• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.153-157
• /
• 2008

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) has been used as a food and medicine in Peru for thousands of years. More recently a wide array of commercial maca products have gained popularity as dietary supplements with claims of anabolic and aphrodisiac effects. Even though the biologically active principles of maca are not fully known, the lipidic extract of maca tubers containing macamides showed promising physiological activities. In this study, the lipidic extract were collected from maca tubers by using supercritical carbon dioxide ($SCO_2$). Substance estimated as macamide in the extract was isolated and purified by preparative HPLC with recycling system. Two of the purified substance was identified as N-benzyl-5-oxo-6E,8E-octadecadienamide and N-benzylhexadecan amide by LC/MS, $^1H$-NMR and $^{13}C$-NMR analyses.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.283-289
• /
• 2008

Lepidium meyenii, known as Maca, is traditionally employed in the Andean region for its supposed properties to improve energy and fertility. In the present study, we investigated the effects of gelatinized and fermented Maca on improvement of physical stamina and epididymal sperm counts, and on blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue and tissue injury: creatine phosphokinase, aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, total cholesterol and total proteins. Adult male mice was divided at random into two main groups (resting and excercise groups). The excercise group was separated into three subgroups (exercise only, exercise with gelatinized Maca and fermented Maca-treatment groups). Gelatinized or fermented Maca (800 mg/kg) were orally administered for 30 days. All animals in exercise groups were subjected to daily 30-min swimming for 28 days 30 min after Maca treatment. Daily exercise decreased the body weight gain, and fermented Maca further attenuated the body weight increase. Gelatinized and fermented Maca significantly increased the maximum swimming time on 14 and 28 days of treatment (p<0.05), respectively, suggestive of a long-term stamina-enhancing effect of fermented Maca. Both Maca fully or significantly recovered blood parameters of energy as well as muscular and hepatocytic injuries changed by repeated exercise and maximum swimming performance (p<0.01). Moreover, gelatinized and fermented Maca increased epididymal sperm counts 22.0% and 32.0%, respectively. In conclusion, the results indicate potential benefits of Maca for improving both physical stamina by minimizing muscular and hepatic damage and preserving energy during swimming exercise and male reproductive function by increasing epididymal sperm counts.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
• /
• v.23 no.8
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2017

This study examined the components and physicochemical properties of Lepidium meyenii as a natural health food source. To accomplish this objective, the general and antioxidative contents of Lepidium meyenii were measured. Total contents of carbohydrates, crude protein, crude lipid, and ash were 56.04%, 33.77%, 1.49%, and 3.7%, respectively(dry wright basis). Total phenol contents of the 70% ethanolic extracts of Lepidium meyenii were 189.9 mg/g, 152.5 mg/g. Total flavonoid contents of the 70% ethanolic extracts were 166.0 mg/g, 78.2 mg/g. The antioxidative activities of Lepidium meyenii were significantly increased in a dose dependent manner on DPPH(1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging, ABTS (2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt) radical scavenging, FRAP(ferric reducing antioxidant power) activity, reducing power. The general nutrients and other antioxidant bioactive materials in Lepidium meyenii were also potential materials for good health food.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 2022

Maca roots (Lepidium meyenii) are an important medicinal herb that have long been used by the Andes-indigenous peoples and South Americans. In Korea, recently, it has attracted attention as a health food material because of nutritional values and physiological activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the industrial applicability of maca (red and golden varieties; R&G) as immunostimulating materials. In the macrophage stimulating assay using RAW 264.7 cells at 125~500 ㎍/mL of non-cytotoxicity doses, G-HW showed the most potent production of TNF-α, IL-6 and nitric oxide compared to red maca or the other extracts. The general component analysis results showed that all extracts comprised more than 90% neutral sugars with small amounts of uronic acid and protein. Meanwhile, component sugar analysis showed the difference in the content of uronic acids of cold- and hot-water extract. Additionally, the further fractionation of G-HW into crude polysaccharide (G-CP) greatly enhanced the macrophage stimulating activity, and G-CP contained macromolecules over 144 kDa, comprised mainly of glucose and galacturonic acid (51.0 and 34.9%). In conclusion, crude polysaccharide from maca showed industrial applicability as immunostimulating material, and especially golden maca showed higher macrophage stimulating activity than red maca.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.121-128
• /
• 2017

