RESUMO
The Canova Method (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
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Antineoplásicos/toxicidade , Homeopatia , Técnicas In Vitro , Linfócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Aberrações Cromossômicas , Análise Citogenética , Extratos Vegetais/toxicidade , Linfócitos/citologia , Índice Mitótico , Testes de MutagenicidadeRESUMO
The cytotoxicity of citrinin was evaluated in an established cell line of baby hamster kidney cells. The primary effect of the mycotoxin was on the adherence of the cells to the culture bottles. Microscopic evaluation of morphological alterations indicated that the cells which were originally elongated and flattened, became swollen and round. Electron microscopic examination showed that citrinin (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mM) incubated for 10 hours with cultured cells, promoted drastic alterations of normal mitochondria, with swelling and cell death. Transplasma membrane redox system is inhibited by citrinin (81%). This effect is dependent not only on the toxin concentration, but also on the time of exposure to the cells.
Assuntos
Citrinina/farmacologia , Rim/citologia , Animais , Adesão Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/fisiologia , Membrana Celular/ultraestrutura , Células Cultivadas , Cricetinae , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Rim/efeitos dos fármacos , Rim/ultraestrutura , Microscopia Eletrônica , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Mitocôndrias/fisiologia , Mitocôndrias/ultraestrutura , Oxirredução , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Mouse peritoneal resident macrophages efficiently ingest IgG-coated erythrocytes through a phagocytic process mediated by Fc-receptors. During this process surface components of the macrophages, which can be labeled by cationized ferritin and gold-labeled lectins are not interiorized together with the IgG-coated erythrocytes. However, they are internalized through endocytic vesicles and concentrated into vacuoles which are part of the endosomal-lysosomal system. Later on some of these components either are recycled back to the cell surface or are released, due to a process of lysosome-phagosome fusion, into the erythrocyte-containing phagosomes.