The tuberous hypocotyl of the plant or root may be eaten raw or cooked, and dried and stored for years without serious deterioration. 11 Other studies document its use for regulation of hormonal secretion, immunostimulation, and memory improvement. 10 Ethnobotanical studies document the use of maca for depression, cancer, as well as menstrual and sexual disorders. Because of its claimed anabolic and aphrodisiac effects, maca is often referred to as the 'ginseng of the Andes' or 'Peruvian ginseng.' 1, 8, 9 Although its efficacy is not proven, some athletes have used maca as an alternative to anabolic steroids. 7 Indigenous people used maca to treat numerous conditions including anemia, tuberculosis, sterility, and fatigue. 6 Throughout the Inca empire, maca consumption was limited to the privileged classes and often given as a prize to warriors. Maca was domesticated at least 1,300 to 2,000 years ago 1 and used as an important food by native Andean people because of its high nutritional value as well as to enhance fertility and sexual performance. Maca is related to the common garden cress, Lepidium sativum L. 5 Although traditionally cultivated as a vegetable crop, its medicinal use has recently become more prominent in Peru. 3, 4 Maca and several related wild species are also found in the Bolivian Andes.

2 Maca has one of the highest frost tolerances of any cultivated plant, allowing it to grow at altitudes of 3,800 to 4,800 m above sea level in the puna and suni ecosystems, where only alpine grasses and bitter potatoes can survive. 1 Maca is cultivated in a narrow, high-altitude zone of the Andes Mountains in Peru, particularly near Carhuamayo and Junin. The hypocotyl can be a variety of colors, such as red, purple, cream, yellow, or black, and is 10 to 14 cm long and 3 to 5 cm wide a cold climate seems to be critical for its formation or growth. The underground portion of the plant, known as the hypocotyl, is a storage organ and is the part that is used commercially.

The aerial part of maca has 12 to 20 leaves, and the foliage forms a mat-like, creeping system of stems that grows close to the soil. The genus Lepidium belongs to the family Brassicaceae, which includes approximately 175 species. Its long-time use as a food product suggests low potential for toxicity. No adverse reactions were reported in an animal study with rats fed maca extract in doses up to 5 g/kg. Maca has been reported to have a low degree of acute oral toxicity in animals and low cellular toxicity in vitro. There is no evidence of adverse reactions with maca. Pregnancy/LactationДЄvoid use during pregnancy and lactation due to lack of safety and efficacy data.

Patients with thyroid conditions should avoid maca because glucosinolates taken in excess and combined with a low-iodine diet can cause goiter. Most commercial Web sites recommend a daily dose of 1 dried maca extract 450 mg capsule 3 times daily taken orally with food. Maca is available commercially in several dosage forms including powder, liquid, tablets, and capsules. Numerous studies on the aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties of maca are documented in scientific literature. Scientific Name(s): Lepidium meyenii Walp.Д¬ommon Name(s): Ayak chichira, Ayuk willku, Maino, Peruvian ginseng

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