Lepidium Meyenii

Botanical Description:

It is an annual herbaceous plant. The root is tuberose -i.e., swollen- a word that comes from tuber in Latin. Its stems are underground and measure 10 to 14 cm in length and 3 to 5 cm in diameter in the widest part; they measure 15 cm in circumference. The plant presents a big quantity of white rootlets reaching up to 15 cm in length, extended in all directions. With hard consistency, it is found in two types of colors: yellow and purple. Its main stem is reduced, almost imperceptible. Its leaves are extreme basal and measure 20 to 23 cm in length. Their petioles are strong and can reach over 10 cm in length. Its scalloped leaves lean towards the ground. The limb is bipinnatifid, 8 to 13 cm long and 3 cm wide in the distal part. The secondary stems form the branches and are 10 to 16 cm long. The leaves are reduced caulinar, alternate and spread. The bases are 5 cm long and are bipinnatifid, the intermediate ones are 3 cm long and are also bipinnatifid, and the apical ones, slightly parted, are 1 to 2 cm long.

Traditional uses:

• As food: The root is previously dried and then decocted in order to be used. The leaves are consumed as a complement for salads.
• As liquor: The decocted roots are macerated and blended to prepare a cocktail.
• As tonic: The root is considered an excellent tonic by the Andean people.
• Antirachitic
• Antianemic
• To fight against the alterations in the menstrual and/or hormonal cycle.
• In ethnoveterinary: It is administered to animals in order to increase their fertility and put them in estrus.

Clinical studies:

The preliminary observations of the pharmacological studies were positive in the sense that the histological findings in rats show a clear and defined stimulation of the maturation of follicles. An increase in the quantity of spermatozoids in the seminiferous tubes, as well as an increase of mitosis and espermatogonia is observed in the females and males. In laboratory animals, it has shown a positive effect as a food and as a medicine, with benign effects on blood and the reproductive system, thus scientifically confirming the Andean people's belief about its medicinal kindness in human and animal development. The action of the alkaloids, calcium and iron of maca could be used to fight against anemia and as stimulants in the formation of red corpuscles and in human and animal reproduction. It could also be used to help fighting against certain illnesses currently being researched, such as leukemia, aids, alcoholism, menopause anemia and other blood-referred illnesses.

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