Maca Data Sheet- Peruvian Heritage

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Maca has been one of the first plants tamed by the high-Andean residents. Historians indicate that Maca has been cultivated at least for 2,000 years, being used as a nutriment and medicine. Well-known chroniclers have indicated that Maca had an important role, due to its capability as physical, mental and sexual energiser, revitalising substance, fertiliser and regulator since the Inca Empire. This fact reveals it was used as a tribute for the Incas and leaders of the Spanish colony afterwards. Likewise, as an important part of the best Inca warriors’ food ration. At the present time, Maca is part of the nutrition of the NASA astronauts, and has been included in the FAO list of products to fight nutritional problems.

The word “Lepidium” comes from the Greek term “lepidio”, which means small flakes, in reference to the fruit’s flat appearance. According to Dr. Javier Pulgar Vidal the term Maca comes from two terms of the chibcha language. “MA”, which means from the altitude (what has been found or cultivated in the altitude) and “CA”, high, sublime, strengthening food, confirming its geographical position at great Andean altitudes and use of improving physical strength.

The Brassicaceae family has about 350 genera and 2,500 species. The Lepidium genus has around 130 species of cosmopolitan distribution, 15 of them inhabit the Peruvian territory. Maca is the only species of this class tamed in the Andes..

Peruvian Ginseng, Maca Maca, maino, ayak, huto huto, small flake.

Family	Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
Genus	Lepidium
Species	peruvianum Ch..
Parts used	Root
Zone	Central Andes of Peru, at 3,500 to 4,500 m.a.s.l, mainly at Meseta del Bombon (Plateau of Bombon) , Junin

Energiser, anti-stress and improves fertility

Energiser, stress reliever, revitalising substance, fertiliser, aphrodisiac, anaemia, convalescence, malnutrition, physical and mental fatigue, chronic fatigue, menopause problems, hormonal regulator, tonic, nutritive

Primary metabolites:
Maca is a highly protein rich food. It also has a large content of amino acids (18), carbohydrates (60-75%) and some vitamins (A, B1- thiamine, B2- riboflavin, B3, niacin, B6, B12, C, E, carotene), minerals and oligoelements including calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, magnesium, copper, sodium, potassium, selenium, boron, manganese and aluminium.

Secondary metabolites:
Alkaloids: Several alkaloids such as macaina, macaridina and macamides as well as Chacon alkaloids 1, 2, 3 and 4 have been identified
Fatty acids: lauric, mysitic, plamitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidic, behenic, nervonic, lignoceric, tridecanoic, 7-tridecanoic, pentadecanoic, 7-pentadecanoic, heptadecanoic, 9-heptadecanoic, nonadecanoic, 11-nonadecanoic, 15-eicosenoic
Sterols: campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, brassicasterol, ergosterol, ergostadienol
Glucosinolates: benzyl Isothiocyanat, p- methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate.
Steroid triterpenes and steroid type saponins
Phenolic compounds:
Tannins
Flavonoids: Coumarins, Anthocyanins
ß-ecdysone

Annual herbaceous plant, glabrous, having a 3 - 6 cm diameter and 5 - 14-cm long tuberous, napiform, swollen root. An extremely reduced and almost imperceptible main stem, with several secondary, inclined, decumbent branches, and dimorphic leaves.

The plant is externally characterised by a rosette of leaves at the vegetative stage and a big rosette of leaves and flowers at a generative stage, always well adhered to the surface. The actinomorphic and pedicellate flowers are displayed in whitish-cream colour racemes.

There are different ecotypes of maca, they differ from each other due to the external coloration of the root, ranging from light yellow to dark red, purple to black.
Maca is not a tuber.

Scientific studies are gradually confirming the effects attributed to this prodigious plant since the Incas. Maca is considered one of the plants with the highest international development potential.

Because of its multiple effects, it has a ample application field from improving athletes’ performance as far as fighting against infertility.

The effects demonstrated on fertility and sexual activity could be due to an action in the pituitary gland, in charge of sexual maturation. Likewise, Maca could activate the calcitonin hormone that regulates the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in the blood, secreted by the thyroid gland and the parahormone of the parathyroid gland.

Alkaloids of Maca could act as stimulants of the red globules formation and human and animal reproduction.

Fertilising effect and actions on the reproductive system:
The clinical study carried out by Gonzales from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (2001) demonstrates an 85% increase in the men’s total sperm count, as well as an increase in sperm motility and motile sperms quantity (over 100%) in men treated with Maca. This study has also proved that Maca treatment does not alter hormonal levels.
In a previous study performed with rats (2001), Gonzales demonstrated Maca’s beneficial effect of the rats’ spermatogenesis.
Numerous studies confirm Maca effects in mammals reproductive system. Some of the effects reported are: An increase of the number of Graaf follicles and ovules, increase of new-borns quantity, new-borns with higher weight, generating more robust and vigorous animals, decrease of breeding mortality at birth, among others.

Effect on the sexual activity:
The study performed by Zheng at Shenyang Medical College et al (2000) demonstrated an improvement of mice sexual function measured by the increase in number of complete intromissions of normal mice (4 times higher than the control group), increase in number of sperm-positive females (2.5 times higher than the control group) and the decrease of the latent period of erection (LPE) in rats with erectile dysfunction. The study conducted by Cicero et al from the University of Modena (2001) confirmed similar effects. Other studies also confirmed Macas’ effects with respect to the sexual activity, such as the increase of the rut occurrence in ovine livestock.

Anti-stress effect:
The study performed by Tapia at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (1998) demonstrates a greater resistance against stress development induced by electric discharges in mice as well as better ability reducing stress in animals fed with portions of Maca

Cytostatic effect:
The study performed by Retuerto et al at Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (1996) evidenced a decrease of the mitotic index in onion cells and a cytostatic effect in the roots treated with maca.

Nutritional value:
Maca has an amazing nutritional value. Its high protein content excels those from other plants. For example it has 5 times more proteins and 4 times more fibre than the potato, having less fat. It has an excellent 0.76 ratio of saturated to unsaturated fat (40.1% saturated fats, 52.7% unsaturated fat). Maca contains two of three essential fatty acids (oleic and linoleic). It also has a surprising amino acids profile, a total of 18 amino acids, including 7 of the 9 essential amino acids. Vitamin and mineral levels are considerable and in some cases they represent 100% of the recommended daily value. Finally, Maca is also an ideal supplement for sportsmen because of the natural sterols’ presence.

In the study performed by Arroyo (1997), the Average Lethal Dose LD50 was not determined, because no alteration neither macroscopic physical damage were observed at a highest dose administered to albino mice of 15,000 mg/kg corporal weight. The dose used was considered innocuous according to Williams’ criteria.