Nani D., Brizzi M., Lazzarato L., Betti L. The role of variability in evaluating ultra high dilution effects: considerations based on plant model experiments. Forschende Komplementärmedizin 2007; 14 (05) 301-305.
• 9 Baumgartner S., Thurneysen A., Heusser P. Growth stimulation of dwarf peas (Pisum sativum L.) through homeopathic potencies of plant growth substances. Forsch Komplementärmed Klass Naturheilkd 2004; 11 (05) 281-292.
• 10 Baumgartner S., Shah D., Schaller J., Kampfer U., Thurneysen A., Heusser P. Reproducibility of dwarf pea shoot growth stimulation by homeopathic potencies of gibberellic acid. Complement Ther Med 2008; 16 (04) 183-191.
• 11 Scherr C., Simon M., Spranger J., Baumgartner S. Duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) as a test organism for homeopathic potencies. J Altern Complement Med 2007; 13 (09) 931-938.
• 12 Jäger T., Scherr C., Simon M., Heusser P., Baumgartner S. Effects of homeopathic Arsenicum Album, nosode, and gibberellic acid preparations on the growth rate of arsenic-impaired duckweed (Lemna gibba L.). Sci World J 2010; 10: 2112-2129.
• 13 Brizzi M., Nani D., Peruzzi M., Betti L. Statistical analysis of the effect of high dilutions of arsenic in a large dataset from a wheat germination model. Br Homeopath J 2000; 89 (02) 63-67.
• 14 Endler P.C., Thieves K., Reich C. et al. Repetitions of fundamental research models for homeopathically prepared dilutions beyond 10(−23): a bibliometric study. Homeopathy 2010; 99 (01) 25-36.
• 15 Kolisko L. Physiologischer und physikalischer Nachweis der Wirksamkeit kleinster Entitäten bei sieben Metallen. 1926. Dornach: Goetheanum Verlag.;
• 16 Pongratz W., Endler P.C. Reappraisal of a classical botanical experiment in ultra high dilution research. Endler P.C., Schulte J. Ultra High Dilution: Physiology and Physics. 1994. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 121-128.
• 17 Pongratz W. Highly diluted agitated silver nitrate and wheat seedling development. Effect kinetics of a process of successive agitation phases. Schulte E., Endler P. Fundamental Research in Ultra High Dilution and Homeopathy. 1998. Dortrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 155-187.
• 18 Betti L., Brizzi M., Nani D., Peruzzi M. Effect of high dilutions of Arsenicum album on wheat seedlings from seed poisoned with the same substance. Br Homoeopath J 1997; 86 April 86-89.
• 19 Brizzi M., Lazzarato L., Nani D., Borghini F., Peruzzi M., Betti L. A biostatistical insight into the As₂O₃ high dilution effects on the rate and variability of wheat seedling growth. Forsch Komplementärmed Klass Naturheilkd 2005; 12 (05) 277-283.
• 20 Pfleger A. Weizenkeimung unter dem Einfluss von homoöopathisch zubereitetem Gibberellin (D30). 2008. Graz: Interuniversitäres Kolleg.;
• 21 Hofäcker J. Der Einfluss der Intervalldauer bei der Herstellung ultrahochverdünnter homoöopathischer Praparate (homöopathische Hochpotenzen). 2008. Graz: Interuniversitäres Kolleg.;
• 22 Reich C. Über den Umgang mit hochpotenzierten Lösungen, Untersuchungen am Saatgutmodell. 2009. Graz: Interuniversitäres Kolleg.;
• 23 Binder M., Baumgartner S., Thurneysen A. The effects of a 45x potency of arsenicum album on wheat seedling growth – a reproduction trial. Forsch Komplementärmed Klass Naturheilkd 2005; 12 (05) 284-291.
• 24 Lahnstein L., Binder M., Thurneysen A. et al. Isopathic treatment effects of Arsenicum album 45x on wheat seedling growth – further reproduction trials. Homeopathy 2009; 98 (04) 198-207.
• 25 Thieves K. Einfluss von homöopathisch zubereitetem Gibberellin (10–30) auf die Sprosslänge bei unterschiedlichen Gewichtsgrössen von Weizensaatgut. 2009. Graz: Interuniversitäres Kolleg.;
• 26 Reischl T. Wirkung mentaler Projektion auf Ultrahochverdünnungen. Ein Weizenkeimungs-Gibberellin-Homöopathie-Experiment. 2009. Graz: Interuniversitäres Kolleg.;
• 27 Betti L., Trebbi G., Zurla M., Nani D., Peruzzi M., Brizzi M. A review of three simple plant models and corresponding statistical tools for basic research in homeopathy. Sci World J 2010; 10: 2330-2347.
• 28 Auquière J.P., Moens P., Martin P.L. Recherche de l’action de dilutions homéopathiques sur les végéteaux: II. Action du CuSO₄ 14DH sur la Moutarde blanche (Sinapis alba L. var. dialba) intoxiquée au CuSO₄ 0.1 et 0.2 ‰. J Pharm Belg 1982; 37 (02) 117-134.
• 29 Scherr C., Simon M., Spranger J., Baumgartner S. Effects of potentised substances on growth rate of the water plant L. Complement Ther Med 2009; 17 (02) 63-70.