Lepidium meyenii (Maca) reduces spermatogenic damage induced by a single dose of malathion in mice

Bustos‐Obregón, Eduardo; Yucra, Sandra; Gonzales, Gustavo F.

doi:10.1111/j.1745-7262.2005.00006.x

Cited by 50 publications

(39 citation statements)

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“…L. meyenii has been shown to enhance libido and fertility by modulating the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, regulating hormone secretion, and regulating interaction between the glucosinolates and androgen receptor (AR) [51]. There is also improvement of epididymal sperm count [52] and daily sperm production in the rat [53], as well as protection of sperm vitality against some noxious agents such as reduced air oxygen saturation [54] or toxic agents [55,56]. In a study on nine young adults to evaluate the effect of a 4-month oral treatment with Maca tablets (1,500 or 3,000 mg/d) on seminal analysis, the authors observed a significantly increased seminal volume, sperm count per ejaculum, motile sperm count, and sperm motility without modification in sexual hormone serum level [57].…”

Section: Lepidium Meyenii (Maca)mentioning

confidence: 97%

Rise of Herbal and Traditional Medicine in Erectile Dysfunction Management

Tan

2011

Curr Urol Rep

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Herbal medicine long has been used in the management of sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction. Many patients have attested to the efficacy of this treatment. However, is it evidence-based medicine? Studies have been done on animal models, mainly in the laboratory. However, randomized controlled trials on humans are scarce. The only herbal medications that have been studied for erectile dysfunction are Panax ginseng, Butea superba, Epimedium herbs (icariin), Tribulus terrestris, Securidaca longipedunculata, Piper guineense, and yohimbine. Of these, only Panax ginseng, B. superb, and yohimbine have published studies done on humans. Unfortunately, these published trials on humans were not robust. Many herbal therapies appear to have potential benefits, and similarly, the health risks of various phytotherapeutic compounds need to be elucidated. Properly designed human trials should be worked out and encouraged to determine the efficacy and safety of potential phytotherapies.

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Section: Lepidium Meyenii (Maca)mentioning

confidence: 97%

Rise of Herbal and Traditional Medicine in Erectile Dysfunction Management

Tan

2011

Curr Urol Rep

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“…In 2001, maca was reported to increase sperm count in men [20]. Sperm Count: Scientific studies have shown that maca may increase daily sperm production (DSP), epididymal sperm count or vas deferens sperm count in both healthy rats [20,21] or when spermatogenesis was disturbed by different experimentally-induced abnormal conditions such as exposure to high altitude [22], injection of malathion [23], or administration of lead acetate [24].…”

Section: Male Reproductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lepidium meyenii(Maca): A Plant from the Highlands of Peru – from Tradition to Science

Gonzáles

Gonzales

Gonzales-Castañeda

2009

Forsch Komplementmed

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This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on Lepidium meyenii (maca), a cruciferous plant (Brassicaceae family) which is cultivated exclusively at an altitude of 4,000–4,500 m in the Peruvian Central Andes. Maca is traditionally used for its nutritional and presumed medici-nal properties. Over the past 20 years, interest in maca has increased in many parts of the world, and since 2005 maca is considered one of the seven Peruvian flag products. Maca is exported as powder, capsules, pills, flour, liquor, and extracts. There are different types of maca with differ-ent colors ranging from white to black. We have studied the pharmacological effects of 3 types; yellow, black, and red maca. Evidence from experimental studies indicates effects of maca on nutrition, fertility, memory, and mood. Black maca has better effects on sperm production than yellow maca which has only moderate effects. Red maca, however, has no effect on sperm production. However, red maca has been shown to reduce prostate size in rats in which prostate hyperplasia had been induced with testosterone enanthate; yellow maca has shown moderate effects here, whereas black maca has not shown any effects. Randomized clinical trials have shown that maca has favorable effects on energy and mood, may decrease anxiety and improve sexual desire. Maca has also been shown to improve sperm production, sperm motility, and semen volume. Serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, LH, FSH, and prolactin were not affected. The exact mechanisms of action are still unclear, but so far research clearly indicates that various bioactive constituents contribute to the clini-cal effects reported.

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“…It also induct an increase in testis size and stimulation of spermatogenesis in rats and mice (Cicero et al, 2001;Gonzales et al, 200lb;Cicero et al, 2002). Maca reduced spermatogenic damage in mice and prostate size in rats (Bustos-Obregon et al, 2005;Gonzales et al, 2005), restored homeostasis impaired by restraint stress in mice (López-Fanso et al, 2004), and improved growth rate and survival in rainbow trout (Lee K. J. et al, 2004(Lee K. J. et al, , 2005. In adult men, increases in sexual desire, sperm volume, total sperm count, and sperm motility were observed, but serum biochemical parameters-except for reproductive hormones-were not evaluated (Gonzales et al, 2001a(Gonzales et al, , 2002(Gonzales et al, , 2003a.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

The in vitro biological activity of Lepidium meyenii extracts

et al. 2006

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The biological activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts from dehydrated hypocotyls of Lepidium meyenii (Brassicaceae, vernacular name "maca"), was studied on rat hepatocytes and human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. The extracts did not exhibit cytotoxicity in hepatocyte primary cultures up to 10 mg/ml as measured by the MTT viability test, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) leakage. Moreover, after 72 h, extracts inhibited LDH and AST leakage from the hepatocytes. When hepatocytes were intoxicated by t-butyl hydroperoxide, neither extract prevented oxidative damage. Both extracts showed weak antioxidant activity in the DPPH radical scavenging test with IC(50) values of 3.46 +/- 0.16 and 0.71 +/- 0.10 mg/ml, for aqueous and methanolic extracts, respectively. Thus, the observed effect on spontaneous enzyme leakage is probably mediated through mechanisms other than antioxidant activity. Both methanolic and aqueous extracts have shown estrogenic activity comparable with that of silymarin in MCF-7 cell line. Maca estrogenicity was exhibited in the range from 100 to 200 mug of extract per ml. The findings in the present study show that maca does not display in vitro hepatotoxicity. In contrast, a slight cytoprotective effect, probably not mediated by antioxidant capacity, was noted. Maca extracts exhibited estrogenic activity comparably to the effect of silymarin in MCF-7 cells.

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Lepidium meyenii (Maca) reduces spermatogenic damage induced by a single dose of malathion in mice

Abstract: Maca enhances spermatogenesis following spermatogenic damage caused by the organophosphorous pesticide.

Cited by 50 publications

References 17 publications

Rise of Herbal and Traditional Medicine in Erectile Dysfunction Management

Rise of Herbal and Traditional Medicine in Erectile Dysfunction Management

Lepidium meyenii(Maca): A Plant from the Highlands of Peru – from Tradition to Science

The in vitro biological activity of Lepidium meyenii extracts

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