COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MACRONUTRIENTS IN ASTERIAS RUBENS EXTRACT, TINCTURE AND ULTRA HIGH DILUTIONS

Abstract

Marine organisms are recognized as valuable sources of biologically active compounds with significant therapeutic potential. While marine echinoderms are recognized as rich sources of structurally diverse, bioactive macromolecules, there remains a critical gap in scientific literature regarding the definitive biochemical composition of Asterias rubens across its various traditional and ultrahigh-dilution preparations. Asterias rubens has a long-standing history of clinical use in complementary and homeopathic medicine for treating cardiac dysfunctions, haemorrhagic tendencies, and malignant conditions. This study aimed to perform a quantitative comparative evaluation of primary macronutrients—specifically proteins, carbohydrates and lipids—in the crude ethanol extract, mother tincture(Φ), and ultrahigh dilutions 3X, 12C and 30C of Asterias rubens. Specimens collected from Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India, were authenticated, dried, and processed. While the crude ethanol extract was made through Soxhlet extraction, the mother tincture (Φ) and potencies of 3X, 12C, and 30C were made using conventional Hahnemannian techniques of repeated succussion in the liquid state. The total amount of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid contents was determined quantitatively through UV-Visible Spectrophotometric technique using Lowry, Anthrone, and Sulfo-Phospho-Vanillin techniques, respectively. It was seen that ethanol extract had maximum amounts of carbohydrate and lipid contents, validating the high lipid content of the organism. On the contrary, lower ultra-high dilutions had relatively more amounts of protein content whereas there was a progressive reduction in lipid and carbohydrate contents with increase in ultra-high dilutions. It was evident from the results that despite being at ultra-high dilution levels (30C), which exceed the classical Avogadro Limit in mathematics, Asterias rubens preparations had measurable amounts of primary macronutrients, thereby validating that molecular characteristic is retained during the process of potentization. These findings support modern material science hypotheses that homeopathic potentization acts through the creation of complex, stable nano colloidal systems.