Resposta do manjericão (Ocimum basilicum L.) à aplicação de preparações homeopáticas
Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) response to homeopathic treatment
Almeida M A Z, Casali V W D, Cecon P R 2002
Abstract
The results in the growth, content and chemical composition of essential oil of basil (Ocimum basilicum), treated with homoeopathic preparations: Arsenicum album, Carbo vegetabilis, Calcarea carbonica, Phosphorus, Sulphur, Silicea, in the dynamization CH30, as well as the detoxicating effect of homoeopathic Cuprum CH30, the pathogenics of copper sulfate and bioeletrography were also studied. The research was carried out on pots, in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Viçosa, from november of 2000 to july 2001. The evaluated growth characteristics were: fresh and dry matter of stems with leaves, inflorescences and roots; color of the leaves. The essential oil content was expressed in dry matter and extracted using Clevenger traps. To determine the chemical composition of the oil a gas chromatography was used along with mass spectrometer (GC/MS). In the analysis of the detoxification action of Cuprum CH30, the content of foliated copper (TFC) was determined through four different phases of its development. To determine TFC the leaves were dried at the temperature of 65oC in a greenhouse with air circulation, then they were ground and dipped into nitro-perchloric, using a spectrophotometer for atomic absorption. The bioelectrograph was obtained using a Kirlian Chamber, Newton Milhomens method. It was verified that the content of essential oil was lower in plants treated with Sulphur CH30 (52,27%), Calcarea carbonica CH30 (47,37%), Carbo vegetabilis CH30 (27,7%), when compared with distilled water treatment (control). However, no considerable change was noticed in the chromatographic profile. The homeophatic Phosphorus CH30 increased the fresh matter of inflorescences by 40% and decreased the content of essential oils to 140% when compared with the control (distilled water) because of dilution effect of the secondary components. From the analysis of pathogenesis it was observed that plants decreased fresh and dry matter of inflorescences and roots, when copper was added. According to the Munsell table, the colour of the plants cultivated with copper doses – 625ppm (6,3%) – varied between 7/8 and 7/10, while the remaining (0, 125, 250 and 375ppm) varied between 5/4 and 5/8 (89,5%). The content of foliated copper in stage 1 (15 days) reached on average of 15,78 mg/kg. In stage 2 (after intoxication) the TFC increased together with the copper dose, reaching toxic levels. In stages 3 and 4 (after treatment), the plants treated with Cuprum CH30 maintained TFC at normal levels, while in the untreated plants, TFC increased with the addition of copper. The plants cultivated under copper doses of 625 ppm and not treated, the TFC was higher 291,79% (stage 3) and 246,43% (stage 4), when compared with the plants treated. By bioeletrographs of the leaves, it was possible to distinguish differences through light emanations, color and clearings of the tops. The results demonstrate that the homeophatic principles established on humans are also applicable to plants.