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Background  A bioassay with severely mercury-stressed duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) had revealed growth-inhibiting effects of homeopathically potentised mercury(II) chloride (Mercurius corrosivus, Merc-c.). We hypothesised that effects of potentised preparations are dependent on the stress level of the organisms used in the bioassay. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the response of duckweed to potentised Merc-c. at a lower stress level. Methods  Duckweed was moderately stressed with 2.5 mg/L mercury(II) chloride for 48 hours. Afterwards plants grew in either Merc-c. (seven different potency levels, 24x–30x) or water controls (unsuccussed or succussed water) for 7 days. Growth rates of the frond (leaf) area were determined using a computerised image-analysis system for day 0–3 and 3–7. Three independent experiments with potentised Merc-c. and three systematic negative control experiments were performed. All experiments were randomised and blinded. Results  Unsuccussed and succussed water did not significantly differ in their effects on duckweed growth rate. The systematic negative control experiments did not yield any significant effects, thus providing evidence for the stability of the experimental system. Data from the two control groups and the seven treatment groups (Merc-c. 24x–30x) were each pooled to increase statistical power. Duckweed growth rates for day 3–7 were enhanced (p  < 0.05) after application of Merc-c. compared with the controls. Growth rates for day 0–3 were not influenced by the homeopathic preparations. Conclusions  Moderately mercury-stressed Lemna gibba L. yielded evidence of growth-enhancing specific effects of Merc-c. 24x–30x in the second observation period (day 3–7). This observation is complementary to previous experiments with severely mercury-stressed duckweed, in which a decrease in growth was observed in the first observation period (day 0–3). We hypothesise that the differing results are associated with the level of stress intensity (moderate vs. severe). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation includes the study of protein concentration in intestinal tissue of coccidiosis infected broiler chicks orally inoculated by the infection of Eimeria tenella sporulated oocysts and treated with Mercurius corrosivus by using the methods of histochemical techniques. The treatment of homoeopathic medicine Mercurius corrosivus was administered to the coccidiosis infected group of broiler chicks.For the study of protein concentration in intestinal tissue of the coccidiosis infected and non-infected broiler chicks, the histochemical technique was used. Histochemical study indicates that the presence of different concentration of protein content found in the intestinal tissue of the broiler chicks.Intestinal tissue of all the chicks of different groups have presence of protein content in variable concentrations. It is also observed that the presence of protein concentration was variable in different region and shows different traces like minimum, medium and maximum amount of protein content found in different region of the intestinal tissue.The amount of protein concentration was observed high in group B(INC) in comparison to the other group of chicks observed during the experimental period. The concluded results of the study by using histochemical techniques shows that the protein concentration in the intestinal tissue is demonstrated by the variable staining reaction. The concentration of protein content is maximum in the parasitic stages showing the utilization of the protein from the host tissue. Whereas the infected and treated group with homoeopathic medicine Mercurius corrosivus also showed variable staining reaction according to the presence of protein in the intestinal tissue.

Background  We developed a bioassay with mercury-stressed duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) to study potential effects of homeopathically potentised mercury(II) chloride (Mercurius corrosivus [ Merc-c. ]). The response of this bioassay to homeopathic treatments as a function of stress intensity was also of interest. Methods  Duckweed was severely stressed with mercury(II) chloride for 48 hours. Afterwards plants grew in either Merc-c. (seven different potency levels, 24x to 30x) or water controls (unsuccussed and succussed water) for 7 days. Growth rates of the frond (leaf) area were determined using a computerised image analysis system for different time intervals between the measurements on days 0, 3 and 7. Three independent experiments with potentised Merc-c. each were evaluated. Additionally, three water control experiments were analysed to investigate the stability of the experimental set-up (systematic negative control [SNC] experiments). All experiments were randomised and blinded. Results  Unsuccussed and succussed water did not significantly differ in terms of duckweed growth rate. The SNC experiments did not yield any significant effects, providing evidence for the stability of the experimental system. Data from the two control groups and the seven treatment groups (Merc-c. 24x–30x) were each pooled to increase the statistical power. Duckweed growth rates for day 0 to 3 were reduced (p  < 0.05) after application of Merc-c. compared with the controls. Growth rates for day 3 to 7 were not influenced by the homeopathic preparations. Conclusions  The present test system with Lemna gibba L. that was severely stressed by mercury yielded evidence for specific effects of Merc-c. 24x to 30x, namely a growth reduction in the first time period (day 0–3). This is in contrast to former experiments with slightly arsenic-stressed duckweed, where a growth increase was observed in the second time period (day 2–6). We hypothesise that the differing results are associated with the level of stress intensity (severe versus slight). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]