scholarly journals Raman spectroscopy reveals variation in free OH groups and hydrogen bond strength in ultrahigh dilutions

Author(s):  
Atheni Konar ◽  
Tandra Sarkar ◽  
Indrani Chakraborty ◽  
Nirmal Chandra Sukul ◽  
Dipanwita Majumdar ◽  
...  

Objective: To decipher the nature of water structure in two ultrahigh diluted (UHD) homeopathic drugs by Laser Raman Spectroscopy. Method: Two homeopathic drugs Calcarea carbonica (Calc.) and Sepia officinalis (Sep.) in 8cH, 202cH, and 1002cH and their diluent medium 90% ethanol in 8cH and 202cH were used in the present study. Laser Raman spectra of all the samples were obtained in the wave number region of 2400 – 4200 cm-1. The intensity ratio at vibration frequencies between 3200 and 3420 (R1) and that between 3620 and 3420 (R2) were calculated for each UHD of the samples. Results: The spectra show a marked difference in intensities in the stretching vibrations of CH and OH groups of all the samples. R1 values for three UHDs of Calc. and Sep. show negative and positive relationships, respectively. In the case of R2 values, the relationship in three UHDs is 81002 for Calc., and 8> 202 < 1002 for Sep. In the case of control (ethanol UHDs) both R1 and R2 show a negative relationship. Conclusion: R1 denotes a relative number of OH groups with strong and weak hydrogen bonds. R2 indicates the relative number of OH groups with broken and weak H-bonds. Therefore, the UHDs of the two drugs and the control are different from each other with respect to hydrogen bond strength of OH groups and the number of free OH groups or non-hydrogen bonded water molecules.

Author(s):  
Tandra Sarkar ◽  
Atheni Konar ◽  
Nirmal Chandra Sukul ◽  
Achintya Singha ◽  
Anirban Sukul

Objective: To confirm that free water molecules and hydrogen bond strength of OH groups underlie difference between two homeopathic drugs at ultrahigh dilution (UHD). Method: FTIR and Laser Raman spectra of UHDs of X-ray and Magnetis Poli Ambo were obtained in the wave number regions of 2400-4000 cm-1 and 2400-4200 cm-1, respectively. Mother tincture (MT) were prepared by exposing ethanol water to X-radiation for X-ray and magnetic field for Magnetis. Spectra of the reference water and the three UHDs of Ethanol were also taken. All the samples were in water-ethanol solution in which the ethanol content was 25%. For FTIR the difference spectrum (absorbance of a UHD minus absorbance of reference water) was obtained after normalization of the spectrum at 3410 cm-1. For Raman spectra the intensity ratio at vibration frequencies between 3200 and 3420 cm-1 (R1), and that between 3620 and 3420 cm-1 (R2), were calculated for each UHD. The intensity at 3600 cm-1 in the difference spectra (FTIR) represents the number of free water molecules in UHDs. R2 values in Raman scattering suggest the same thing. Results: The data in both cases follow almost a similar pattern of difference among the UHDs studied here. For example, X-ray: FTIR 14


Author(s):  
Tandra Sarkar ◽  
Atheni Konar ◽  
Nirmal Chandra Sukul ◽  
Dipanwita Majumdar ◽  
Achintya Singha ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The present study aims at deciphering the nature of the water structure in two drugs at ultra high dilution (HD) by Laser Raman Spectroscopy. Method Two drugs like Sulphur and Natrum mur and their three high dilutions 30cH, 200cH and 1000cH were selected for the study. The 30cH means dilution 1060 with mechanical agitation in 30 steps.Raman spectra of the drugs and their medium (90%ethanol)were obtained in the wave number region of 2600-3800 cm-1. The intensity ratio at vibration frequencies between 3220 and 3420 (R1) and that between 3620 and 3420 (R2) were calculated for each HD as well as the control. Results Raman spectra show differences in intensities in different HD’s and their control in the stretching vibrations of CH and OH groups. The three HD’s of each drug show inverse relationship with respect to the R1 values. However, for R2 the relationship of HD’s for each drug is positive. Conclusion R1 provides information about the relative number of OH groups with strong and weak hydrogen bonds. R2 suggests the relative number of OH groups with broken and weak hydrogen bonds. Judged from R1 values the lower is the rank of HD, the stronger is the H-bond of the OH groups. In the light of R2 values the higher is the HD rank the more abundant is the free OH groups. So, hydrogen bond strength and free OH groups together make an effective HD rank relating to Sulphur and Natrum mur.


