Duckweed as a test system
Posted: 11 Nov 2014, 15:23
Development of a Test System for Homeopathic Preparations Using Impaired Duckweed (Lemna gibba L.)
Tim Jäger, MSc, Claudia Scherr, PhD, Meinhard Simon, PhD, Peter Heusser, MD, and Stephan Baumgartner, PhD
Abstract
Objectives: A bioassay with arsenic-stressed duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) was developed to study potentially
regulative effects of homeopathic preparations. We compared potentized substances (nine different potency
levels between 17 x and 33 x ) with two controls (unsuccussed and succussed water) regarding their influence on
number- and area-related growth rate and color of fronds (leaves). Screening included 11 potentized substances:
Arsenicum album, gibberellic acid, nosode, arsenic(V), phosphorus, Conchae, Acidum picrinicum, Argentum
nitricum, Crotalus horridus, Hepar sulfuris, and Mercurius vivus naturalis.
Design: Duckweed was stressed with arsenic(V) for 48 hours. Afterwards, plants grew in either potentized
substances or water controls for 6 days. Growth rate and color of fronds were determined with a computerized
image analysis system for different time intervals (days 0–2, 2–6, 0–6). A systematic negative control experiment
with unsuccussed water was used to investigate the stability of the bioassay. All experiments were randomized
and blinded.
Results: Arsenicum album and nosode potencies increased frond number–related growth rate compared to
controls (succussed water controls or pooled water controls [succussed and unsuccussed], p<0.05, t test).
Regarding color classification, no effects were observed.
Conclusions: The experimental setup with L. gibba stressed by arsenic(V) provides a valuable tool to investigate
regulative effects of potentized substances. In order to verify the effects of Arsenicum album and nosode potencies,
further independent replication experiments are necessary.
Tim Jäger, MSc, Claudia Scherr, PhD, Meinhard Simon, PhD, Peter Heusser, MD, and Stephan Baumgartner, PhD
Abstract
Objectives: A bioassay with arsenic-stressed duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) was developed to study potentially
regulative effects of homeopathic preparations. We compared potentized substances (nine different potency
levels between 17 x and 33 x ) with two controls (unsuccussed and succussed water) regarding their influence on
number- and area-related growth rate and color of fronds (leaves). Screening included 11 potentized substances:
Arsenicum album, gibberellic acid, nosode, arsenic(V), phosphorus, Conchae, Acidum picrinicum, Argentum
nitricum, Crotalus horridus, Hepar sulfuris, and Mercurius vivus naturalis.
Design: Duckweed was stressed with arsenic(V) for 48 hours. Afterwards, plants grew in either potentized
substances or water controls for 6 days. Growth rate and color of fronds were determined with a computerized
image analysis system for different time intervals (days 0–2, 2–6, 0–6). A systematic negative control experiment
with unsuccussed water was used to investigate the stability of the bioassay. All experiments were randomized
and blinded.
Results: Arsenicum album and nosode potencies increased frond number–related growth rate compared to
controls (succussed water controls or pooled water controls [succussed and unsuccussed], p<0.05, t test).
Regarding color classification, no effects were observed.
Conclusions: The experimental setup with L. gibba stressed by arsenic(V) provides a valuable tool to investigate
regulative effects of potentized substances. In order to verify the effects of Arsenicum album and nosode potencies,
further independent replication experiments are necessary.