This study investigated the physicochemical, antioxidant activity, and sensory properties of yanggaeng (white bean jelly) prepared with various amounts of maca(Lepidium meyenii) powder. According to the results, $^{\circ}Brix$ value and pH of yanggaeng were decreased significantly by adding maca powder. Moisture contents of groups with 1% and 3% of maca powder were higher than that of control group. At the result of color measurement, L value of groups by the addition of maca powder was lower than that of control group, but b value of groups by the addition of Chinese artichoke powder was higher. Texture measurement score in terms of hardness, chewiness, and brittleness for yanggaeng was decreased significantly by the addition of maca powder. DPPH radical scavenging activity of groups by the addition of maca powder were higher than that of control group. NSA of groups with 7% of maca powder was higher than that of control group. As maca powder increased, antioxidant activity also became bigger. Sensory evaluation scores in terms of after swallowing, appearance, odor, taste, texture, and overall preference of groups with 3% and 5% of maca powder did show significant differences when compared to the control group. The results of this study suggested that addition of 5% maca powder was the best substitution ratio for yanggaeng.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.129-137
• /
• 2020

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Ultrasonication-Assisted (UA) extraction on the functionality of the herbaceous biennial plant maca (Lepidium meyenii). The specific objectives include comparison of the antioxidant activities among various maca extracts, determination of the macamide B content of the extracts, and in vitro evaluation of maca on cell viability and creatine kinase (CK) activity. The antioxidant activities of the water, ethanol, and UA extracts were compared by determining the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the extracts. The macamide B content of maca extracts were analyzed by HPLC. The effects of the extracts on muscle cell viability and creatine kinase activity were also determined using C2C12 myoblasts. UA extraction significantly increased the total phenolic content (2.90 GAE ㎍/mg, p < 0.05), without affecting the flavonoid content. DPPH radical scavenging activity did not exhibit any statistical difference among the extracts. The ethanol and UA extracts exhibited significantly higher FRAP than the water extract (p < 0.05). The macamide B content of ethanol and UA extracts were 0.087 and 0.083 ㎍/mg, respectively. The water and UA extracts exhibited higher C2C12 muscle cell viability than the ethanol extract, and both extracts resulted in a significantly lower CK level than the H₂O₂-treated control group. This research suggests that the maca extract can protect muscle cells and serve as an antifatigue agent under oxidative stress conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.382-391
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to find out the bakery processing suitability of maca and to develop rice-based processed foods. We investigated the antioxidant activity and physicochemical properties of rice cookies prepared with the addition of maca (Lepidium meyenii) powder (1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% of the total materials). We observed an increase in the total polyphenol and flavonoid content, and DPPH-ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activity of the rice cookies as the proportion of added maca powder increased (p<0.05). The quality characteristics such as the "a" value, "b" value, and the hardness of the cookies increased with an increase in the proportion of maca powder (p<0.05) in the cookie, whereas the moisture content, pH of the dough, spread ratio, loss rate, leavening rate, and "L" values showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). In the sensory evaluation results, consumer acceptability showed a significantly higher value in the 2% maca cookie group (p<0.05), and the characteristic intensity rating (color, flavor, bitterness) increased as the proportion of maca added to the cookie increased (p<0.05). Therefore, this suggests that adding 2% maca powder as the functional ingredient in rice cookies can result in rice bakery products with excellent qualities.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.485-491
• /
• 2010

With an increase in the number of people suffering from ageing-related diseases in our rapidly aging society, interests in natural products such as maca(Lepidium meyenii), which has properties of enhancing cognition and sexual performance, have increased. This study was conducted to assess the effects of 7 weeks of maca extract supplementation(0.5~2.0 g/kg BW) on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice and on sperm count in male mice. All doses of maca supplementation significantly protected against scopolamine-induced amnesia as determined by a Morris water maze, but not according to passive avoidance tests. Maca supplementation did not affect acetylcholinesterase activity in the whole brain, nor the testicular sperm count of male mice. This study suggests that maca may have some neuroprotective properties in mice, which will be further examined by future studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.361-368
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was to establish the best optimized extraction condition for the optimal development of fresh maca beverage using low temperature extraction and enzyme treatment. Low temperatures were applied to prevent heat-related nutritional loss during the extraction process. Best extraction conditions were investigated based on the ratio of maca to water, the ratio of enzymes, extraction temperature and time, and agitation. The optimal enzyme conditions were also examined after the treatment of cellulase:pectinase mixture to maintain the original color and flavor, as well as to increase the extraction yield. When cellulase:pectinase was 1:1, the extraction rate ranged from 77.84 to 79.29%. In addition, the best extraction rate was found when maca was mixed with twice volume of water and incubated at $45^{\circ}C$ ($84.05{\pm}0.32%$) with 90 rpm ($87.13{\pm}0.46%$) agitation for 3 hours ($84.73{\pm}0.29%$). Furthermore, sensory evaluation showed a high score in flavor, sweetness, and overall acceptability after adding 3% jujube concentrate into a fresh maca beverage.

• Food Industry And Nutrition
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.19-24
• /
• 2009