title: Polycrystalline structures formed in evaporating droplets as a parameter to test the action of Zincum metallicum 30c in a wheat seed model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycrystalline structures formed inside evaporating droplets of different biological fluids have been shown sensitive towards various influences, including ultra high dilutions (UHDs), representing so a new approach potentially useful for basic research in homeopathy. In the present study we tested on a wheat seed model Zincum metallicum 30c efficacy versus lactose 30c and water.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stressed and non-stressed wheat seeds were watered with the three treatments. Seed-leakage droplets were evaporated and the polycrystalline structures formed inside the droplet residues were analyzed for their local connected fractal dimensions (LCFDs) (measure of complexity) using the software ImageJ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have found significant differences in LCFD values of polycrystalline structures obtained from stressed seeds following the treatments (p<0.0001); Zincum metallicum 30c lowered the structures' complexity compared to lactose 30c and water. In non-stressed seeds no significant differences were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The droplet evaporation method (DEM) might represent a potentially useful tool in basic research in homeopathy. Furthermore our results suggest a sensitization of the stressed model towards the treatment action, which is conforming to previous findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, Bologna 40127, Italy. Electronic address: maria.kokornaczyk@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Maria Olga
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Kokornaczyk
authors.affiliation: Society for Cancer Research, Kirschweg 9, 4144 Arlesheim, Switzerland; Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten-Herdecke, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany. Electronic address: Stephan.Baumgartner@uni-wh.de.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, Bologna 40127, Italy. Electronic address: lucietta.betti@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Lucietta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Betti
mesh_terms: D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; D003460:Crystallization; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects; D014908:Triticum; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc
keywords: Crystallization; Droplet evaporation method (DEM); Ultra high dilutions (UHDs); Wheat seeds; Zincum metallicum