Impact of forbidden foodstuffs on the efficacy of homoeopathic medicines: An in vitro evaluation

Abstract

Background: In previous screening experiment, out of some homoeopathic medicines in 30 and 200 potencies Mezereum 200 showed maximum inhibition to growth of Candida albicans on comparing the ‘Zone of Inhibition’ in culture plates treated with homoeopathic medicines keeping standard antifungal Ketoconazole, rectified spirit and distilled water as control by using Disc method. Objective: To observe the impact of various forbidden edible items such as garlic, onion, cardamom, clove, caraway, ginger, fenugreek, black pepper, asafoetida, red chilli, green chilli, turmeric, lemon and camphor on the efficacy of Mezereum 200 in the inhibition of growth of human pathogenic fungus C. albicans. Materials: Isolation of human pathogenic fungus: Sample collected from patients suffering from oral ulcers was incubated for 15 days at 37+1°C for growth of fungus, if any. The growth of Candida albicans was obtained. Preparation of prohibited items: 500 mg of fine powdered prohibited items were dissolved/mixed in 5 ml distilled water. 5 μl of autoclaved solution of each item was mixed with 5 μl of Mezereum 200. Method: Disc method was used to assess the impact of prohibited items on the efficacy of homoeopathic medicine Mezereum 200 in in-vitro conditions against Candida albicans by “Inhibition Zone Technique”. Result: The result of this in-vitro experiment has shown that there is no inhibitory effect of prohibited items in question on Mezereum 200 in causing inhibition to growth of Candida albicans. Conclusion: It is evident from this experiment that there is no interference of prohibited items on the action of homoeopathic medicine.