title: Does potentized HgCl2 (Mercurius corrosivus) affect the activity of diastase and alpha-amylase?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Homeopathic drugs even with dilutions beyond 10(23) (high potencies) are frequently used, although their working mechanism is still unknown. Curative information preserved in solvent structure is postulated to exert biologic effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to test for a stimulating or inhibiting effect of high potencies of the homeopathic remedy HgCl2 (Mercurius corrosivus) on two sugar hydrolases.
  
  
  METHODS
  High potencies were produced using stepwise dilution plus shaking. Controls included potentized solvent (aqua bidestillata), equimolar dilutions without shaking, and enzyme-free references. Tested were potencies with dilution factors 1:200 (CC) on diastase extract from winter barley, and 1:100 (C) on alpha-amylase from hog pancreas. Enzyme activity was colorimetrically determined by Lugol's iodine-starch reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An inhibiting effect of HgCl2 on enzyme activities was observed only in low potencies and dilutions. Statistically significant differences between potencies and controls were not found in randomized and blinded experiments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This experimental design provided independent reproducible results of cell-free in vitro assays. However, it did not indicate an effect of potentized HgCl2 on hydrolases. Demonstrating potency effects may require additional experimental features.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany. claudia.witt@charite.de
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bluth
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hinderlich
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lüdtke
authors.forename: Thorolf E R
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Weisshuhn
authors.forename: Stefan N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Willich
mesh_terms: D000681:Amylases / Q000187:drug effects*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012996:Solutions / Q000032:analysis*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D017669:Mercury Compounds; D012996:Solutions; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D000681:Amylases; D000516:alpha-Amylases