Effect of gamma irradiation on phenol content, antioxidant activity and biological activity of black maca and red maca extracts (Lepidium meyenii walp)

Abstract

This study was performed to determine the effects of gamma irradiation on UV spectrum on maca, total content of polyphenols, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activities and in vivo biological activities of red and black maca extracts (Lepidium meyenii). Adult mice of the strain Swiss aged 3 months and weighing 30-35 g in average were used to determine biological activities. Daily sperm production, effect on testosterone-induced prostate hyperplasia and forced swimming test were used to determine the effect of irradiation on biological activities of maca extracts. Irradiation did not show differences in UV spectrum but improves the amount of total polyphenols in red maca as well as in black maca extracts. In both cases, black maca extract has more content of polyphenols than red maca extract (p < 0.01). Gamma irradiation significantly increased the antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). No difference was observed in daily sperm production when irradiated and nonirradiated maca extract were administered to mice (p > 0.05). Black maca extract but not red maca extract has more swimming endurance capacity in the forced swimming test. Irradiation of black maca extract increased the swimming time to exhaustion (p < 0.05). This is not observed with red maca extract (p > 0.05). Testosterone enanthate (TE) increased significantly the ventral prostate weight. Administration of red maca extract in animals treated with TE prevented the increase in prostate weight. Irradiation did not modify effect of red maca extract on prostate weight (p > 0.05). In conclusion, irradiation does not alter the biological activities of both black maca and red maca extracts. It prevents the presence of microorganisms in the extracts of black or red maca, but the biological activities were maintained.

Maca extracts and estrogen replacement therapy in ovariectomized rats exposed at high altitude

“…38 It has been reported that antioxidant capacity of alkaloids are more relevant than polyphenols metabolites in L. Meyenii, 39 and black maca presents a higher antioxidant activity than red maca. 40 Therefore, these findings suggest that treatment with maca extracts or estradiol replacement causes a recovery from the imbalance of oxidative stress in the menopausal model of OVX rats exposed to hyperbaric hypoxia.…”

“…On the other hand, chemical composition of L meyeni shows polyphenols, glucosinolates, alkamides, and non‐starch polysaccharides which have potent antioxidant activity in vitro 36 can also increase the cellular antioxidant status of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione s‐transferase levels in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats, 37 or even in alcoholic mice 38 . It has been reported that antioxidant capacity of alkaloids are more relevant than polyphenols metabolites in L. Meyenii , 39 and black maca presents a higher antioxidant activity than red maca 40 . Therefore, these findings suggest that treatment with maca extracts or estradiol replacement causes a recovery from the imbalance of oxidative stress in the menopausal model of OVX rats exposed to hyperbaric hypoxia.…”

Ultraviolet light assisted extraction of flavonoids and allantoin from aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Symphytum officinale

“…Moreover, g-rays significantly increased the antioxidant activity of the polyphenols of the red and black maca extracts ( Lepidium meyenii walp ) and UV-C irradiation increase the total flavonoids and the reducing power of the fresh cut mango ( Mangifera indica L. cv. Chokanan) [ 17 , 18 ]. Therefore, our encouraging results may utilize to use UV-irradiation to enhance the extraction of the antioxidants as an assisted method of extraction using aqueous media.…”

Antioxidants in Maca (Lepidium meyenii) as a Supplement in Nutrition

“…Black maca has more total phenols than red and yellow maca. Despite black maca shows more antioxidant activity than red maca, the methanol extract of yellow maca presents more DPPH scavenging activity than that of black maca [6,7]. When compared to yellow, pink, violent and lead hypocotyls, total phenols are highest in yellow maca ( Table 1) [8].…”