Maca - Lepidium Meyenii

Date

September 27, 2024

Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source information

References: Proper name: USDA 2024, Gardner and McGuffin 2013; Common names: USDA 2024, Gardner and McGuffin 2013; Source information: Dording et al. 2008, Meissner et al. 2006.

Route of Administration

Oral

Dosage Form(s)

This monograph excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of Monographs Guidance Document.

Acceptable dosage forms for oral use are indicated in the dosage form drop-down list of the web-based Product Licence Application form for Compendial applications.

Use(s) or Purpose(s)

• Source of antioxidants/Provides antioxidants (Brooks et al. 2008; Vecera et al. 2007).
• Source of antioxidants/Provides antioxidants that help fight/protect (cell) against/reduce (the oxidative effect of/the oxidative damage caused by/cell damage caused by) free radicals (Brooks et al. 2008; Vecera et al. 2007).
• Helps to support emotional aspects of sexual health (Shin et al. 2010; Zenico et al. 2009; Brooks et al. 2008; Dording et al. 2008; Meissner et al. 2006, 2005; Gonzales et al. 2002).
• Helps to support healthy mood balance during menopause (Brooks et al. 2008; Meissner et al. 2006).

Notes:

• The above uses can be combined on the product label (e.g. Helps support healthy mood balance during menopause and emotional aspects of sexual health).
• The terms ‘Helps’ or ‘Helps to’ can be used interchangeably on the label.

Dose(s)

Subpopulation(s)

Adults 18 years and older.

Quantity(ies)

Methods of preparation: Dry, Powdered, Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract, Tincture, Fluid Extract, Decoction, Decoction concentrate, Infusion, Infusion concentrate)

Antioxidant

Not to exceed 3 grams dried root/hypocotyl, per day (Dording et al. 2008).

Mood balance during menopause

2 - 3.5 grams dried root/hypocotyl, per day (Brooks et al. 2008; Meissner et al. 2006).

Sexual health

3 - 3.5 grams dried root/hypocotyl, per day (Shin et al. 2010; Zenico et al. 2009; Brooks et al. 2008; Dording et al. 2008; Meissner et al. 2006; Meissner et al. 2005; Gonzales et al. 2002).

Direction(s) for use

No statement required.

Duration(s) of Use

Products providing 0.6 to 3 g dried root/hypocotyl, per day

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician for use beyond 3 months (Zenico et al. 2009; Dording et al. 2008; Meissner et al. 2006; Gonzales et al. 2002).

Products providing more than 3 g dried root/hypocotyl, per day

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician for use beyond 6 weeks (Brooks et al. 2008).

Risk Information

Caution(s) and warning(s)

All products

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Products providing 0.6 g or more dried root/hypocotyl, per day

• Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you have a blood pressure condition (Valentova et al. 2008).
• Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you are taking blood thinners (Gonzales and Gonzales-Castaneda 2009; Dording et al. 2008).

Healthy mood balance; Sexual health

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you have psychological disorders such as anxiety or depression (Brotto 2010; Gonzales and Gonzales-Castaneda 2009; Dording et al. 2008).

Contraindication(s)

No statement required.

Known adverse reaction(s)

No statement required.

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID) and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Storage conditions

Must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural Health Products Regulations.

Specifications

• The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) Quality of Natural Health Products Guide.
• The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the NHPID.

Example of Product Facts:

Consult the Guidance Document, Labelling of Natural Health Products for more details.

