title: Stimulation of natural killer cells by homoeopathic complexes: an in vitro and in vivo pilot study in advanced cancer patients.
abstract: The present study was designed in order to evaluate the effects of five homoeopathic complex preparations on functional activity natural killer cells (NKCs) in advanced cancer patients. We examined the effects of Coenzyme Compositum®, Ubichinon Compositum®, Glyoxal Compositum®, Katalysatoren® and Traumeel® on the functional activity of NKCs. Experimental procedures included in vitro and in vivo trials. The in vitro trials were performed in NKCs isolated from 12 healthy volunteers (aged 44 ± 4 years) and incubated with the five homoeopathic complex preparations. The in vivo trials were performed in 15 advanced cancer patients (aged 55 ± 12 years) supplemented for 3 months with the homoeopathic preparations. All five homoeopathic preparations significantly increased the cytotoxic activity of the NKCs at the lowest NKCs/target cell ratio 12:1 (p < 0·05). The order of activity was: Ubichinon Compositum® > Glyoxal Compositum® > Katalysatoren® > Traumeel® > Coenzyme Compositum®. In the advanced cancer patients, the homoeopathic preparation significantly increased NKCs cytotoxic activity (p < 0·05). The homoeopathic complex preparations tested in this study can be used as an adjuvant immunotherapy in advanced cancer patients.
authors: Konstantinion Research Center of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, Non-profit Foundation, Thessaloniki, Greece; Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors: Ioannis K
authors: IK
authors: Toliopoulos
authors: Yannis
authors: Y
authors: Simos
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Bougiouklis
authors: Stergios
authors: S
authors: Oikonomidis
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic
keywords: K562 cell line; advanced cancer; diluted complex biological supplements; flow cytometry; natural killer cells