Effects of a water extract of Lepidium meyenii root in different models of persistent pain in rats

Abstract

Lepidium meyenii (Walp.), commonly called maca, is an Andean crop belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Maca hypocotils are habitually consumed as customary food as well as traditional remedies for pathological conditions such as infertility. Moreover, the characterization of maca extracts revealed the presence of compounds that are able to modulate the nervous system. Aimed to evaluate the efficacy of L. meyenii in persistent pain, the present study analyzed the effects of a commercial root extract from maca in different animal models reproducing the most common causes of chronic painful pathologies. A qualitative characterization of this commercial extract by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry analyses allowed us to confirm the presence of some macamides known as bioactive constituents of this root and the absence of the main aromatic glucosinolates. The acute oral administration of maca extract is able to reduce mechanical hypersensitivity and postural unbalance induced by the intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetate and the chronic-constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. Furthermore, L. meyenii extract reverts pain threshold alterations evoked by oxaliplatin and paclitaxel. A good safety profile in mice and rats was shown. In conclusion, the present maca extract could be considered as a therapeutic opportunity to relieve articular and neuropathic pain.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Role of Nutraceuticals in the Management of Neuropathic Pain in In Vivo Studies

“…, commonly called Maca, belongs to the Brassicaceae family, and is able to restore the pain threshold alterations evoked by oxaliplatin and paclitaxel. For this reason, the compound could be considered a therapeutic opportunity to relieve neuropathic pain [ 73 ].…”

Aplicações Terapêuticas Da Lepidium Meyenii (Maca) E Seus Compostos Químicos: Uma Revisão Sistemática / Therapeutic Applications of Lepidium Meyenii (Maca) and Its Chemical Compounds: A Systematic Review

“…Ações anti-inflamatórias foram citadas, Tenci et al (2017) apontaram as macamidas e metabólitos lipofílicos de extratos da maca, como possível tratamento contra a dor osteoarticular e neuropática. Para Kitamura et al (2017), o composto químico 1,3-Bis(3-metoxibenzil), demonstrou ação analgésica esperada contra a dor inflamatória induzida em ratos.…”

Analgesic effects of medicinal plants and phytochemicals on chemotherapy‐induced neuropathic pain through glial modulation

“…Single oral administration of Lepidium meyenii (0.5, 1.5, 3, and 10 g/kg) reversed oxaliplatin (total 24 mg/kg, 10 times)‐induced cold hypersensitivity, and at doses of 1.5, 3, and 10 g/kg, showed efficacy against paclitaxel (total 8 mg/kg, 4 times)‐induced cold hypersensitivity (cold plate: 4 ± 1℃) on day 14 in mice. Lepidium meyenii treatment also attenuated pain behaviors in an osteoarthritis and nerve damage models 59 …”