Scientific Research on Maharishi Ayurveda

antioxidant research > antioxidant study 14

Antioxidant Study #14

Title
Effect of Maharishi Amrit Kalash, an Ayurvedic Herbal Mixture, on Lipid Peroxidation and Neuronal Lipofuscin Accumulation in Ageing Guinea Pig Brain

Publication
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 355-359, 2001.

Authors
B.P. Vohra, S.P. Sharma, V.K. Kansal, and S.K. Gupta.
Conducted at Laboratory of Nutritional Histopathology, Kurukshetra University, India

Summary
The effects of Ayurvedic herbal mixture Maharishi Amrit Kalash (MAK) were studied on brain lipid peroxidation, oxygen consumption, and lipofuscin accumulation in 10-month-old and 32-month-old guinea pigs. Brain regions studied were cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, cerebellum and spinal cord. Parameters assessed were lipid peroxidation, oxygen consumption, and lipofuscin accumulation. The endogenous lipid peroxide was found to be increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the 32-month-old animals. Neuronal lipofuscin accumulation in the neurons of cerebral motor cortex, cerebellum and cervical spinal cord was increased (P < 0.05) in the older animals. Oxygen consumption was found to be decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the 32-month-old guinea pigs. Treatment with MAK at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight daily for two months reduced the lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin pigment accumulation significantly in brain regions, and it also helped in restoring the normal oxygen consumption in the older animals. This indicates antioxidant properties of MAK.

Abstract reprinted by permission of the publisher from Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol. 39, No. 4,
pp. 355-359, 2001.