Ultradiluted Homeopathic Medicines Cause Apoptosis in RPMI-8226 Multiple Myeloma Cells in vitro: a Pilot Study

• Published in: Homeopathy : the journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy
• Main Authors: Altinok Gunes, Buket, Kilic, Murat, Ozkan, Tulin, Gonulkirmaz, Nurbanu, Guven, Nurcihan, Sunguroglu, Asuman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 26.06.2024
• ISSN: 1475-4916; 1476-4245; 1476-4245
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1786035

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common type of cancer among hematological malignancies and is difficult to treat. Although controversial in nature, homeopathy's effects have been tested on a wide range of cancer cell types , as well as clinically. However, homeopathic medicines have yet to be tested in MM cells. In this preliminary study, we investigated the effects of , , and 200C on a human MM cell line.  The RPMI-8226 MM cell line was cultured for up to 96 hours and treated with each of four homeopathic preparations. The spectrophotometric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometric Annexin V-PE/7-actinomycin D (7-AAD) and propidium iodide (PI) staining were each used to examine cell viability, apoptosis and cell cycle, respectively.  The MTT assay showed that all four homeopathic preparations reduced cell viability over time when compared to the control group cells, especially at 72 and 96 hours whereby only 50% of cells remained viable. Similarly, after 96 hours of treatment, the proportion of viable cells was significantly decreased and the proportion of early apoptotic (Annexin-V-PE +/7AAD-) cells was significantly increased for all four homeopathic preparations. Based on the PI-staining cell cycle data, cells treated with and showed a statistically significant accumulation in the sub-G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle (  < 0.05).  This is the first study to demonstrate that each of four homeopathic medicines causes apoptosis in a MM cell line. Further exploration of the potential of , , and as a complementary therapeutic option in MM is warranted.