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In vitro evaluation of the antiviral effects of the homeopathic preparation Gripp-Heel on selected respiratory viruses - Glatthaar-Saalmüller B; Clinical Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, A-1210 Vienna, Austria.

Gripp-Heel is a homeopathic preparation frequently used in the treatment of respiratory viral infections such as various types of influenza and the common cold.

The antiviral activity of Gripp-Heel was studied in vitro on human pathogenic enveloped and nonenveloped RNA and DNA viruses. Before the antiviral assays, in vitro cytotoxicity of Gripp-Heel was determined with cells used for the infection experiments (HeLa, HEp-2, MDCK, BGM) as well as with mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes.

A concentration of 0.5 of the commercially available product slightly reduced cell viability and proliferative capacity, and experiments on antiviral activity were determined starting with a dilution of 0.2 of the commercially available product.

The antiviral activity was determined against a broad panel of enveloped and nonenveloped DNA and RNA viruses with plaque reduction assay, cytopathogenic assays, virus titrations, analysis of the viral proteins in virus-specific enzyme immunoassays, and haemagglutination tests. Control substances were acyclovir (10 microg/mL), ribavirin (6 microg/mL), and amantadine hydrochloride (5 microg/mL), depending on the virus type. Gripp-Heel demonstrated dose-dependent in vitro activity (significant reductions of infectivity by 20% to 40%) against 

• Human herpesvirus 1

• Human adenovirus C serotype 5

• Influenza A virus

• Human respiratory syncytial virus

• Human parainfluenza virus 3

• Human rhinovirus B serotype 14

• and Human coxsackievirus serotype A9

The mechanisms of this antiviral activity are still unclear, but type I interferon induction might be a possible explanation. Further research on this homeopathic preparation seems warranted.