Efficacy of a potentized homeopathic drug (Arsenicum-Album-30) in reducingcytotoxic effects produced by arsenic trioxide in mice: IV. Pathological changes, protein profiles, and content of DNA and RNA

Objective:To examine if the potentized homeopathic drug Arsenicum Album-30 can help restore the damage produced in protein profiles, DNA and RNA conte nts in liver and testis as a result of arsenic treatment in mice. Design: S ets of mice were injected with arsenic trioxide, one set was fed with Ars.A lb-30, another with Alcohol-30 and the final set was fed neither. The gel e lectrophoretic protein profiles and DNA and RNA contents in these three set s were studied. Methods: Protein profiles were studied by SDS-PAGE method; the DNA and RNA contents were assayed by the standard methods through diphe nylamine and orcinol reactions respectively. Results: arsenic trioxide inje ction produced some pathological conditions, drastic changes (mainly reduct ion of protein bands) in protein sub-fractions, reduced DNA and RNA content s in both liver and testis;Ars.Alb-30-fed arsenic-intoxicated mice showed r evival and restoration in both liver and testis as revealed by gel patterns and quantitative assay of DNA and RNA. Conclusion: Efficacy of the homeopa thic drug Ars.Alb-30 in reducing arsenic-induced damage to protein and nucl eic acids is substantiated and the mechanism of action of the homeopathic d rug through expression of regulatory genes inferred. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publ ishers Ltd.