Efficacy of a potentized homoeopathic drug (Arsenicum Album-30) in reducing genotoxic effects produced by arsenic trioxide in mice: comparative studies of pre-, post- and combined pre- and post-oral administration and comparative efficacy of two microdoses.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the comparative efficacies of Arsenicum Album 30C and 200C and three administrative modes in protecting against the genotoxic effects produced by Arsenic trioxide injection in mice.


METHODS
Healthy mice, Mus musculus, were intraperitoneally injected with a 0.004% solution of As2O3 @1 ml/100 gms of body weight. Genotoxic effects were assessed through chromosome aberrations (CA), micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE), mitotic index (MI) and sperm head anomaly (SHA) studies, keeping suitable succussed alcohol fed (positive) and As2O3 untreated normal (negative) controls. The As2O3 treated mice were divided into three subgroups, which were orally administered with the drug a) prior to, b) after and c) both prior to and after injection of As2O3 at specific fixation intervals.


RESULTS
While the CA, MNE and SHA were reduced in the drug fed series as compared to respective controls, the MI showed an apparent increase. The combined pre- and post-feeding of Arsenicum album was found to be most effective in reducing the genotoxic effects of As2O3 i200C was more effective than 30C.


CONCLUSIONS
Arsenicum Album reduces the genotoxic effect of arsenic poisoning.
Datta
S
S
Kalyani University, Department of Zoology, India.
Mallick
P
P
Bukhsh
A R
AR
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000931:Antidotes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006705:Homeopathy; D051379:Mice; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000187:drug effects; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D010087:Oxides / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D012016:Reference Values
D000931:Antidotes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; C121243:arsenicum album-30; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide