Lepidium meyenii(Maca) – multidirectional health effects – review

Abstract

Lepidium meyenii, commonly known as Maca, is a Peruvian plant that grows high in the Andes, in areas over 4,000 meters above sea level. Its composition contains almost all of the essential amino acids and twenty of the essential fatty acids needed by man, as well as many vitamins, minerals and several sterols and glucosinolates. The specific and unique unsaturated acids and amides found only in this plant are the macaenes and macamides. Most valuable ingredients are contained within the hypocotyls. Maca comes in three forms, based on its root colour, yellow, red and black. Although used individually, consumption recommendations are usually for a mix of all three. Since Inca times, it has been considered as super food. Although now mostly used in the form of a supplement, ongoing research does not exclude future applications of Maca as medicine. It is attributed to have an effect on male fertility (adding energy and vitality), and in regulating hormone secretion. In animal studies, Maca has been shown to have antioxidant, neuroprotective effects and antiviral activity. Moreover, it has been demonstrated to alleviate the effects of depression. In addition, there are reports that Maca reduces the development of cancer and osteoporosis, improves memory, facilitates concentration and alleviates the symptoms of menopause. The obtained results, however, require further analysis to confirm its effect. Currently, there is little information on toxicity, so there is a need for specialized research in this area, and on-going research concerns the most effective variety and form of preparation of Maca for administration to achieve best effects. The potential of Maca as medicine exists. The increasing pan-continental popularity of Maca has created the need for a better understanding of its action mechanisms.

Comparison between the Biological Active Compounds in Plants with Adaptogenic Properties (Rhaponticum carthamoides, Lepidium meyenii, Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng)

“…Maca has been cultivated for more than 2000 years [ 18 , 95 ]. Humans have utilized the extract for the management of different conditions, such as: menopausal syndrome, impaired fertility, anemia, tuberculosis, and fatigue [ 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 ]. Nowadays, the plant extract is used as an aphrodisiac, anti-fatigue remedy, neuroprotector, antioxidant, memory enhancer, hormone secretion regulator, etc.…”

“…Nowadays, the plant extract is used as an aphrodisiac, anti-fatigue remedy, neuroprotector, antioxidant, memory enhancer, hormone secretion regulator, etc. [ 18 , 30 , 96 , 103 , 104 , 105 ]. The antiviral activity of the extract is also well-known, but its potential should be explored in more detail in the near future.…”

Non-targeted Metabolite Profiling to Evaluate the Drying Process Effect in the Peruvian Maca Actives Through Principal Component Analysis

“…is originally cultivated over the Peruvian Andes, and its characteristics have been described in several previous studies (Gonzales 2012;Sun et al 2018). This plant is being commercialized worldwide due to several claims about health bene ts and medicinal effects (Da Silva Leitão Peres et al 2020), generating several studies such as neuroprotective effects (Gugnani et al 2018), prevention of osteoporosis (Zhang et al 2006), antifatigue effects (Choi et al 2012) blood pressure regulation (Stojanovska et Past studies sustain the appeal of maca aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties (Gonzalez et al 2003; Gonzales et al 2006), besides several studies suggesting that the consumption of this root is associated with multiple health effects (Kasprzak et al 2018; Da Silva Leitão Peres et al 2020). Nonetheless, claims regarding the lack of maca effects, as quoted in a previous study (Beharry & Heinrich, 2018), enforce the need for more studies on how the maca industrialization steps in uence the product to be sold.…”

“…According to several reports, the main bioactive compounds found in maca roots are the benzylalkamides (Esparza et al 2015;Kasprzak et al 2018; Carvalho and Ribeiro 2019; Da Silva Leitão Peres et al 2020), known as macamides, which according to Esparza et al, are products obtained from the condensation of benzylamine, originated from the hydrolysis of the glucosinolate, and as a consequence of the lipid hydrolysis, they are found as free fatty acids (Esparza et al 2020). These compounds are present in fresh undamaged tissues, and they can be consumed or transformed during the processing.…”