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Ulloa del Carpio N, Alvarado-Corella D, Quiñones-Laveriano DM, Araya-Sibaja A, Vega-Baudrit J, Monagas-Juan M, Navarro-Hoyos M, Villar-López M. Exploring the chemical and pharmacological variability of Lepidium meyenii: a comprehensive review of the effects of maca. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1360422. [PMID: 38440178 PMCID: PMC10910417 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1360422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Maca (Lepidium meyenii), a biennial herbaceous plant indigenous to the Andes Mountains, has a rich history of traditional use for its purported health benefits. Maca's chemical composition varies due to ecotypes, growth conditions, and post-harvest processing, contributing to its intricate phytochemical profile, including, macamides, macaenes, and glucosinolates, among other components. This review provides an in-depth revision and analysis of Maca's diverse bioactive metabolites, focusing on the pharmacological properties registered in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Maca is generally safe, with rare adverse effects, supported by preclinical studies revealing low toxicity and good human tolerance. Preclinical investigations highlight the benefits attributed to Maca compounds, including neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory properties, immunoregulation, and antioxidant effects. Maca has also shown potential for enhancing fertility, combating fatigue, and exhibiting potential antitumor properties. Maca's versatility extends to metabolic regulation, gastrointestinal health, cardio protection, antihypertensive activity, photoprotection, muscle growth, hepatoprotection, proangiogenic effects, antithrombotic properties, and antiallergic activity. Clinical studies, primarily focused on sexual health, indicate improved sexual desire, erectile function, and subjective wellbeing in men. Maca also shows promise in alleviating menopausal symptoms in women and enhancing physical performance. Further research is essential to uncover the mechanisms and clinical applications of Maca's unique bioactive metabolites, solidifying its place as a subject of growing scientific interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norka Ulloa del Carpio
- Centro de Investigación Clínica de Medicina Complementaria—CICMEC, Gerencia de Medicina Complementaria, Seguro Social de Salud-EsSalud, Lima, Peru
| | - Diego Alvarado-Corella
- Bioactivity and Sustainable Development (BIODESS) Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Costa Rica (UCR), San Jose, Costa Rica
| | | | - Andrea Araya-Sibaja
- Laboratorio Nacional de Nanotecnología, LANOTEC-CeNAT-CONARE, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José Vega-Baudrit
- Laboratorio Nacional de Nanotecnología, LANOTEC-CeNAT-CONARE, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Maria Monagas-Juan
- United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Mirtha Navarro-Hoyos
- Bioactivity and Sustainable Development (BIODESS) Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Costa Rica (UCR), San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Martha Villar-López
- Centro de Investigación Clínica de Medicina Complementaria—CICMEC, Gerencia de Medicina Complementaria, Seguro Social de Salud-EsSalud, Lima, Peru
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
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Minich DM, Ross K, Frame J, Fahoum M, Warner W, Meissner HO. Not All Maca Is Created Equal: A Review of Colors, Nutrition, Phytochemicals, and Clinical Uses. Nutrients 2024; 16:530. [PMID: 38398854 PMCID: PMC10892513 DOI: 10.3390/nu16040530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Maca (Lepidium meyenii, Lepidium peruvianum) is part of the Brassicaceae family and grows at high altitudes in the Peruvian Andes mountain range (3500-5000 m). Historically, it has been used as a nutrient-dense food and for its medicinal properties, primarily in enhancing energy and fertility. Scientific research has validated these traditional uses and other clinical applications by elucidating maca's mechanisms of action, nutrition, and phytochemical content. However, research over the last twenty years has identified up to seventeen different colors (phenotypes) of maca. The color, hypocotyl size, growing location, cultivation, and post-harvest processing methods can have a significant effect on the nutrition content, phytochemical profile, and clinical application. Yet, research differentiating the colors of maca and clinical applications remains limited. In this review, research on the nutrition, phytochemicals, and various colors of maca, including black, red, yellow (predominant colors), purple, gray (lesser-known colors), and any combination of colors, including proprietary formulations, will be discussed based on available preclinical and clinical trials. The gaps, deficiencies, and conflicts in the studies will be detailed, along with quality, safety, and efficacy criteria, highlighting the need for future research to specify all these factors of the maca used in publications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanna M. Minich
- Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, Adjunct Faculty, University of Western States, Portland, OR 97213, USA
- Food & Spirit, LLC, Port Orchard, WA 98366, USA
- Symphony Natural Health, Inc., West Valley City, UT 84119, USA; (K.R.); (M.F.); (W.W.)
