Scientific Research on Maharishi Ayurveda

immunity > immunity study 4

Immunity Study #4

Title
Enhanced Lymphoproliferative Response, Macrophage-Mediated Tumor Cell Killing and Nitric Oxide Production After Ingestion of an Ayurvedic Drug [MAK-5].

Publication
Biochemical Archives, Vol. 9, pp. 365-374, 1993.

Authors
Kottarappat N. Dileepan, Sapna T. Varghese, Jordan C. Page, and Daniel J. Stechschulte.

Conducted at
Division of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160<

Summary
The Ayurvedic system of medicine utilizes a variety of herbal food supplements to enhance the body’s resistance to infection and disease. Maharishi Amrit Kalash Ambrosia (MAK-5) is one such commercially available food supplement. In order to evaluate its potential immunomodulatory actions, we studied the effect of ingestion of MAK-5 on lymphoproliferative response, macrophage-mediated tumor cell killing, and the production of nitric oxide (NO) by macrophages. C57BL/6J mice were fed either a standard diet or that supplemented with 0.3% MAK-5, for a period of six weeks. After this time, splenic lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages were isolated. The lymphoproliferative response was measured by [3H] thymidine uptake after activation of the lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or anti-CD3 antibodies. Tumor cell killing by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or interferon (IFN)-activated macrophages was studied by an 18-hour [51Cr] release assay using P815 murine mastocytoma cells as targets. Production of NO was assayed by measuring the nitrite contents in the 24-hour culture supernatants of macrophage monolayers activated with IFN or a combination of LPS and IFN. In comparison to controls, lymphocytes from mice fed the MAK-5-supplemented diet exhibited significantly higher proliferative responses to PHA and anti-CD3 at all concentrations tested. The spontaneous rate of lymphocyte proliferation, measured in the absence of activators, was not enhanced by the MAK-5 diet. Peritoneal macrophages from mice maintained on the MAK-5-supplemented diet demonstrated enhanced tumor cell killing when activated with LPS, IFN, or LPS plus IFN. The production of NO by LPS- or IFN-activated macrophages from MAK-5 treated mice was significantly higher than those from controls. Neither the cytotoxicity nor the production of NO by unactivated macrophages was altered by MAK-5 supplementation. These results indicate that MAK-5 contains ingredients that can induce in vivo priming of both T-cells and macrophages for enhanced functions.