References Cited

• Brooks NA, Wilcox G, Walker KZ, Ashton JF, Cox MB, Stojanovska L. Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on physiological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen content. Menopause 2008;15(6):1157-1162.
• Brotto LA. The DSM diagnostic criteria for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women. Archives of Sexual Behavior 2010;39(2):221-239.
• Dording CM, Fsher L, Papakostas G, Farabaugh A, Sonawalla S, Fava M, Mischoulon D. A double-blind, randomized, pilot dose-finding study of maca root (L. meyenii) for the management of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction. CNS Neuroscience Therapy and Therapeutics 2008;14(3):182-191.
• Gardner Z, McGuffin M. editors. 2013. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook, 2^nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press.
• Gonzales GF, Gonzales-Castaneda GC. The Methyltetrahydro-{beta}-Carbolines in Maca (Lepidium meyenii). Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine 2009;6(3):315-316.
• Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Vega K, Chung A, Villena A, Gonez C, Costillo S. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia 2002;34(6):367-372.
• Meissner, Kapczynski, Mscisz, Lutomski. Use of Gelatinized Maca (Lepidium peruvianum) in Early Postmenopausal Women - a Pilot Study. International Journal of Biomedical Sciences 2005;1(1):33-45.
• Meissner, Reich-Bilinska, Kedzia. Therapeutic Effects of Pre-Gelatinized Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon) used as a non-hormonal alternative to HRT in perimenopausal women - Clinical Pilot study. International Journal of Biomedical Sciences 2006;2(2):143-159.
• Shin BC, Lee MS, Yang EJ, Lim H-S, Ernst E. Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2010;10(44):1-6.
• USDA 2024: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)- Global. U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. [Accessed 2024 January 8]. Available from: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch
• Valentova K, Stejskal D, Bartek J, Dvoráckova S, Kren V, Ulrichova J, Simanek V. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) and yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) in combination with silymarin as food supplements: in vivo safety assessment. Food and Chemical Toxicology 2008;46(3):1006-1013.
• Vecera R, Orolin J, Skottova N, Kazdova L, Oliyarnik O, Ulrichova J, Simaner V. The Influence of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) on Antioxidant Status, Lipid and Glucose Metabolism in Rat. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 2007;62(2):59-63.
• Zenico T, Cicero AF, Valmorri L, Merculiali M, Bercovich E. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Andologia 2009;41(2):95-99.

References Reviewed

• Baldwin DS. Depression and sexual dysfunction. British Medical Bulletin 2001;57:81-99.
• Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Gonzales C, Chung A, Vega K, Villena A. Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improved semen parameters in adult men. Asian Journal of Andrology 2001;3(4):301-303.
• Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Vega K, Chung A, Villena A, Gonez C. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy men. Journal of Endocrinology 2003;176(1):163-168.
• Herraiz T, Galisteo J. Tetrahydro-beta-carboline alkaloids occur in fruits and fruit juices. Activity as antioxidants and radical scavengers. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2003;51(24):7156-7161.
• Laumann, Paik, Rosen. Sexual Dysfunction in the United States: Prevalence and Predictors. Journal of the American Medical Association 1999;281(6):537-544.
• McCollom MM, Villinski JR, McPhail KL, Craker LE, Gafner S. Analysis of macamides in samples of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) by HPLC-UV-MS/MS. Phytochemical Analysis 2005;16(6):463-469.
• McKay D. Nutrients and botanicals for erectile dysfunction: Examining the evidence. Alternative medicine review 2004;9(1):4-16.
• Mehta K, Gala J, Bhasake S, Naik S, Modak M, Thakur H, Deo N, Miller S. Comparison of glucosamine sulfate and a polyherbal supplement for the relief of osteoarthritis of the knee. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2007;7(34):1-13.
• Piacente S, Carbone V, Plaza A, Zampelli A, Pizza C. Investigation of the tuber constituents of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.). Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2002;50:5621-5625.
• Sandoval M, Okuhama NN, Angeles MF, Melchor VV, Condezo AL, Lao L, Miller JSM. Antioxidant activity of the cruciferous vegetable Maca (Lepidemium meyenii). Food Chemistry 2002;79(2):207-213.
• Schumacher M et al. Novel perspectives for progesterone in hormone replacement therapy, with special reference to the nervous system. Endocrine Reviews 2007;28(4):387-439.
• Sloley BD, Urichuk LJ, Morley P, Durkin J, Shan JJ, Pang PK, Coutts RT. Identification of kaempferol as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and potential neuroprotectant in extracts of Ginkgo biloba leaves. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2000;52(4):451-459.
• Stone M, Ibarra A, Roller M, Zangara A, Stevenson A. A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmen. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2009;126(3):574-576.
• Valentova K, Buckiova D, Kren V, Peknicova J, Ulrichova J, Simanek V. The in vitro biological activity of Lepidium meyenii extracts. Cell Biology and Toxicology 2006;22(2):91-99.
• Valentova K, Ulrichova J. Smallanthus sonchifolius and Lepidum meyenii - Prospective Andean crops for the prevention of chronic diseases. Biomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia 2003;147(2):119-130.
• Zheng BL, He K, Kim CH, Rogers L, Shao Y, Huang ZY, Lu Y, Yan SJ, Qien LC, Zheng QY. Effect of a lipidic extract from Lepidium meyenii on sexual behavior in mice and rats. Urology 2000;55(4):598-602.

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