- Symphony Natural Health Institute, West Valley City, UT 84119, USA
| | - Kim Ross
- Symphony Natural Health, Inc., West Valley City, UT 84119, USA; (K.R.); (M.F.); (W.W.)
- Symphony Natural Health Institute, West Valley City, UT 84119, USA
- Kim Ross Consulting, LLC, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211, USA
- College of Nutrition, Sonoran University of Health Sciences, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
| | - James Frame
- Symphony Natural Health Holdings Inc., Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola VG1110, (BVI), UK;
- Natural Health International Pty Ltd., Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Mona Fahoum
- Symphony Natural Health, Inc., West Valley City, UT 84119, USA; (K.R.); (M.F.); (W.W.)
- Meridian Medicine, Seattle, WA 98133, USA
- Bastyr Center for Natural Health, Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA 98028, USA
| | - Wendy Warner
- Symphony Natural Health, Inc., West Valley City, UT 84119, USA; (K.R.); (M.F.); (W.W.)
- Wendy Warner, MD, PC, Yardley, PA 19067, USA
| | - Henry O. Meissner
- National Institute of Complementary Medicine, Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Building J, 158-160 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia;
- Therapeutic Research, TTD International Pty Ltd., 39 Leopard Ave., Elanora-Gold Coast, QLD 4221, Australia
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Ybañez-Julca RO, Palacios J, Asunción-Alvarez D, Quispe-Díaz I, Nwokocha CR, de Albuquerque RDDG. Lepidium meyenii Walp (red maca) Supplementation Prevents Acrylamide-Induced Oxidative Stress and Liver Toxicity in Rats: Phytochemical Composition by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS. PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 77:460-466. [PMID: 35932411 DOI: 10.1007/s11130-022-01000-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Lepidium meyenii Walp (red maca) is a high Andean plant cultivated since the Incas and has innumerable therapeutic properties. The study aims to identify its phytochemical composition using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS, and evaluate its effects on acrylamide-induced oxidative stress. The lyophilized aqueous extract of red maca (LAqE-RM) was orally administered in doses of 1 and 2 g/kg body weight for 4 weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in erythrocytes, brain, and liver, as well as hepatic levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined. Administration of acrylamide for 2 and 4 weeks significantly increased (p < 0.001) MDA levels in erythrocytes, brain, and liver. However, LAqE-RM prevented (p < 0.001) an increase in MDA levels in all tissues studied. Likewise, the groups treated with LAqE-RM presented significantly (p < 0.001) lower levels of ALT and AST compared to the control. Treatment with LAqE-RM ameliorated the acrylamide-induced oxidative stress by reducing MDA levels in erythrocytes, brain, and liver and by lowering liver levels of ALT and AST in a dose-dependent manner. Twenty-five secondary metabolites were identified and characterized from LAqE-RM based on UHPLC mass spectrophotometry. These include carbolines, alkamides, fatty acids, and macamides, which are probably involved in their antioxidant protective role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto O Ybañez-Julca
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Perú.
