To examine if a potentized homeopathic
drug, Natrum Sulphuricum 200 (Nat Sulph-200) has protective potentials against hepatocarcinogenesis, liver
tumors were induced in mice through chronic feeding of
P-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB; initiator of hepatocarcinogenesis) and
phenobarbital (PB; promoter). Mice were divided into five sub-groups: fed normal
low protein diet (Gr. I, normal control); fed normal low
protein plus alcohol-200 (vehicle of the homeopathic remedy) (Gr. II); fed diet mixed with 0.06% p-DAB plus 0.05% PB (Gr. III); fed diet and
carcinogens like Gr.III, plus alcohol 200 (positive control for
drug fed mice) (Gr. IV) and fed diet and
carcinogens like Gr. III, plus Natrum Sulphuiricum-200 (Gr. V;
drug fed). Mice were sacrificed at day 7, 15, 30, 60, 90 and day 120 for study of cytogenetical endpoints like
chromosome aberrations (CA), micronuclei (MN), mitotic index (MI) and sperm head anomaly (SHA) and biochemical toxicity parameters like
aspartate amino
transferase (AST),
alanine amino
transferase (ALT),
acid (AcP) and alkaline (AlkP)
phosphatases, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and
reduced glutathione (GSH) content. Less number of liver
tumors were observed in Gr. V (
drug fed) mice. Administration of
Nat Sulph 200 reduced genomic damage, activities of AcP, AlkP, AST, ALT, LPO and increased GSH content. Therefore, independent replication of the study by others is encouraged.