Scientific Research on Maharishi Ayurveda

antioxidant research > antioxidant study 3

Antioxidant Study #3

Title
Inhibition of Human Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidation In Vitro by Maharishi Ayurvedaa Herbal Mixtures [MAK-4, MAK-5, MA-631, and Maharishi Coffee Substitute]

Publication
Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, Vol. 43, pp. 1175-1182, 1992.

Authors
Hari M. Sharma, Atef N. Hanna, Ellen M. Kauffman, and Howard A.I. Newman.

Conducted at
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210

Summary
This study examined the effect of the Maharishi Ayurvedaa herbal mixtures (MAHMs) MAK-4, MAK-5, MA-631, and Maharishi Coffee Substitute (MCS) on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, and compared the potency of these mixtures to ascorbic acid (vitamin C), alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), and the drug probucol. LDL was incubated in 95% air and 5% CO2, with or without 3 micromolar Cu+2, in the presence or absence of alcoholic or aqueous extracts of MAHMs, for 6 or 24 hours. In a separate experiment, LDL was incubated as above except the MAHM extracts were added at 0, 1.5, and 3.5 hours after incubation started, to assess their effect on the initiation and propagation of LDL oxidation. The results demonstrate that MAHMs caused concentration-dependent inhibition of LDL oxidation as assessed by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and electrophoretic mobility. Both the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the MAHMs showed more antioxidant potency in preventing LDL oxidation than ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, or probucol. The alcoholic extracts of the MAHMs were at least 1000 times more potent than ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, and probucol after the 6-hour incubation. The alcoholic extracts of the MAHMs showed an even larger magnitude of difference after the 24-hour incubation. Also, the MAHMs inhibited both the initiation and propagation of cupric ion-catalyzed LDL oxidation.