Quantitative assessment of antioxidant potential of selected homeopathic preparations in clinical practice
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Arun Kumar
,
Suneel Prajapati
Abstract
Objectives
Antioxidant property like radical scavenging is a primary target to elucidate the efficacy mechanism of a drug against diseases linked to oxidative stress such as cancer, metabolic disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. In alternative therapies, homeopathy is one of the preferred choices by patients and clinicians due to its potential to cure chronic and complex illnesses. However, the efficacy of homeopathic preparations at high diluted potencies attracts rational criticism due to insufficient scientific knowledge supporting the mechanism of action. Therefore, an attempt was made to estimate the total phenolic content (TPC) and radical scavenging activity of clinically prescribed homeopathic drugs.
Methods
With gallic acid as a reference control, mother tinctures (MTs) and different potencies of Eucalyptus globulus (EG), Syzygium jambolanum (SJ), Ruta graveolens (RG), and Thuja occidentalis (TO) were used to perform Folin–Ciocalteu test, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays.
Results
The results showed TPC of MTs equivalent to µg/mL of gallic acid viz; EG (4,872.5 ± 133.2), SJ (8,840.5 ± 14.8), RG (985.6 ± 39.1), and TO (341.5 ± 19.5) with significant ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging potential. Whereas 30C and 200C potencies of each homeopathic drug showed undetectable phenolic content and insignificant radical scavenging potential compared to vehicle control, i.e., alcohol 90% (2.0 ± 1.5).
Conclusions
The reported efficacy of 30C and 200C potencies of homeopathic medicines against oxidative stress-related illnesses might be due to mechanisms other than radical scavenging. Furthermore, the assays studied can be helpful in drug standardization and quality control of MTs that are used as starting material in homeopathic preparations.
Funding source: Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India
Acknowledgments
The authors are thankful to Dr. Anil Khurana, Director General, CCRH-HQ, Delhi. The pharmacognosy and pharmacy personnel of the institute are acknowledged for validation of the plant’s material and preparation of medicines, respectively.
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Research funding: This work was funded by Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India.
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Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission. AK: Conceptualization, experimental work, formal analysis, methodology, validation, investigation, data curation, and writing—original draft, review, and editing. TS, SP, and MS: Experimental work, formal analysis, methodology, and review original draft. NC, SK and RS: Visualization, original draft preparation, review, and editing of the manuscript. ACB: Supervision, visualization, original draft preparation, review, and editing of the manuscript. PG: Conceptualization, Supervision, visualization, original draft preparation, review, and editing of the manuscript.
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Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Ethical approval: Not applicable.
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© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
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- Assessing the efficacy and safety of Unani pharmacopoeial formulations in dermatophytosis (quba) – a randomized controlled trial
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- Influence of EPHX1 c.337 T>C and UGT2B7*2 genetic polymorphisms on the requirement of carbamazepine maintenance dose in persons with epilepsy (PWE) of Southern part of India: a cross-sectional genetic association study
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Pharmacogenetics and ethnicity: “Dr. José María Cantú” award announcement
- Review
- A review of pharmacogenetic studies in the Bangladeshi population
- Original Articles
- The ANKK1/DRD2 gene TaqIA polymorphism (rs1800497) is associated with the severity of extrapyramidal side effects of haloperidol treatment in CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers with schizophrenia spectrum disorders
- Effect of CYP2D6*4, CYP2D6*10 polymorphisms on the safety of treatment with timolol maleate in patients with glaucoma
- Actionable mutations in non-small cell lung cancer in patients at hospital de Especialidades Eugenio Espejo, Ecuador 2017–2020
- Impact of FCGR2A R131H, FCGR3A F158V and FCGR3B NA1/NA2 polymorphisms on response to Fc-containing TNF inhibitors in Tunisian rheumatoid arthritis patients
- CYP2C9 gene polymorphisms influence on antihypertensive effectiveness and hypouricemic effect of losartan among patients with arterial hypertension: an observational study
- Assessing the efficacy and safety of Unani pharmacopoeial formulations in dermatophytosis (quba) – a randomized controlled trial
- Quantitative assessment of antioxidant potential of selected homeopathic preparations in clinical practice
- Influence of EPHX1 c.337 T>C and UGT2B7*2 genetic polymorphisms on the requirement of carbamazepine maintenance dose in persons with epilepsy (PWE) of Southern part of India: a cross-sectional genetic association study
- Cathine and cathinone disposition kinetics and neurotransmitter profile in several organs of rats exposed to a single dose of Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk. ex Endl. extract
