title: A homeopathic nosode, Hepatitis C 30 demonstrates anticancer effect against liver cancer cells in vitro by modulating telomerase and topoisomerase II activities as also by promoting apoptosis via intrinsic mitochondrial pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Homeopathic nosodes have seldom been scientifically validated for their anticancer effects. This study was conducted to examine if a recently developed hepatitis C nosode has demonstrable anticancer potential in cancer cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anticancer effects of Hepatitis C 30C (Hep C 30), if any, were initially tested on three cancer cell lines, HepG2 (liver cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer) and A549 (lung cancer) and one normal liver cell line WRL-68 cells and subsequently a more thorough study using further scientific protocols was undertaken on HepG2 cells (against WRL-68 cells as the normal control) as HepG2 cells showed better anticancer response than the other two. Three doses, one at 50% lethal dose (LD50) and the other two below LD50, were used on HepG2 cells subsequently. Protocols like apoptosis induction and its possible signaling mechanism were deployed using immunoblots of relevant signal proteins and confocal microscopy, with particular reference to telomerase and topoisomerase II (Top II) activities, two strong cancer biomarkers for their direct relationship with divisional activities of cells and DNAs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hep C 30 induced apoptosis, caused distorted cell morphology typical of apoptotic cells, increased reactive oxygen species generation and produced increased DNA nicks. Further it enhanced pro-apototic signal proteins like Bax, cytochrome c and inhibited anti-apoptotic signal proteins, Bcl-2, cytochrome c and caspase-3, changed mitochondrial membrane potential and caused externalization of phosphatidylserine. The drug also decreased expression of two cancer biomarkers, Top II and telomerase, consistent with its anticancer effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hep C 30 has demonstrable anticancer effects against liver cancer cells in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741235, India.
authors.forename: Jesmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741235, India.
authors.forename: Jayeeta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Life Force, 411 Krushal Commercial Complex, Chembur, Mumbai-400089, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741235, India.
authors.forename: Anisur Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Khuda-Bukhsh
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008419:Materia Medica; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008419:Materia Medica; D019098:Telomerase; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II