title: Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor expression in KATO-III cells after Helicobacter pylori stimulation under the influence of strychnos Nux vomica and Calendula officinalis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Vienna, Department of Medicine I, Division of Oncology, Austria.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hofbauer
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pasching
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frass
mesh_terms: D020838:Calendula; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects; D031461:Strychnos nux-vomica
chemical_list: C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger