Growth of yeast cultures as in vitro model for investigating homœopathic medicines

Abstract

The question of a sensitive response in the growth of yeast cell cultures to treatments with homœopathic dilutions (potencies), has been raised in a number of recent publications,^1,2,3. A further set of growth trials with this model performed at our Institute are reported here.

The actions of 8x to 16x decimal potencies of AgNO₃, CuSO₄, HgCl₂, and NaCl on the growth of cell cultures of Schizosaccharomyces pombe were investigated. This included a set of trials with experimental poisoning of the cells by toxic levels of CuSO₄ and subsequent study of the remedial action by potencies of the same substance.

Yeast cells were grown in batch culture in a glucose/malt extract medium. Growth was interrupted shortly before the end of the exponential growth phase and total cell concentrations were assessed by means of a Coulter Counter. The obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis. Each treatment range was tested in three separate trials.

The results obtained failed to indicate any response in the growth rate of Sch. pombe to the potency treatments.