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The anticancer homeopathic composite “Canova Method” is not genotoxic for
human lymphocytes in vitro
Igor C. Seligmann1, Patrícia D.L. Lima1, Plínio C.S. Cardoso1, André S. Khayat1,
Marcelo O. Bahia3, Dorli de Freitas Buchi2, Isabel R. Cabral4 and Rommel R. Burbano5
1Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Centro de Ciências Biológicas (CCB),
Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, PA, Brasil
2Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
Departamentos de 3Patologia, 4Genética e 5Biologia, CCB, UFPA, Belém, PA, Brasil
Corresponding author: R.R. Burbano
E-mail: [email protected]
Genet. Mol. Res. 2 (2): 223-228 (2003)
Received November 05, 2002
Accepted May 23, 2003
Published June 30, 2003

ABSTRACT. The Canova Methodâ (CM) is a homeopathic medicine indicated for the treatment of patients with cancer and for pathologies that involve a depressed immune system, such as AIDS. This product is composed of homeopathic dilutions of Aconitum napellus, Arsenicum album (arsenic trioxide), Bryonia alba, Lachesis muta venom and Thuya occidentalis. It stimulates the immune system by activating macrophages. Activated macrophages stimulate the lymphocytes so that they increase their cytotoxic action in response to tumoral growth or infection. Given that the CM stimulates and accelerates the activity of macrophages and lymphocytes, we evaluated genotoxic effects induced in human lymphocytes treated with this homeopathic medication in vitro. Structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations were scored for the assessment of induced genotoxic effects, while the variation in mitotic index was considered as a monitor for induced cellular toxicity. The lymphocytes were cultivated for 24, 48 or 72 h in the following final concentrations of the medicinal composite CM: 4, 8 and 12%. Treatments with the CM did not affect mitotic indexes, nor did they provoke chromosomal aberrations, when compared with untreated controls. There was no cytotoxicity or genotoxicity at the chromosomal level.

Key words: Mutagenesis, Canova Method, Mitotic index, Cytogenetics

 

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