Scientific Research on Maharishi Ayurveda

immunity > immunity study 3

Immunity Study #3

Title
Immunomodulation by Maharishi Amrit Kalash [MAK-4] in Mice

Publication
Journal of Applied Nutrition, Vol. 48, Nos. 1 and 2, pp. 10-21, 1996.

Authors
Ryoichi Inaba, PhD,* Haruo Sugiura, PhD,* Hirotoshi Iwata, PhD,* Hiroshi Mori, PhD,** and Takuji Tanaka, PhD.Ú

Conducted at
**Department of Hygiene, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
**Department of Microbiology, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
Ú First Department of Pathology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan

Summary
The effects of ingestion of Maharishi Amrit Kalash-4 (MAK-4), one of the Ayurvedic food supplements, on immune function were evaluated in male A/He mice aged 7 weeks. Production of nitric oxide (NO) by peritoneal macrophages and proliferation of spleen cells stimulated by mitogens was examined in mice given MAK-4 by gastric intubation at the doses of 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg once a day for 20 days. Glucose consumption of peritoneal macrophages during incubation up to 72 hours at all doses of MAK-4 was significantly higher in the MAK-4 treated mice than in the control group (p<0.05). Activities of lactate dehydrogenase in the peritoneal macrophages were significantly increased in the MAK-4 treated mice at all doses (p<0.01). Macrophage production of NO stimulated by lipopolysaccharide in the MAK-4 treated mice at all doses was significantly increased (p<0.01). Stimulation indices both by concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohaemagglutinin in the MAK-4 treated groups at all doses were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). Splenocyte production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) stimulated by Con A in the MAK-4 treated mice at all doses was significantly increased (p<0.01). MAK-4 treated mice at the dose of 10 mg/kg had the highest IL-2 production by splenocytes. MAK-4 at any of the doses used did not enhance spontaneous NO production, spontaneous splenic lymphocyte proliferation, or spontaneous IL-2 production by splenocytes. These results indicate that gastric intubation of MAK-4 once a day at a dose of 10 mg/kg or more enhances not only macrophage function but also lymphocyte responsiveness in mice.