| | - Javier Palacios
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | - Daniel Asunción-Alvarez
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Perú
| | - Ivan Quispe-Díaz
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Perú
| | - Chukwuemeka R Nwokocha
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
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Arabacı Tamer S, Altınoluk T, Emran M, Korkmaz S, Yüksel RG, Baykal Z, Dur ZS, Levent HN, Ural MA, Yüksel M, Çevik Ö, Ercan F, Yıldırım A, Yeğen BÇ. Melatonin Alleviates Ovariectomy-Induced Cardiovascular Inflammation in Sedentary or Exercised Rats by Upregulating SIRT1. Inflammation 2022; 45:2202-2222. [PMID: 35665875 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-022-01685-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the impact of hormone replacement, melatonin, or exercise alone or their combination on oxidative damage and functional status of heart, brain, and aorta of ovariectomized (OVX) rats and to determine whether the signaling pathway is dependent on sirtuin-1 (SIRT1). Ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats were orally given either a hormone replacement therapy (1 mg/kg/day,17β estradiol; HRT) or melatonin (4 mg/kg/day) or HRT + melatonin treatments or tap water, while each group was further divided into sedentary and exercise (30 min/5 days/week) groups. After the heart rate measurements and memory tests were performed, trunk blood was collected at the end of the 10th week to determine metabolic parameters in serum samples. Tissue samples of abdominal aorta, heart, and brain were taken for biochemical measurements and histopathological evaluation. Heart rates and memory performances of the OVX rats were not changed significantly by none of the applications. Melatonin treatment or its co-administration with HRT upregulated the expressions of IL-10 and SIRT1, reduced the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α, and reduced DNA damage in the hearts and thoracic aortae of non-exercised rats. Co-administration of melatonin and HRT to exercised OVX rats reduced inflammatory response and upregulated SIRT1 expression in the aortic and cardiac tissues. The present study suggests that melatonin treatment, either alone or in combination with exercise and/or HRT, upregulates SIRT1 expression and alleviates oxidative injury and inflammation in the hearts and aortas of OVX rats. Melatonin should be considered in alleviating cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevil Arabacı Tamer
- Department of Physiology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Basibüyük Mah. Maltepe Basibüyük Yolu No. 9/1, 34854, Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey.,Department of Physiology, Sakarya University School of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey.,Department of Physiology, Marmara University Institute of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tülin Altınoluk
- Department of Physiology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Basibüyük Mah. Maltepe Basibüyük Yolu No. 9/1, 34854, Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey.,Department of Physiology, Marmara University Institute of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Miray Emran
- Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Seda Korkmaz
- Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Zeynep Baykal
- Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Hilal Nişva Levent
- Department of Histology & Embryology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mürüvvet Abbak Ural
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey
| | - Meral Yüksel
- Marmara University Vocational School of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Özge Çevik
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey
| | - Feriha Ercan
- Department of Histology & Embryology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Alper Yıldırım
- Department of Physiology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Basibüyük Mah. Maltepe Basibüyük Yolu No. 9/1, 34854, Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Berrak Ç Yeğen
- Department of Physiology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Basibüyük Mah. Maltepe Basibüyük Yolu No. 9/1, 34854, Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Zhang M, Zhu D, Wan Y, He B, Ma L, Li H, Wen X, Huang R, Chen B, Xiong L, Gao F. Using 7.0 T cardiac magnetic resonance to investigate the effect of estradiol on biventricular structure and function of ovariectomized rats exposed to chronic hypobaric hypoxia at high altitude. Arch Biochem Biophys 2022; 725:109294. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2022.109294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Chen R, Wei J, Gao Y. A review of the study of active components and their pharmacology value in Lepidium meyenii (Maca). Phytother Res 2021; 35:6706-6719. [PMID: 34533247 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Lepidium meyenii (Maca) contains several active components, including alkaloids, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and sterols, which make it have the traditional therapeutic uses. In this paper, we summarized the analytical progress of the active components associated with alkaloids, polysaccharides, glucosinolates, sterols, free fatty acids, flavonoids, and natural phenols in Maca by mass spectrometry (MS). Due to the effect of color and type on active components in Maca, we summarized the study of quality evaluation about Maca according to the type and the content of active components such as glucosinolates, essential oils, macamides, and macaenes by MS. Additionally, the research on the change of active components in Maca at different growth stages by MS will be beneficial to full utilization of active components in Maca and other natural resources. We reviewed the study in the visible distribution of amino acids, amide alkaloids, imidazolium alkaloids, and saccharides in Maca by imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). We also reviewed the pharmacology value associated with improvement of reproductive function, anti-stress response, anti-osteoporosis, antitumor activity, clinical research and toxicity of Maca, and so forth. Nevertheless, due to individual differences and limitations of the subjects, further high-quality studies are needed to confirm the clinical efficacy of the plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Jinchao Wei
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yumei Gao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
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