Ultra-diluted Rhus toxicodendron extract mitigates T3SS toxin induced leukocyte destruction - An in-vitro study

Background:. Improper usage of antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens in the last decade and Pseudomonas areuginosa (PA) is one of them. Global evidence mapping has shown that India and other parts of Southeast Asian countries have a specific burden of the said organism. Objective: The study aimed at exploring the therapeutic utility of the well-known medicinal plant Rhus Toxicodendron (RT) extracts in different homeopathic doses as a therapeutic alternative to manage Pseudomonas infection. Methods: 5 ml blood was collected from a healthy donor and the buffy-coat was separated following centrifugation. Later the buffy-coat suspension was prepared with 0.5% NaCl solution and infected with Pseudomonas areuginosa (ATCC 27853) suspension that was prepared maintaining 0.5 McFarland's turbidity standard. The infected buffy-coat suspension was divided into seven groups along with blank control alcohol and ciprofloxacin was administered, in other groups the infected suspension was challenged with alcohol and different dilutions of RT (6CH, 30CH, and 200CH). After 2 hours, smears were prepared and observed under the light microscope and leukocyte counts were analysed. ANOVA was done to analyse the statistically significant changes (p