Background:
Several homeopathic drugs are applied in the treatment of periodontal inflammation.
However less is know about the basic working principles of highly diluted remedies
in such chronic inflammatory conditions. We therefore aimed at investigating the effects
of homeopathic drugs in periodontal inflammation by observing lymphocyte migration
activity.
Material and Methods:
Lymphocytes from blood samples of three patients suffering on chronic aggressive
periodontitis and three matched healthy volunteers were extracted and enbedded in
a collage matrix migration assays together with highly diluted (D12 and C200) aquaetous
extract from Mercurius solubilis, Silicea, Sulfur, Tuberculinum, or placebo. Activity
and speed of lyphocytes were observed in a 60 min time frame using flow cytometry.
Statistical analysis was performed using univariate statistics and SiZer time series
analysis.
Results:
A significantly reduced migration activity and speed was observed in lymphocytes
extracted from the patients suffering on chronic aggressive periodontitis compared
to those of healthy volunteers (mean activity: 12.5% vs. 26.3%). While C-potencies
did not reveal strong differences between placebo and substances some meaningful effects
were observed in D-potencies compared with placebo: moderate but not significant inhibiting
effects with regards to activity were observed in lymphocytes treated with Silicea
extract (mean activity: 13.3% vs. 11.9% in patients’ and 26.2% vs. 22.2% in healthy
samples). The strongest and most specific effects were observed in Sulphur D12 which
showed an activating effect in lymphocytes of patients (mean activity: 11,1% vs. 23,8%)
but not in those of healthy volunteers (25,8% vs. 25,6%). SiZer analysis confirmed
this effect to be significant.
Conclusion:
Discussion about the basic working principles of highly diluted substances is still
vital and leads to controversies in the scientific discussion. Although conclusions
are limited due to low sample size, our pilot study was able to reproduce former results
on lymphocyte migration activity and thus proves model validity. Results from our
pilot study might encourage further investigations on the role of highly diluted Sulphur
in the treatment of periodontitis.
