Issue 1, 2020

Medicinal effects of Peruvian maca (Lepidium meyenii): a review

Abstract

Peruvian maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a root native to the Andean region, cultivated for at least 2000 years. Maca is rich in fiber, a large number of essential amino acids, fatty acids, and other nutrients, including vitamin C, copper, iron, and calcium. Besides these essential nutrients, this root contains bioactive compounds responsible for benefits to the human body, which has caused a considerable increase in its consumption in the last 20 years worldwide. This review documents the Peruvian maca composition and the recent findings regarding the medicinal effects of this root in sexual dysfunction regulation, neuroprotective effects, action in memory enhancement, antidepressant, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory activities, and skin protection.

Graphical abstract: Medicinal effects of Peruvian maca (Lepidium meyenii): a review

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
19 Nov 2019
Accepted
13 Dec 2019
First published
17 Jan 2020

Food Funct., 2020,11, 83-92

Medicinal effects of Peruvian maca (Lepidium meyenii): a review

N. da Silva Leitão Peres, L. Cabrera Parra Bortoluzzi, L. L. Medeiros Marques, M. Formigoni, R. H. B. Fuchs, A. A. Droval and F. A. Reitz Cardoso, Food Funct., 2020, 11, 83 DOI: 10.1039/C9FO02732G

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