Effect of Maharishi AK-4 [MAK-4] on H2O2-induced Oxidative Stress in Isolated Rat Hearts
Publication
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 56, pp. 215-222, 1997.
Authors
William J. Cullen,* Scott A. Dulchavsky,* Thomas P.A. Devasagayam,* B.V. Venkataraman,** Saradindu Dutta.Ú
Conducted at
**Department of Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
**Department of Pharmacology, St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore – 560 034, India
Ú Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 E. Canfield Avenue,
Detroit, MI 48201, USA
Summary
Oxidative damage to crucial biomolecules due to excess generation of reactive oxygen species has been implicated as a major cause of organ damage, and hence compounds capable of negating such damage have potential benefits. Using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a model pro-oxidant to induce oxidative stress, we have examined the ability of the natural food supplement Maharishi Amrit Kalash (MAK-4) to decrease oxidative damage in potassium-arrested isolated rat hearts. The protocol was that hearts isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats were retrograde-perfused with Krebs-Henseleit (K-H) solution for 30 min for equilibration. After this period, the hearts were subjected to cardioplegia with high potassium (26-30 mM), followed by reperfusion with K-H solution in the presence or absence of 200 uM H2O2. As expected, H2O2 treatment following cardioplegia induced a high degree of oxidative stress as assessed by release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, a marker of plasma membrane damage) and total glutathione (GSH + GSSG). H2O2 also impaired the ability of the heart to regain developed tension during the testing period. However, addition of MAK-4 in the perfusate containing H2O2 decreased oxidative stress in terms of release of LDH and glutathione. In parallel with these biochemical studies, in a few experiments the cardiac function was assessed by measuring developed contractile tension. These preliminary studies also showed that in the presence of MAK-4, the H2O2 -treated hearts were able to regain better-developed tension. Further in vitro studies to examine the possible mechanisms of MAK-4 action reveal that this formulation contains H2O2 binding activity, which resulted in the decreased availability of H2O2 itself. Our studies hence reveal that the ayurvedic food supplement MAK-4 may have potential benefits in reducing oxidative stress.
Please Note
MAK-4 is now called Amrit Kalash Nectar.
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