Scientific Research on Maharishi Ayurveda

immunity > immunity study 1

Immunity Study #1

Title
Dose-Dependent Activation of Immune Function in Mice by Ingestion of Maharishi Amrit Kalash-5 (MAK-5)

Publication
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 35-39, 1997.

Authors
Ryoichi Inaba*, Haruo Sugiura*, Hirotoshi Iwata* and Takuji Tanaka**.

Conducted at
*Department of Hygiene, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
**First Department of Pathology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.

Summary
This study evaluated the dose-effects of ingestion of Maharishi Amrit Kalash-5 (MAK-5), an Ayurvedic food supplement, on the immune function in 10-week female inbred BALB/c mice. Superoxide anion (O2) production of peritoneal macrophages and the response of spleen cells to concanavalin A (Con A) were examined in mice given MAK-5 by gastric intubation of an aqueous emulsion at the doses of 10, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg once a day for 20 days. Glucose consumption of peritoneal macrophages in the MAK-5-treated mice at all doses after 24 hours of incubation, and only at the dose of 200 mg/kg after 48 hours of incubation were significantly higher than those in the control group. O2-production of peritoneal macrophages in the presence of stimulator was significantly higher in the MAK-5-treated group at the dose of 200 mg/kg than in the control group. Activities of ß-glucuronidase and lactate dehydrogenase in the peritoneal macrophages were significantly increased in the MAK-5-treated mice at all doses. MAK-5 did not enhance spontaneous splenic lymphocyte proliferation at any dose in mice. Stimulation indices in the MAK 5-treated groups at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg were significantly higher than that of the control group. These results indicate that gastric intubation of MAK-5 once a day at the dose of 50 mg/kg enhances not only macrophage function but also lymphocyte responsiveness in mice.