Author(s):  
Saurav Arora

Until few years, the so-called implausible science, homeopathy, was on the verge of being rejected on conventional physicochemical grounds. The mere selection of ultrahigh dilutions (UHD) (homeopathic potencies) for experimentation by mainstream scientists seemed impossible, but the curiosity to explore the science behind homeopathy kept igniting intellectual alma mater who subjected homeopathy to laboratories and test tubes, to know beyond its clinical application. Still, there exist a huge gap and a challenge to convince a conventional scientist to go beyond his domains and look for something which is apparently invisible (beyond Avogadro). But gradually we are overcoming this dogma and exploring the finer aspects and applications of UHDs. Much research has been undertaken, at least, to protect the identity of UHDs, and we are now verge of proving the plausibility of homeopathy from every aspect. This issue of International Journal of High Dilution Research features two interesting articles on nature of UHDs and their unconventional application. The first article by NC Sukul et al aimed to decipher the nature of the water structure of UHDs of two commonly used homeopathic drugs Natrum muriaticum and Sulphur by Laser Raman Spectroscopy. This work is in the series undertaken by the group, who earlier experimented using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; Electronic, Vibrational and Raman spectroscopy to shown differences in UHDs of various drugs. The present experiment could differentiate the intensities (potencies) of Nat-m and Sulph when compared to their controls, on the basis of hydrogen bond strength and free OH groups. The second article by Nandy et al proposes a new dimension to the application of UHD. In an interesting manner, the author used UHDs of Ferrum metallicum and Zincum oxidatum to improve the electrical properties of the electroactive Poly (vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP). The PVDF-HFP composite films were synthesized in their usual way, but an incorporation of Ferrum and Zinc-o could make the film as homeo-PVDF-composite. This enhancement of the electrical properties and are possibly due to the presence of nanoparticle, as hypothesized by the group. The nature and application of UHDs are promising but challenging areas, which can only be validated through extensive research and validation. The realm of UHDs is expanding, and the day is not far when plausibility of homeopathy would be proved from every aspect, but at the same time we should also keep the momentum of research at pace in clinical research too!


2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solveig Gaarn Olesen ◽  
Steen Hammerum

It is generally expected that the hydrogen bond strength in a D–H•••A adduct is predicted by the difference between the proton affinities (Δ PA) of D and A, measured by the adduct stabilization, and demonstrated by the infrared (IR) redshift of the D–H bond stretching vibrational frequency. These criteria do not always yield consistent predictions, as illustrated by the hydrogen bonds formed by the E and Z OH groups of protonated carboxylic acids. The Δ PA and the stabilization of a series of hydrogen bonded adducts indicate that the E OH group forms the stronger hydrogen bonds, whereas the bond length changes and the redshift favor the Z OH group, matching the results of NBO and AIM calculations. This reflects that the thermochemistry of adduct formation is not a good measure of the hydrogen bond strength in charged adducts, and that the ionic interactions in the E and Z adducts of protonated carboxylic acids are different. The OH bond length and IR redshift afford the better measure of hydrogen bond strength.


Author(s):  
Nirmal Chandra Sukul ◽  
Tandra Sarkar ◽  
Atheni Konar ◽  
Indrani Chakraborty ◽  
Achintya Singha ◽  
...  

Background             Drugs at ultra high dilution (UHD) have been used in homeopathy for a couple of centuries. The central theme in homeopathic Materia Medica is that each drug has its own distinctive features which need to be matched with the symptoms of a patient for eliciting therapeutic response. However, UHD’s very often (above 12 cH) cross the Avogadro number, and are, therefore, devoid of original drug molecules. How do they maintain their individual identity ? This study aims to address this pertinent question.   Objective :             The medium of UHD’s is ethanol water. It is thought that water structures in a UHD carry the identity of the drug and its rank of dilution. The objective is to decipher the exact nature of water structure in UHD’s of different drugs by laser Raman spectroscopy.   Method :             Six homeopathic drugs and their control ethanol, all in 90% ethanol v/v, were used in the study. For Sulphur and Natrum mur, potencies used were 30 cH, 200 cH and 1000 cH, and for Calcarea carb and Sepia  the potencies were 8 cH, 202 cH and 1002 cH. In addition to the four drugs we also used X-ray and Magnetis poli ambo which did not originate from any substance by exposure of ethanol water to X radiation and strong magnetic field.For this we could use their mother tinctures as well as ultrahigh dilutions(potencies) like 8cH, 14cH and 32cH. The potencies used for ethanol control were 8 cH, 14cH, 32cH and 20 cH. Raman spectra of all the potencies of 6 drugs, ethanol control and pure water were taken in the wave number region of 2400-4200 cm-1. All the samples were reduced to 25% ethanol by adding appropriate volume of water to each of them before taking the spectra. The mother tinctures MT of X-ray and Magnetis were studied. The intensity ratio of vibration frequencies between 3200 cm-1 and 3420 cm-1 (R1) and that between 3620 cm-1 and 3420 cm-1 (R2) were calculated for each UHD of the samples.   Results : All the UHD’s of the drugs and the control tested show difference in intensities in the stretching vibrations of CH and OH groups. The three UHD’s from low to high ranks of both Natrum mur and Sulphur show negative relationship with respect to R1 values, and positive one concerning  R2 values. R1 values for 3 UHD’s of Calcarea carb and Sepia show negative and positive relationships, respectively. In case of R2 values the relationship in 3 UHD’s is 81002 for Calcarea carb, and 8>202


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