A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ‘BELLADONNA-200’ AND JE VACCINE (SA-14-14-2) IN PREVENTION OF JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

摘要

Objectives: Vaccination is the only means present with us to fight Japanese encephalitis which is widespread in South-East Asian countries as there is no effective treatment at present. However, vaccination of rural mass population in this specified region is extremely complex due to climatic, geographical, socio-economical barriers. In this study we explored possible use of “Belladonna-200” –an easily applicable homeopathic medicine to prevent this important disease.Methods: In this experiment initially adult mice JE virus adaptation was achieved by repeated passage of the virus and 50% lethal dose (LD50) of the virulent Nakayama strain virus was calculated by successive experiments with several lots of mice (6 to 8 wks age). Following this 63 adult mice (control group) were challenged with the virus by a standardized intracerebral inoculation technique, similarly 33 mice which were fed with “Belladonna- 200” (experimental group) and 28 mice (vaccine control group) which were protected by the Japanese Encephalitis Live Vaccine (SA14-14-2), were also challenged with the same doses of the virus.Results: The results confirmed a definite protective action of “Belladonna 200” against JE which was almost equal to the protective action of Japanese Encephalitis Live Vaccine (SA14-14-2).Conclusion: Considering the insignificant expenditure of this medicine which can be administered orally without any side effects, “Belladonna- 200” appears to be an important alternative to the vaccine..