Lepidium meyenii is commonly called maca. It grows in the high altitude regions of Peru and Bolivia, where it is harvested for its various medicinal effects. Maca is renowned for its effect on fertility and reproduction, and is considered by some as an aphrodisiac. However, there is evidence that maca may also have beneficial effects on mood, and may reduce anxiety and depression. For exasmple, in one study, researchers gave 3.3 grams per day of Maca for 6 weeks to a group of postmenopausal Chinese women. The results of the study showed that after 6 weeks, hormonal levels remained relatively unchanged, but there was a significant reduction in the blood pressure of the women, and also in the severity of their self reported depression. This study supports other studies that suggest that maca possesses mood elevating effects. Maca contains a number of phytochemicals that may be responsible for the effects including β-sitosterol, alkaloids, isothiocyanates and glucosinolates.
Maca contains the glucosinolate indoly-3-methyl (glucobrassicin). Indoly-3-methyl has been shown to modulate the androgen receptor in animals. This occurs when the compound is enzymatically hydrolyzed to 3,3-diindolylmethane (DIM), as this metabolite is known to be an antagonist of the androgen receptor. Image is of maca plants. Image from: By Vahe Martirosyan – https://www.flickr.com/photos/vahemart/29354035645/in/photolist-Lq4Xq7-KUBFMH-KUBDQM-KUqMKC-KUBBVV-LJv7uH-LyoM5o-KLS6Bs-LHV7yn-LHV77R-LAYZik-LHV6gc-LHV5tk, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54408048.
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