Inhibition of (-)-trans-(1S,2S)-U50488 hydrochloride by its enantiomer in white mice -- a placebo-controlled, randomized study.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have been performed to see if toxicity of optically active compounds may be inhibited by potentized preparations of their enantiomers. The present study is based on the hypothesis that the toxic effects of an optical isomer may be counteracted or reversed by the administration of a potentized preparation of one of its stereoisomers and in particular the enantiomer (patent applied for).

Methods: The design was prospective, blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled. 210 ICR conventional mice were used. 105 mice were administered a mixture of (+)-U50488 hydrochloride homeopathic potencies prior to and during the experiment, and the other 105 were administered indistinguishable placebo. The first 52 mice were used to establish an LD(50) of intraperitoneally administered (-)-U50488 hydrochloride under the conditions of this experiment. The estimated LD(50) was 25 mg/kg. The remaining 158 mice were then administered this LD(50) of (-)-U50488 HCl intraperitoneally. One mouse from the placebo group was excluded from the analysis because it died immediately after the possibly intravenous injection of (-)-U50488 HCl.

Results: 67% of homeopathy mice survived compared with 47% of placebo mice. The end point for statistical analysis was the difference in survival between the placebo and homeopathy mice. The analysis was adjusted for mouse weight using a logistic regression (LR) model. The LR treatment odds ratio for survival of treatment mice relative to placebo mice was 2.301 and the LR treatment chi-square was 6.2030 (1 degree of freedom), which has a p-value of 0.0128. Consequently, we reject the null hypothesis of no treatment effect on survival.

Conclusion: We conclude that toxicity of intraperitoneal injection of (-)-U50488 hydrochloride may be inhibited by administration of a mixture of potencies of its enantiomer.