Asserting the anxiolytic effect of homeopathic medicines: Gelsemium sempervirens 30C and Argentum nitricum 30C using Zebrafish – a pilot study

Ultra high diluted homeopathic remedies cause a great deal of conflicts in spite of colossal cures. This shows the need for fundamental research on homeopathic remedies to trace the pharmaco-dynamics at molecular and genetic stratums. Hence, we tested tropical fresh water “Zebrafish” – Daniorerio with gelsemium sempervirens and argentum nitricum in 30C potency as a pilot study.

Healthy adult zebrafish were randomly grouped (N = 10) into control, caffeine treated, caffeine + gels. 30, caffeine + arg-n. 30, caffeine + 0.1% ethanol and caffeine + buspirone. All the groups of fishes were allowed to swim in separate tanks having 0.1% of the respective homeopathic remedies. After the treatment, all the groups were subjected for behavioral analysis in a novel tank diving test and a scototaxis test to assess the anxiety status. Gene expression studies for CRF and CDK5 were done. Cortisol levels were estimated by Elisa method.

Caffeine induced anxiety was prominently noted in all of the caffeine treated groups. Buspirone significantly reduced the anxiety status. Gelsemium 30 treated fish exhibited least latency, erratic movement, freezing bouts and duration in novel tank test. In scototaxis test, this group had the maximum time spent in the white compartment and the smallest number of midline crossings showing the highest anxiolytic effect. Both of the homeopathic remedies treated groups showed significant reduction in CRF and CDK5 gene expressions indicating the anxiolytic potentials. Cortisol levels were concurrent with other parameters.

Both gels. and arg-n. were effective anxiolytics even at these ultra-low concentrations. Thus, these results warrant further high throughput research with different potencies of same remedies.