Everything about Lepidium Meyenii totally explained
Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacón) is an
herbaceous biennial plant or
annual plant (some sources say a
perennial plant) native to the high
Andes of
Peru. It is grown for its fleshy
hypocotyl (actually a fused hypocotyl and
taproot), which is used as a
root vegetable and a
medicinal herb. Its
Spanish and
Quechua names include
maca-maca,
maino,
ayak chichira, and
ayak willku.
Botanical characteristics
The growth habit, size, and proportions of the maca are roughly similar to those of the
radish and the
turnip, to which it's related. The stem is short and lies along the ground, with only the tips curling up. The frilly leaves are born in a
rosette at the soil surface, and are continuously renewed from the center as the outer leaves die. The off-white, self-fertile flowers are born on a central
raceme, and are followed by 4-5 mm
siliculate
fruits, each containing two small (2-2.5 mm) reddish-gray ovoid
seeds. The seeds, which are the plant's only means of reproduction,
germinate within five days, given good conditions, and have no dormancy.
Maca is the only member of its genus with a fleshy
hypocotyl, which is fused with the taproot to form a radish- or inverted-pear-shaped body roughly 10-15 cm long and 3-5 cm wide.
Maca is traditionally grown at altitudes of approximately 4,100 - 4,500 m. It grows well only in very cold climates with relatively poor soil. Although it has been cultivated outside the Andes it isn't yet clear that it has the same constituents or potency when this is done. Hypocotyls don't form in
greenhouses or in warm climates.
For approximately 2000 years maca has been an important traditional food and medicinal plant in its growing region. It is regarded as a highly nutritious food and as a medicine that enhances strength and endurance and also acts as an
aphrodisiac. During Spanish colonization maca was used as
currency.
Constituents
In addition to sugars and proteins, maca contains
uridine,
malic acid and its
benzoyl derivative, and the
glucosinolates, glucotropaeolin and m-methoxyglucotropaeolin. The
methanol extract of maca tuber also contained (1R,3S)-1-methyltetrahydro--carboline-3-carboxylic acid, a molecule which is reported to exert many activities on the
central nervous system. The
nutritional value of dried maca root is high, similar to
cereal grains such as
rice and
wheat. It contains 60%
carbohydrates, 10%
protein, 8.5%
dietary fiber, and 2.2%
fats. Maca is rich in essential minerals, especially
selenium,
calcium,
magnesium, and
iron, and includes
fatty acids including
linolenic acid,
palmitic acid, and
oleic acids, and 19 amino acids, as well as
polysaccharides. Maca's reported beneficial effects for sexual function could be due to its high concentration of proteins and vital nutrients,
Uses and preparation
Maca has been harvested and used by humans in the
Andean Mountains for centuries. It was eaten by
Inca warriors before battles, and was used a form of payment of
Spanish imperial taxes.
In
Peru, maca is prepared and consumed in several ways. The
hypocotyl can be roasted in a pit (called
matia). The root can also be
mashed and boiled to produce a sweet, thick liquid, dried and mixed with
milk to form a
porridge or with other vegetables or grains to produce a
flour that can be used in baking. If
fermented, a weak
beer called
chicha de maca can be produced. The
leaves can also be prepared raw in
salads or cooked much like
Lepidium sativum and
Lepidium campestre, to which it's genetically closely related.
Health effects
Maca is consumed as food for humans and livestock, suggesting any risk from consumption is rather minimal. However, maca does contain
glucosinolates, which can cause
goitres when high consumption is combined with a
diet low in
iodine. Though this is common in other foods with high levels of glucosinolate, it's uncertain if maca consumption can cause or worsen a goitre. Maca has also been shown to reduce enlarged
prostate glands in rats though its effects on humans are unknown.
Small-scale clinical trials performed in men have shown that maca extracts can heighten
libido and improve
semen quality, though no studies have been performed on men with
sexual dysfunction or
infertility. Maca hasn't been shown to affect sex
hormone levels in humans In addition, maca has been shown to increase mating behavior in male
mice and rats.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Lepidium Meyenii'.
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