Effect of Diluted and Agitated Cardiotropic Drug Digitalis purpurea on Heart Conduction, - A Study on Indian Bufo melanostictus
ABSTRACT
Serially diluted and agitated (SAD) drugs available commercially are in use with great faith because of the astonishing results they produce. The scientific viewpoint attached to the century- old therapy remained doubtful for want of appropriate research and insufficient evidence base.
The conflicting points related to SAD drug mostly related to (i) the level of concentrations / dilutions, (ii) use of drug in contradictory clinical conditions compared to the modern system of medicine, (iii) identification of medicinally active ingredient in concentrations and dilutions used in commercially available SAD drugs, and (iv) Lack of laboratory based pharmacological data vis-à-vis modern medicine. Modus operandi of SAD drug is also unknown. To address some of these issues an analytical study was carried out wherein commercially available SAD drug Digitalis purpurea, commonly used in different systems of medicine, was put to test. The effect of SAD drug Digitalis purpurea was studied on heart rate and the heart conduction (Electrocardiography) of anesthetized Indian Bufo melanostictus and was compared vis-à-vis with the effects of digoxin. Study was conducted using ethanol as control. The host institute provided necessary ethical clearance and infrastructure. Various concentrations of commercially available Digitalis purpurea were analyzed using not so common analytical methods: UV-VIS spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, Emission spectroscopy, Vibrational molecular spectroscopy, and SEM. Some of these analytical methods apparently identified the medicinal ingredients and effect of serial dilution in commercial preparation of the drugs. The effect of Digitalis purpurea in various concentrations / dilutions on duration of loss of reflexes and unconsciousness of the animals appear to have corroborated the known effects of Digoxin and aqueous ethanol. It appears that the effect produced by the drugs on heart conduction and consciousness of the animal authenticated the findings. These analyses seemingly indicated a process of separation, isolation, and purification of the medicinally active ingredient to some extent in the SAD drug. A preliminary suggestion for the possible use of SAD drug, Digitalis purpurea in various pathological and emergency heart conditions is also incorporated.
Key words: Serially diluted and agitated (SAD) drugs, Indian Bufo melanostictus, Digitalis purpurea, Electrocardiography, Ultradilution, Spectroscopy, Cyclic-voltammetry,