Lepidium meyenii (Maca) does not exert direct androgenic activities

Maca is the edible root of the Peruvian plant Lepidum meyenii, traditionally employed for its purported aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties. This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that Maca contains testosterone-like compounds, able to bind the human androgen receptor and promote tran...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of ethnopharmacology 2006-04, Vol.104 (3), p.415-417
Main Authors: Bogani, P., Simonini, F., Iriti, M., Rossoni, M., Faoro, F., Poletti, A., Visioli, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Androgen receptor
Androgens - pharmacology
beta-Galactosidase - biosynthesis
beta-Galactosidase - genetics
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Line, Tumor
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
General pharmacology
Genes, Reporter
Glucocorticoids - metabolism
Humans
Lepidium
Lepidium meyenii
Luciferases - biosynthesis
Luciferases - genetics
Maca
Male
Medical sciences
Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent
Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Plant Extracts - pharmacology
Plant Roots
Prostatic Neoplasms
Receptors, Androgen - genetics
Receptors, Androgen - physiology
Response Elements
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Summary:Maca is the edible root of the Peruvian plant Lepidum meyenii, traditionally employed for its purported aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties. This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that Maca contains testosterone-like compounds, able to bind the human androgen receptor and promote transcription pathways regulated by steroid hormone signaling. Maca extracts (obtained with different solvents: methanol, ethanol, hexane and chloroform) are not able to regulate GRE (glucocorticoid response element) activation. Further experiments are needed to assess which compound, of the several Maca's components, is responsible of the observed in vivo effects.
ISSN:0378-8741
1872-7573
DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2005.09.028