Efficacy of the potentized homeopathic drug, Carcinosin 200, fed alone and in combination with another drug, Chelidonium 200, in amelioration of p-dimethylaminoazobenzene-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to examine whether the potentized homeopathic remedy Carcinosin 200, fed alone and in combination with Chelidonium 200, has differential protective effects against p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice.


METHODS
Liver tumors were induced in mice through chronic feeding of p-DAB (initiator) and phenobarbital (PB, promoter). The mice were divided into two subgroups: (1) one was fed potentized Alcohol 200 and served as controls; and (2) the other was fed Carcinosin 200 alone or in combination with Chelidonium 200 and divided into several sets. The relative efficacy of the two potentized remedies, alone or in combination, in combating hepatocarcinogenesis was assessed through several cytogenetical endpoints such as chromosome aberrations, induction of micronuclei, sperm head anomaly, and mitotic index at several intervals of fixation (days 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120). Several toxicity biomarkers such as acid and alkaline phosphatases, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, and lipid peroxidation activity were also assayed in three organs of treated and control mice. In addition, recovery by the homeopathic drugs, if any, of tissue damage inflicted because of chronic feeding of p-DAB and PB was also assessed by optical, scanning, and transmission electron microscopies of liver done at days 60 and 120.


RESULTS
Both Carcinosin 200 and Chelidonium 200 when administered alone show considerable ameliorative effect against p-DAB-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice; but the conjoint feeding of these two drugs appears to have had a slightly greater protective effect.


CONCLUSIONS
These homeopathic remedies have the potential to be used as complementary and alternative medicine in liver cancer therapy, particularly as supporting palliative measures.
Biswas
Surjyo Jyoti
SJ
Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India.
Pathak
Surajit
S
Bhattacharjee
Nandini
N
Das
Jayanta Kumar
JK
Khuda-Bukhsh
Anisur Rahman
AR
D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002273:Carcinogens; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D028281:Chelidonium; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004124:p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene
D002273:Carcinogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004124:p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene