Effects of Lepidium meyenii Walp and Jatropha macrantha on Blood Levels of Estradiol-17 .BETA., Progesterone, Testosterone and the Rate of Embryo Implantation in Mice

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The effects of two Peruvian folk medicines, Lepidium meyenii Walp and Jatropha macrantha, on mouse sex steroid hormones and embryo implantation were investigated. Progesterone levels increased significantly in mice that received L. meyenii Walp, while testosterone levels increased significantly in mice that received L. meyenii Walp as well as in those that received both L. meyenii Walp and J. macrantha. However, there were no marked changes in blood levels of estradiol-17β or the rate of embryo implantation. KEY WORDS: Jatropha macrantha, Lepidium meyenii Walp, mouse.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 65(10): 1145-1146, 2003 L. meyenii Walp is a root vegetable that only grows in the Peruvian Andes at elevations higher than 4,000 m [2, 4-7, 9-13, 16, 17, 19], while J. macrantha is sap collected from trees that grow naturally in the Peruvian Andes [3,8,18]. Because they are crude drugs, there are slight differences in components and compositions depending on where they are grown and when they are harvested. Both crude drugs have been widely used as folk medicines in Peru and have been administered to treat impotence, climacteric disorders and infertility in Europe and America [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][16][17][18][19]. However, no reports have investigated administration of these natural substances to animals or determined changes in sex steroid hormone levels and rates of embryo implantation. Therefore, we conducted the present study to investigate whether these crude drugs are also effective in animals.The level of estradiol-17β and progesterone measured in female mice, and the level of testosterone was measured in male mice. Three week-old ICR mice were divided into the following four groups: Control group, L group (only L. meyenii Walp was administered), J group (only J. macrantha was administered) and LJ group (both L. meyenii Walp and J. macrantha were administered). Each group consisted of ten mice, and prior to the study, mice were acclimatized for seven days in the same cage (room temperature: 22 ± 3°C, humidity: 60%, light: 14 hr, darkness: 10 hr). The crude drugs were administered for 30 days.Three-week-old mice were used in the present study because although mice are not sexually mature at the age of 3 weeks, by the end of the study, mice were able to breed. The design of the present study also allowed the female mice to have similar estrous cycles, thus minimizing individual differences. Furthermore, a vaginal smear test was conducted on every female mouse, and a blood sample was collected in estrus.Crude drugs were administered as follows: In the control group, 100 ml of plain water was poured into a 100 ml water bottle; in the L group, 5.0 g of L. meyenii Walp powder was dissolved in 100 ml of water; in the J group, 5.0 g of J. macrantha powder was dissolved in 100 ml of water; and in the LJ group, 2.5 g of L. meyenii Walp powder and 2.5 g of J. macrantha powder were dissolved in 100 ml of water. In all groups, mice had free access to drinking water.At the end of the administration period, e...

Maca (Lepidium meyenii WALP), una revisión sobre sus propiedades biológicas

“…La maca no afecta la tasa de implantación en ratonas (39,40) , ni genera mayor número de óvulos por ciclo (41) , ni afecta el desarrollo normal de los embriones preimplantacionales (42) . Sin embargo, las ratonas que recibieron extracto acuoso de maca presentaron un mayor número de crías que las del grupo control.…”

Maca reduces blood pressure and depression, in a pilot study in postmenopausal women

“…Initial research has focussed on a possible role for Maca in improving male fertility [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] with emerging evidence that Maca may improve sperm production and quality 7 . Although few studies have as yet examined the effect of Maca in women, data from oophorectomized rats, suggests that Maca can improve bone mass and restore trabecular network in the lumbar vertebrae, findings relevant to the high risk of osteoporosis many women face after menopause 15 .…”

Effects of Benzylglucosinolate on Endurance Capacity in Mice

“…4) Maca has traditionally been used by Peruvians living at high altitudes as a nutrient, energizer, aphrodisiac, and/or fertility enhancer and physical endurance enhancer, as well as for male impotence and female hormonal imbalances. [5][6][7][8] Maca is capable of attenuating stress responses by decreasing changes of corticosterone and glucose levels, as well as reducing or abolishing stress-induced ulcers and increases of adrenal gland weight. 7) Benzylglucosinolate is one of the constituents of Maca and is thought to be its active ingredient.…”