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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of Atropa belladonna and Echinacea angustifolia in homeopathic dilution on experimental peritonitis.

Atropa belladonna and Echinacea angustifolia have been used in homeopathy as modulators of inflammatory processes, in simple potency or 'accord of potencies', as recommended by homotoxicology. We evaluated their effects on leukocyte migration and macrophage activity induced by experimental peritonitis in vivo. Mice were injected (i.p.) with LPS (1.0mg/kg) and treated (0.3ml/10g/day, s.c.) with different commercial forms of these medicines. Echinacea angustifolia D4--a simple potency preparation--and Belladonna Homaccord, Belladonna Injeel, Belladonna Injeel Forte, Echinacea Injeel and Echinacea Injeel Forte--all in 'accord of potencies'--were tested. The association of A. belladonna and E. angustifolia in 'accord of potencies' produced an increase of polymorphonuclear cell migration (Kruskal-Wallis, P = 0.03) and a decrease of mononuclear cell percentages (Kruskal-Wallis, P < or = 0.04), when compared with control, mainly in preparations containing low potencies. The proportion of degenerate leukocytes was lower in the treated groups, compared to a control group (P < or = 0.05). The treated groups showed increased phagocytosis (P < or = 0.05), mainly in preparations containing high potencies. Our results suggest that A. belladonna and E. angustifolia, when prepared in 'accord of potencies', modulate peritoneal inflammatory reaction and have a cytoprotective action on leukocytes.

Animals↗

Prevention of airway obstructions during sleep in infants with breath-holding spells by means of oral belladonna: a prospective double-blind crossover evaluation.

We investigated whether the brief airway obstructions seen during sleep in infants with breath-holding spells were controlled by the autonomic nervous system. We studied 20 infants, with a history of breath-holding spells and a median age of 12 wk (range 4-46 wk). During sleep they had a median of 6 airway obstructions per 10-hr recording (range 3-16 events), with a median duration of 8 sec (range 4-12 sec). No explanation was found for the airway obstructions. In every infant, a double-blind crossover challenge was conducted. It included oral administration of tincture of belladonna, equivalent to 0.01 mg/kg weight of atropine, and placebo syrup containing no belladonna. The belladonna, or the placebo, was administered at bedtime for 7 days, followed by a 7-day washout period. Another 7-day series of syrup administration was then undertaken. A nighttime polygraphic recording was made after each 7-day series. It was the belladonna, and not the placebo, that induced the disappearance of the obstructions in 10 infants; these were called "drug responsive". In 5 children no effect was observed after either the placebo or belladonna; these infants were defined as "drug unresponsive". In 4 subjects the obstructions disappeared after both belladonna and the placebo; the children were considered to have an "inconclusive response". One infant was excluded from the study because he developed an airway infection. It is concluded that in some breath-holding infants, obstructed breathing episodes during sleep disappear after the administration of an atropinic drug. The observation could indicate a role of the autonomic nervous system in the control of the upper airways during sleep in infants.

Airway Obstruction↗

Ultramolecular homeopathy has no observable clinical effects. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled proving trial of Belladonna 30C.

AIMS: To investigate if ultramolecular homeopathy has any clinical effects. This was assessed using the proving of the homeopathic remedy Belladonna given at an ultramolecular dose (30C), as a model. A proving states that when a homeopathic remedy is given to a healthy person, they will experience symptomatic effects specific to that remedy. If ultramolecular doses are clinically active, the Belladonna 30C group should experience more true Belladonna proving symptoms than the placebo group. METHODS: Healthy subjects (n = 253), aged 18-30 years, took part in this double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study. Total study duration was 4 weeks. Subjects were randomized before 1 week placebo run-in. They received 2 weeks of treatment intervention (Belladonna 30C or placebo) and were followed up for 1 week. Subjects recorded any symptoms experienced during the total study period on a daily basis using a structured questionnaire. Symptom diaries were analysed blind to determine if each subject had proved or not (based on predefined criteria). The main outcome was the proportion of subjects who had proved in each treatment group. RESULTS: No significant group differences in proving rates were observed [Belladonna provers N = 14 (13.9%); placebo provers N = 15 (14.3%); mean difference -0.4%, 95% confidence interval -9.3, 10.1] based on intention to treat analysis. Primary outcome was not affected by seasonality or the individual's attitude to complementary medicine. CONCLUSION: Ultramolecular homeopathy had no observable clinical effects.

Adolescent↗

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of homoeopathic 'proving' for Belladonna C30.

Homoeopathic drug pictures are developed by recording the symptomatic effects of homoeopathic remedies given to healthy volunteers (a 'proving'). In a double-blind randomized controlled trial we tested the hypothesis that individuals using an infinitesimal dilution of Belladonna (thirtieth potency, C30) would record more true symptoms, on a questionnaire that contained both true and false Belladonna proving symptoms, than those receiving placebo. 60 volunteers entered the study and 47 completed data collection. We were unable to distinguish between Belladonna C30 and placebo using our primary outcome measure. For the secondary outcome measure we analysed the number of individuals who proved to the remedy according to our predefined criteria: 4 out of 19 proved in the Belladonna C30 group and 1 out of 27 in the placebo group (difference not statistically significant). This pilot study does not demonstrate a clear proving reaction for Belladonna C30 versus placebo, but indicates how the question might be further investigated.

Adult↗

Clinical management of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs with homeopathic Belladonna 200C: a case series.

Epilepsy is an important neurological disorder in dogs. Belladonna 200C was evaluated in 10 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. During the seizure phase, 3-4 drops of Belladonna 200C were administered orally at 15 min intervals until considerable reduction in seizure activity, then four times daily. Four dogs with head shaking syndrome in addition to seizures were given Cocculus 6C, 3-4 drops orally weekly for 3 months in addition. Numbers of fits reduced to 2-3 during first 2 weeks post-therapy and then became occasional in next 2 weeks. With continuation of Belladonna therapy, no fits were observed during 2-7 months follow-up. In two cases epileptic fits reappeared within 15-25 days of cessation of therapy. Belladonna therapy was resumed and seizure control was again achieved. Owners were advised to continue the therapy at least twice daily until there were no fits for 2-3 months. Liver specific enzymes were monitored, no abnormalities were observed.

Animals↗

Expression of Atropa belladonna putrescine N-methyltransferase gene in root pericycle.

The cDNAs encoding putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT), which catalyzes the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent N-methylation of putrescine at the first committed step in the biosynthetic pathways of tropane alkaloids, were isolated from Atropa belladonna and Hyoscyamus niger. These PMTs, however, lacked the N-terminal tandem repeat arrays previously found in Nicotiana PMTs. AbPMT1 RNA was much more abundant in the root of A. belladonna than was AbPMT2 RNA. The 5'-flanking region of the AbPMT1 gene was fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and transferred to A. belladonna. Histochemical analysis showed that GUS is expressed specifically in root pericycle cells and that the 0.3-kb 5'-upstream region was sufficient for pericycle-specific expression. Treatment of A. belladonna roots with methyl jasmonate did not up-regulate the expression of GUS or endogenous AbPMT genes. The regulation of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis is discussed and compared with that of nicotine biosynthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Responses of transformed root culture of Atropa belladonna to salicylic acid stress.

The effect of salicylic acid (SA) on tropane alkaloid production and the responses to SA stress of transformed root cultures of Atropa belladonna (belladonna) were investigated. Treatment of A. belladonna transformed roots with 0.2 mM SA did not have any effect on tropane alkaloid production, but two compounds were produced in the medium. These were identified as the SA derivatives methylsalicylate and methyl-o-methoxybenzoate by high-resolution mass spectrometry and UV spectrometry. In contrast, treatment with 2 mM salicylic acid stimulated tropane alkaloid release from the transformed roots into the medium by up to 35% of the total alkaloids after 24 h, and the SA derivatives were not observed in the medium. These results revealed that transformed root of A. belladonna exhibits distinct by different responses to SA stress depending on the SA concentration.

Journal Article↗

Primary structure of belladonna mottle virus coat protein.

The coat protein of belladonna mottle virus (a tymovirus) was cleaved by trypsin and chymotrypsin, and the peptides were separated by high performance liquid chromatography using a combination of gel permeation, reverse phase, and ion pair chromatography. The peptides were sequenced manually using the 4-N, N-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4'-isothiocyanate/phenyl isothiocyanate double-coupling method. The chymotryptic peptides were aligned by overlapping sequences of tryptic peptides and by homology with another tymovirus, eggplant mosaic virus. The belladonna mottle virus is more closely related to eggplant mosaic virus than to turnip yellow mosaic virus, the type member of this group, as evident from the sequence homologies of 57 and 32%, respectively. The accumulation of basic residues at the amino terminus implicated in RNA-protein interactions in many spherical plant viruses was absent in all the three sequences. Interestingly, the amino-terminal region is the least conserved among the tymoviruses. The longest stretch of conserved sequence between belladonna mottle virus and eggplant mosaic virus was residues 34-44, whereas it was residues 96-102 in the case of belladonna mottle virus and turnip yellow mosaic virus. A tetrapeptide in the region (residues 154-157) was found to be common for all the three sequences. It is possible that these conserved regions (residues 34-44, 96-102, 154-157) are involved in either intersubunit or RNA-protein interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Mydriasis induced by splinter from belladonna bush].

AIM: Pupillary dilatation with alcaloids from the Atropa belladonna plant have been used since antiquity. It is less known that the wood of the plant contains an even higher concentration of alkaloids than the ripe fruit. METHODS: Clinical case. RESULTS: A 32-year-old patient presented with a foreign body sensation after a splinter got in his eye while chopping wood of an Atropa belladonna bush in the underbrush. Ophthalmic examination showed a visual acuity of 0.9 s.c. (1.0 with pinhole) and a pupil in a fixed mydriasis without any visible rupture of the sphincter muscle. After a 3-day follow-up the pupil returned to normal size and visual acuity recovered to 1.25 s.c. CONCLUSION: The wood of the Atropa belladonna plant contains a very high concentration of alkaloids. A well-directed history may help to discover this less well-known cause of an accidental mydriasis.

Adult↗

The effects of homeopathic belladonna 30CH in healthy volunteers -- a randomized, double-blind experiment.

OBJECTIVES: The practice of homeopathy rests on symptoms, which have been produced by medicinal substances in healthy volunteers, often applied at ultramolecular dilutions. It is unknown whether these symptom patterns are due to specific effects or chance fluctuation. METHODS: We tested the hypothesis that a homeopathic substance can bring about symptoms different from observation and placebo in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design with baseline observation. RESULTS: 87 out of 118 healthy volunteers took both placebo and homeopathic belladonna 30CH in random sequence, after a 2-week observation period, and finished the 8-week trial. Apart from an insignificant tendency for subjects to report more symptoms with belladonna (mean number: 27.34), as compared to observation (24.26) or placebo (24.17), there was no indication that subjects reacted differently to homeopathy than to placebo or during baseline. CONCLUSION: There is no indication that belladonna 30CH produces symptoms different from placebo or from no intervention. Symptoms of a homeopathic pathogenetic trial (HPT) are most likely chance fluctuations.

Adult↗

A comparative study of behavioural and autonomic effects of atropine and Atropa belladonna.

Atropa belladonna L. (Solanaceae) tincture was compared with atropine for its anticholinergic activity, both in vivo and in vitro. In all tests, the biological activity of A. belladonna resulted greater than that suggested by its alkaloid content. The results suggest the presence in A. belladonna leaves of unknown compounds with a significant biological activity.

