Maca: an Andean crop with multi-pharmacological functions

Maca (Lepidium meyenii walp.), a biennial herbaceous plant of the family Brassicae, which is cultivated mainly in the central Andes of Peru, has been used as both a food and a traditional medicine in the region for over 2000 years. The subterranean parts of the plant have long been used as a staple foodstuff by indigenous peoples in the Andean region, but the plant is also valued for its medicinal role. As is usual with many traditional "folk" medicines, many claims have been made regarding the efficacy of maca in treating a wide range of illnesses and medical conditions. However, in the 20th century most scientific attention has been focused in the areas where the pharmacological actions of maca seem most strongly attested, these include, enhancement of sexual drive in humans, increasing overall vigour and energy levels, and increasing sexual fertility in humans and domestic livestock. Since the early days of the 20th century numerous scientific studies have been carried out into the basis of its pharmacological action in these areas. In this review, the composition and pharmacological function of maca are systematically discussed. Additionally, the current discussion surrounding its mode of action in the areas listed above is also presented. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[1]  S. Piacente,et al.  Hexanic Maca extract improves rat sexual performance more effectively than methanolic and chloroformic Maca extracts , 2002, Andrologia.

[2]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Red maca (Lepidium meyenii) reduced prostate size in rats , 2005, Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E.

[3]  J. Fahey,et al.  The chemical diversity and distribution of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates among plants. , 2001, Phytochemistry.

[4]  Genying Li,et al.  Glucosinolate contents in maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacón) seeds, sprouts, mature plants and several derived commercial products , 2001, Economic Botany.

[5]  G. Tenore,et al.  Glucosinolates from Maca (Lepidium meyenii) , 2002 .

[6]  Jianping Zhao,et al.  Chemical profiling and standardization of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. , 2002, Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin.

[7]  J. E. H. Bermejo,et al.  Neglected crops: 1492 from a different perspective. , 1994 .

[8]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy men. , 2003, The Journal of endocrinology.

[9]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men , 2002, Andrologia.

[10]  K. He,et al.  Effect of a lipidic extract from lepidium meyenii on sexual behavior in mice and rats. , 2000, Urology.

[11]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Dose-response effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) aqueous extract on testicular function and weight of different organs in adult rats. , 2005, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[12]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Lepidium meyenii (Maca) increases litter size in normal adult female mice , 2005, Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E.

[13]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Effect of alcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on testicular function in male rats. , 2003, Asian Journal of Andrology.

[14]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) roots on spermatogenesis of male rats. , 2001, Asian journal of andrology.

[15]  E. Simpson,et al.  Estrogen and spermatogenesis. , 2001, Endocrine reviews.

[16]  Jianping Zhao,et al.  New alkamides from maca (Lepidium meyenii). , 2005, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[17]  E. Laumann,et al.  Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. , 1999, JAMA.

[18]  C. Ochoa.  Maca (Lepidium meyenii walp.; Brassicaceae): A nutritious root crop of the central andes , 2001, Economic Botany.

[19]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on spermatogenesis in male rats acutely exposed to high altitude (4340 m). , 2004, The Journal of endocrinology.

[20]  N. N. Okuhama,et al.  Antioxidant activity of the cruciferous vegetable Maca (Lepidium meyenii) , 2002 .

[21]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Toxicological Aspects of the South American Herbs Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) and Maca (Lepidium meyenii) , 2005, Toxicological reviews.

[22]  M. Iriti,et al.  Lepidium meyenii (Maca) does not exert direct androgenic activities. , 2006, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[23]  B. Manyam,et al.  Botanical therapies in sexual dysfunction , 2005, Phytotherapy Research.

[24]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Lepidium meyenii (Maca) reversed the lead acetate induced -- damage on reproductive function in male rats. , 2006, Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association.

[25]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improved semen parameters in adult men. , 2001, Asian journal of andrology.

[26]  E. Bustos-obregon,et al.  Lepidium meyenii (Maca) reduces spermatogenic damage induced by a single dose of malathion in mice. , 2005, Asian journal of andrology.

[27]  S. Drewes,et al.  Recent findings on natural products with erectile-dysfunction activity. , 2003, Phytochemistry.

[28]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Effect of three different cultivars of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on learning and depression in ovariectomized mice , 2006, BMC complementary and alternative medicine.

[29]  A. Diosy.  Monoamine oxidase inhibitors , 1984 .

[30]  J. Vivanco,et al.  Andean root and tuber crops: Underground rainbows , 2003 .

[31]  F. Dayan,et al.  Composition of the essential oil of Lepidium meyenii (Walp). , 2002, Phytochemistry.

[32]  K. He,et al.  Imidazole alkaloids from Lepidium meyenii. , 2003, Journal of natural products.

[33]  S. Piacente,et al.  Investigation of the tuber constituents of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.). , 2002, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[34]  Jin Wen-wen.  Study on the Nutritional Components and the Anti-fatigue Effects of Dry Powder of Maca (Lepidium meyenii. ) , 2004 .

[35]  M. Ao,et al.  Effect of ethanol extract of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rat. , 2006, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[36]  K. Dąbrowski,et al.  Activity-guided fractionation of phytochemicals of maca meal, their antioxidant activities and effects on growth, feed utilization, and survival in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles , 2005 .

[37]  H. Volz,et al.  Monoamine oxidase inhibitors. A perspective on their use in the elderly. , 1998, Drugs & aging.

[38]  A. Cicero,et al.  Lepidium meyenii Walp. improves sexual behaviour in male rats independently from its action on spontaneous locomotor activity. , 2001, Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

[39]  I. Iglesias,et al.  Lepidium peruvianum chacon restores homeostasis impaired by restraint stress , 2004, Phytotherapy research : PTR.

[40]  G. Gonzales,et al.  Effect of short-term and long-term treatments with three ecotypes of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on spermatogenesis in rats. , 2006, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[41]  J. Rinchard,et al.  Supplementation of maca (Lepidium meyenii) tuber meal in diets improves growth rate and survival of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) alevins and juveniles , 2004 .

[42]  L. Craker,et al.  Analysis of macamides in samples of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) by HPLC-UV-MS/MS. , 2005, Phytochemical analysis : PCA.

[43]  L. Rastrelli,et al.  Chemical composition of Lepidium meyenii , 1994 .

[44]  J. Heller,et al.  Andean Roots and Tubers: Ahipa, Arracacha, Maca and Yacon , 1997 .

[45]  K. B. Hicks,et al.  Phytosterols, phytostanols, and their conjugates in foods: structural diversity, quantitative analysis, and health-promoting uses. , 2002, Progress in lipid research.

[46]  Charles Kooperberg,et al.  Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results From the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. , 2002, JAMA.

[47]  Jianping Zhao,et al.  Constituents of Lepidium meyenii 'maca'. , 2002, Phytochemistry.

[48]  V. Křen,et al.  The in vitro biological activity of Lepidium meyenii extracts , 2006, Cell Biology and Toxicology.

[49]  R. Farré,et al.  Analysis of phytosterols in foods. , 2006, Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis.