Effects of Homeopathic Preparations of Mercurius corrosivus on the Growth Rate of Moderately Mercury-Stressed Duckweed Lemna gibba L.

BACKGROUND

A bioassay with severely mercury-stressed duckweed ( L.) had revealed growth-inhibiting effects of homeopathically potentised mercury(II) chloride (). 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 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 (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 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 ( 24x-30x) were each pooled to increase statistical power. Duckweed growth rates for day 3-7 were enhanced ( < 0.05) after application of compared with the controls. Growth rates for day 0-3 were not influenced by the homeopathic preparations.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderately mercury-stressed L. yielded evidence of growth-enhancing specific effects of 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).