Alkaloids↗

Overexpression of tropinone reductases alters alkaloid composition in Atropa belladonna root cultures.

The medicinally applied tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine are produced in Atropa belladonna L. and in a small number of other Solanaceae. Calystegines are nortropane alkaloids that derive from a branching point in the tropane alkaloid biosynthetic pathway. In A. belladonna root cultures, calystegine molar concentration is 2-fold higher than that of hyoscyamine and scopolamine. In this study, two tropinone reductases forming a branching point in the tropane alkaloid biosynthesis were overexpressed in A. belladonna. Root culture lines with strong overexpression of the transcripts contained more enzyme activity of the respective reductase and enhanced enzyme products, tropine or pseudotropine. High pseudotropine led to an increased accumulation of calystegines in the roots. Strong expression of the tropine-forming reductase was accompanied by 3-fold more hyoscyamine and 5-fold more scopolamine compared with control roots, and calystegine levels were decreased by 30-90% of control. In some of the transformed root cultures, an increase of total tropane alkaloids was observed. Thus, transformation with cDNA of tropinone reductases successfully altered the ratio of tropine-derived alkaloids versus pseudotropine-derived alkaloids.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase induced in hairy root cultures of Atropa belladonna after treatment with exogeneously added salicylic acid.

In Atropa belladonna hairy roots, exogeneously added salicylic acid (SA) is converted to methyl salicylate (MSA) through the reaction, which might be catalysed by S-adenosyl-L-methionine: salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase (SAMT). Here we cloned a cDNA for A. belladonna SAMT (AbSAMT1), which consisted of 357 aa residues. It was expressed in E. coli, and the recombinant AbSAMT1 showed SAMT activity. When A. belladonna hairy roots were exposed to a high concentration of SA, AbSAMT1 mRNA begins to be expressed 12 h after the exposure, and steady expression continued over 144 h.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Belladonna alkaloids-induced behavioral changes and amnesia on open-field and step-through in 18-, 28-, and 38-day-old mice.

AIM: To study the age-related changes of atropine (Atr), scopolamine (Sco), anisodine (AT3), and anisodamine (Ani) on behaviors and memories. METHODS: The behaviors and memories were measured with open-field test and step-through task. M-cholinergic receptors were determined by [3H] quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H] QNB). RESULTS: During acquisition session (d 1) the 18-, 28-, and 38-d-old mice pretreated with Atr, Sco, and AT3 (0.02, 0.2, 2, or 20 mg.kg-1, i.p.) in open-field test showed increase in walking counts by 26%-42%, but decrease in rearing, grooming, and defecating counts for 50%-92%, 67%-100%, and 75%-100%, respectively. On recall session (d 2) the walking and rearing behaviors in the 18- and 28-d-old mice receiving Atr, Sco, and AT3 on d 1 were higher than those in the mice receiving saline. But a lower grooming behavior on d 2 was found in the mice receiving the drugs on d 1. On d 1 Ani 20 mg.kg-1 reduced the rearing behavior by 50% in 18-d-old mice and defecation by 33%-36% in 18- and 28-d-old mice. All the 4 belladonna alkaloids increased the number of avoidance-response errors and decreased the retention latencies in step-through task. Bmax of [3H] QNB binding sites in frontal cortex and hippocampus regions in the 38-d-old mice increased 7% and 23% vs in the mice of 18 d of age, respectively. CONCLUSION: 1) The effects of the belladonna alkaloids on behaviors and memories in adult mice were weaker than those in young mice. 2) The belladonna alkaloids-induced amnesia on passive avoidance-response in step-through was more sensitive than behavioral changes and amnesia on open-field. 3) According to the lowest effective doses which insulted the behaviors or memories in young mice, Sco was about 10, 100, and 1000 times more potent than Atr, AT3, and Ani, respectively.

Age Factors↗