Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effect of Homeopathic Medicine Conium Maculatum in Mother Tincture and 1M Potency in Breast Cancer Cell Line MDA MB 231

Cancer is a complex and heterogenous disease. To unravel the behavior of cancer cells and their heterogeneity at a molecular level, it needs to be analyzed based on a thorough understanding of cancer biology. Cell-line study is the method used for understanding the molecular mechanisms. The prevalence of breast cancer among all age groups especially women of reproductive age is increasing alarmingly. The homeopathic system of medicine addresses cancers by evoking deeper levels of immune mechanisms to combat cellular disharmony. The clinically proven therapeutic efficacy of Conium maculatum in various cancers opened the possibilities for molecular analytical studies to understand the underlying mechanisms. The cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Conium maculatum tincture and 1M potency in the breast cancer cell line MDA MB 231, were done to understand their mechanism of action. The MTT analysis done for a period of 48 hours showed the cytotoxic effects of these drugs. The significant reduction in live cells in both the drugs, as evidenced by flow-cytometry based FITC–Annexin V/PI staining, shows a significantly high early and late apoptosis in the breast cancer cell line MDA MB 231. The cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry showed that in G0-G1 there was a significant increase in percentage of cell population when treated with Conium maculatum 1M, indicating a cell cycle arrest at that stage. The reactive oxygen species analysis done for a time point of 24 hours also showed significant increase in reactive oxygen species, upon treatment with Conium maculatum 1M. All these molecular profiling data showed that Conium maculatum tincture and 1M potency exhibited anti-cancer properties in breast cancer cell line MDA MB 231.

Keywords: Cancer, apoptosis, homeopathy, cell line

Publication History

Article published online:
30 January 2024