Abstract
BACKGROUND: Most criticism of homeopathy concerns the lack of scientific bases and theoretical models. Fundamental research could make important contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of action of homeopathic treatments. Plant-based bioassays are suitable for basic research -- lacking the placebo effect and ensuring large data samples for structured statistical analyses. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to reproduce a previous experiment on the effects of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) high dilutions on wheat seedling growth in order to verify whether the same significant results could be obtained working in a different place and with a different experimental team. A further goal was to investigate high dilution effects on variability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A structured experiment was performed blind over 9 weeks, using wheat seeds previously stressed with a sublethal dose of As(2)O(3). The seeds were then treated with either potentized As(2)O(3) (5x, 15x, 25x, 35x, 45x), potentized water (equivalent potencies) or diluted As(2)O(3) (10(-5), 10(-15), 10(-25), 10(-35), 10(-45)). The working variable was the stem length, measured after 4, 5, 6 and 7 days. RESULTS: Some potencies (As(2)O(3) 45x and H(2)O 45x) induced a relevant increase in seedling growth and/or a variability decrease. Diluted As(2)O(3) did not induce any significant results. CONCLUSIONS: Confirmation of a significant stimulating effect on seedling growth and a significant decrease of variability was obtained with ultra-high dilutions at the 45x potency. The model of wheat germination and growth has been confirmed to be a good tool for basic research in homeopathy.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
The As(2)O(3) 45x potency induced a relevant increase in wheat seedling growth.
- Taxon
- Wheat
Triticum aestivumt0 - Treatment
- As(2)O(3) 45xe1
- Outcome
- seedling growthe1
- Direction
- increasee1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Wheat Seedling Growth”
e1“Some potencies (As(2)O(3) 45x and H(2)O 45x) induced a relevant increase in seedling growth and/or a variability decrease”
Claim · model-written summary
The H(2)O 45x potency induced a relevant increase in wheat seedling growth.
- Taxon
- WheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- H(2)O 45xe1
- Outcome
- seedling growthe1
- Direction
- increasee1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Wheat Seedling Growth”
e1“Some potencies (As(2)O(3) 45x and H(2)O 45x) induced a relevant increase in seedling growth and/or a variability decrease”
Claim · model-written summary
Ultra-high dilutions at the 45x potency significantly decreased the variability of wheat seedling growth.
- Taxon
- WheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- ultra-high dilutions at the 45x potencye3
- Outcome
- variabilitye3
- Direction
- decreasee3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Wheat Seedling Growth”
e3“Confirmation of a significant stimulating effect on seedling growth and a significant decrease of variability was obtained with ultra-high dilutions at the 45x potency”
Claim · model-written summary
Ultra-high dilutions at the 45x potency had a significant stimulating effect on wheat seedling growth.
- Taxon
- WheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- ultra-high dilutions at the 45x potencye3
- Outcome
- seedling growthe3
- Direction
- stimulating effecte3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Wheat Seedling Growth”
e3“Confirmation of a significant stimulating effect on seedling growth and a significant decrease of variability was obtained with ultra-high dilutions at the 45x potency”
Claim · model-written summary
Diluted As(2)O(3) did not induce any significant result on wheat seedlings.
- Taxon
- WheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- Diluted As(2)O(3)e2
- Outcome
- significant resultse2
- Direction
- did not inducee2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Wheat Seedling Growth”
e2“Diluted As(2)O(3) did not induce any significant results”
The same questions in other papers
arsenic atom · growth · Triticum aestivum (wheat)Results differ
2 papers in the same direction as this paper · 12 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- positive
- negative
11 papers more in this group
See all 15 papers →ozone · growth · Triticum aestivum (wheat)Results differ
13 papers in the same direction as this paper · 44 in the opposite direction
- negative
- negative
- negative
54 papers more in this group
See all 58 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.