Maca

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Peruvian-ginseng

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lepidium meyenii var. affine
• Lepidium weddellii
• Lepidium meyenii subsp. gelidum
• Lepidium gelidum
• Lepidium meyenii f. rotundatum
• Lepidium affine
• Lepidium meyenii f. rhombicum
• Lepidium meyenii var. gelidum
• Lepidium peruvianum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, scientifically known as Lepidium meyenii, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Brassicales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Brassicaceae and falls under the genus Lepidium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to the diverse landscapes of Western and Southern South America. Within the western region, its presence is specifically documented in the countries of Bolivia and Peru. Moving toward the southern part of the continent, it can be found throughout the Northwest region of Argentina. Its distribution also extends into the northern territories of Chile. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's preference for the varied terrains of the Andean area.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lepidium meyenii is characterized by its specialized adaptation to high-altitude alpine environments, where it thrives within a specific vertical distribution. This species is primarily found in montane and puna ecosystems, occupying an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 3000 m AMSL to a maximum of 4700 m AMSL. Within this high-elevation niche, the plant must withstand intense solar radiation, significant diurnal temperature fluctuations, and potentially thin, rocky soils. Its ability to persist across this 1700-meter altitudinal gradient indicates a robust physiological tolerance to the hypoxic and cold conditions typical of these high-Andean habitats.

Elevational range max:

4700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

3000 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Lepidium meyenii is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its natural environment through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial plant, it does not complete its life cycle in a single year like annuals or two years like biennials; instead, it establishes a long-term presence, often developing robust root systems that facilitate survival across varying climatic cycles. This perennial nature enables the plant to endure environmental fluctuations and engage in repeated cycles of vegetative growth and reproductive stages, contributing to its long-term stability within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lepidium meyenii is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, typically reaching a mean plant height of approximately 0.1 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows in soil environments rather than aquatic or epiphytic habitats, maintaining an independent lifestyle without acting as a parasite. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, lacking the climbing mechanisms of vines or lianas, and its vegetative architecture is defined by its herbaceous, non-woody nature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lepidium meyenii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. This metabolic approach dictates its energy acquisition strategy and environmental adaptations. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil rather than forming symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lepidium meyenii is driven by a combination of biotic mechanisms and specific pollination strategies. The plant primarily relies on biotic pollination syndromes to ensure successful fertilization. Within this framework, the pollination process is significantly facilitated by insects, which serve as the key vectors for pollen transfer. The reproductive cycle is further supported by the presence of self-fertilization, allowing the plant to maintain its population even under varying environmental conditions. Through these integrated biological processes, Lepidium meyenii effectively manages its genetic dispersal and reproductive success.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lepidium meyenii has 2 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, rhizome.

Root

1. Natural product research
2. Fitoterapia
3. ACS omega
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Rhizome

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Lepidium meyenii has 109 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Glucosinolates, Glucotropaeolin, LEPIDILINE A, Macamide, 1,3-dibenzyl-4,5-dimethylimidazolium chloride.

Glucosinolates

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural products and bioprospecting
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. International journal of biomedical science : IJBS
5. Biomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia

Glucotropaeolin

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of biomedical science : IJBS
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. ACS omega
5. Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS

LEPIDILINE A

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecular nutrition & food research
3. Journal of natural products

Macamide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function
3. ACS omega

1,3-dibenzyl-4,5-dimethylimidazolium chloride

1. Journal of natural products
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

5-HT

1. iMeta
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function

Fatty acids

1. ACS omega
2. Food & function

Glucoalyssin

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Activities

Lepidium meyenii has 376 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Adaptogen, Antidepressant, Aphrodisiac.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. ACS omega
3. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
4. Andrologia
5. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
3. Food & function
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Adaptogen

1. Biomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Food & function

Aphrodisiac

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia
3. Andrologia

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Andrologia

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food chemistry

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. ACS omega

Immunostimulant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia

Conditions

Lepidium meyenii has 37 reported investigations on conditions identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include fertility, osteoporosis, antioxidant, cancer, depression.

Fertility

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Biomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia
4. Forschende Komplementarmedizin (2006)
5. Nutrients

Osteoporosis

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Chinese medicine
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Molecular biology reports

Antioxidant

1. Food & function
2. Food chemistry

Cancer

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Depression

1. iMeta
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Echinococcosis

1. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)

Neuroblastoma

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidepressant

1. Food & function

Antihypertensive

1. ACS omega

Anxiety

1. Forschende Komplementarmedizin (2006)

Preparations

Lepidium meyenii has 17 reported preparations identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanolic extract, 50% ethanolic extracts, 50% methanol, Extracts obtained with ethanol, Extracts obtained with ethyl acetate.

Methanolic extract

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

50% ethanolic extracts

1. International journal of molecular sciences

50% methanol

1. ACS omega

Extracts obtained with ethanol

1. Food chemistry

Extracts obtained with ethyl acetate

1. Food chemistry

Lepidium meyenii extracts

1. Andrologia

Aqueous

1. ACS omega

Crude extracts

1. Andrologia

Dry hypocotyls

1. Phytochemistry

Fat-soluble extraction

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials