Scientific Research on Maharishi Ayurveda

antioxidant research > antioxidant study 4

Antioxidant Study #4

Title
In Vitro and In Vivo Inhibition of Microsomal Lipid Peroxidation by MA-631

Publication
Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 505-510, 1994.

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

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

Summary
Excess free radicals are linked to many diseases, including aging, atherosclerosis, and cancer. MA-631 (a complex herbal mixture) has been shown to inhibit human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in vitro. In this study, further evaluation was undertaken on the in vivo and in vitro antioxidant activity of MA-631. Both the alcoholic and aqueous extracts of MA-631 inhibited enzymatic- and nonenzymatic-induced rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) values (nmoles malondialdehyde (MDA)/mg microsomal protein) were 1.43 +/- 0.18 for microsomes alone (baseline for enzymatic system), 19.63 +/- 2.50 for microsomes + reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) (oxidation without inhibitor), 9.89 +/- 1.41 for heated microsomes (baseline for nonenzymatic system), and 27.15 +/- 0.08 for microsomes + ascorbate (oxidation without inhibitor). The concentrations (microgram/2 mL) of MA-631 which produced 50% inhibition (IC50) of enzymatic- and nonenzymatic-induced lipid peroxidation were 15.2 +/- 2.0 and 17.0 +/- 2.6, respectively, for the aqueous extract, and 4.3 +/- 0.8 and 6.4 +/- 1.2, respectively, for the alcoholic extract. These results imply that MA-631 may be useful in the prevention of free radical-linked diseases.

See Research on Reduction of Chemical Toxicity for more information on this study.