title: Effect of Maharishi AK-4 on H2O2-induced oxidative stress in isolated rat hearts.
abstract: 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 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 microM 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 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dulchavsky
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Devasagayam
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Venkataraman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dutta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010477:Perfusion; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase