Lepidium meyenii
Maca
Lepidium meyenii, commonly known as Maca, is a resilient cruciferous plant native to the high altitudes of the Peruvian Andes. Renowned for its adaptogenic properties, this nutrient-dense root has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to enhance energy, balance hormones, and support overall vitality and reproductive health.
- Scientific name: Lepidium meyenii
- Family: Brassicaceae
- Native range: Southern America
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Brassicales | WCVP |
| Family | Brassicaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Lepidium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Lepidium meyenii, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Quechua, it is called Maka, while in French, it is known as Maca. It is referred to as Мака перуанская in Russian, and in Finnish, its name is andienkrauss. Additionally, in German, it is commonly called Maca.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| qu | Maka | Wikidata |
| fr | Maca | Wikidata |
| ru | Мака перуанская | Wikidata |
| fi | andienkrassi | Wikidata |
| de | Maca | Wikidata |
| sl | Maca | Wikidata |
| ja | マカ | Wikidata |
| el | Μάκα | Wikidata |
| lt | Peruvinė pipirnė | Wikidata |
| sv | Maca | Wikidata |
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northwest | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Chile North | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Maca, derives its medicinal potency primarily from its specialized underground structures. The most significant part used for therapeutic purposes is the root, specifically the fleshy, underground storage hypocotyls that accumulate nutrients. These nutrient-dense tubers serve as the reservoir for the plant's bioactive compounds, which are harvested and processed to create various tuber extracts. By focusing on these specialized roots, practitioners are able to utilize the concentrated energy stored within the plant's subterranean anatomy.- Total parts
- 13
- Scientific sources
- 16
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| root | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| underground storage hypocotyls | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tubers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tuber extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tuber | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rhizomes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypocotyls | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dry roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tubers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Lepidium meyenii has 54 reported phytochemicals identified across 66 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include glucosinolates, 1,3-dibenzyl-4,5-dimethylimidazolium chloride, 5-HT, Lepidiline A, fatty acids.
- Total chemicals
- 54
- Scientific sources
- 66
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| glucosinolates | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| 1,3-dibenzyl-4,5-dimethylimidazolium chloride | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-HT | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lepidiline A | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fatty acids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucosinolate | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| macamide | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sterols | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,3-dibenzyl-2,4,5-trimethylimidazolium chloride | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Lepidium meyenii has 18 reported activities identified across 29 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Adaptogen, Neuroprotective, Antidepressant, Aphrodisiac.
- Total activities
- 18
- Scientific sources
- 29
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Adaptogen | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidepressant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aphrodisiac | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anabolic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Androgenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Lepidium meyenii has 37 reported medicinal uses identified across 50 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include fertility, osteoporosis, antioxidant, cancer, depression.
- Total uses
- 37
- Scientific sources
- 50
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fertility | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| osteoporosis | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| depression | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Echinococcosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroblastoma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidepressant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |