Causticum hahnemanni, Conium maculatum and Lycopodium clavatum highly diluted medications decreases parasitemia in mice infected by Trypanosoma cruzi

Abstract

Introduction: Benznidazole is the only medicine available in Brazil for Chagas’ disease treatment, however it presents low efficacy in the chronic phase and several adverse effects [1-3].
 Aim: Evaluate the effect of Causticum hahnemanni, Conium maculatum and Lycopodium clavatum [4-6] administered to mice infected with T. cruzi.
 Method: In blind randomized controlled trial 42 male Swiss mice, 8 weeks of age, have been grouped: GCaus –treated with C. hahnemanni 13cH (n=10), GCon –treated with C. maculatum 13 cH (n=11), GLy –treated with L. clavatum13cH (n=10) and CG – control group (n=11) treated with 7% hydro alcoholic solution 13cH. The animals were infected intraperitoneally with 1.400 blood trypomastigotes of T. cruzi - Y strain. Medications were been prepared according to Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia [7]. Medication was diluted in water (1mL/100mL) offered ad libitum, from amber recipient during 16 hours administered 48 hours before infection and 48, 96 and 144 hours after inoculation. Parasitological parameters assessed: total parasitemia (TP), maximum peak of parasites (MPP), pre-patent period (PPP) and area under curve (AUC). Parasitemia was evaluated daily counting from the first day of infection. Clinical parameters assessed: weight, temperature, water and food intake and excreta were measured counting from the 5º day before infection until animals’ death or checking negative parasitemia for 3 consecutive days. Mortality was registered for 75 days after infection. Ethics Committee for Experiments in Animals gave approval UEM 054/11. Statistical comparison of data was performed with Kruskal-Wallis test, with 5% significance.
 Results and Discussion: The diluted medications have been significantly reduced the parasitological parameters: MPP (p