Dataset Information

Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is an Andean plant of the brassica (mustard) family. Preparations from maca root have been reported to improve sexual function. The aim of this review was to assess the clinical evidence for or against the effectiveness of the maca plant as a treatment for sexual dysfunction.

Methods

We searched 17 databases from their inception to April 2010 and included all randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of any type of maca compared to a placebo for the treatment of healthy people or human patients with sexual dysfunction. The risk of bias for each study was assessed using Cochrane criteria, and statistical pooling of data was performed where possible. The selection of studies, data extraction, and validations were performed independently by two authors. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion by the two authors.

Results

Four RCTs met all the inclusion criteria. Two RCTs suggested a significant positive effect of maca on sexual dysfunction or sexual desire in healthy menopausal women or healthy adult men, respectively, while the other RCT failed to show any effects in healthy cyclists. The further RCT assessed the effects of maca in patients with erectile dysfunction using the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction-5 and showed significant effects.

Conclusion

The results of our systematic review provide limited evidence for the effectiveness of maca in improving sexual function. However, the total number of trials, the total sample size, and the average methodological quality of the primary studies were too limited to draw firm conclusions. More rigorous studies are warranted.

SUBMITTER: Shin BC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2928177 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review.

Shin Byung-Cheul BC Lee Myeong Soo MS Yang Eun Jin EJ Lim Hyun-Suk HS Ernst Edzard E

BMC complementary and alternative medicine 20100806

<h4>Background</h4>Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is an Andean plant of the brassica (mustard) family. Preparations from maca root have been reported to improve sexual function. The aim of this review was to assess the clinical evidence for or against the effectiveness of the maca plant as a treatment for sexual dysfunction.<h4>Methods</h4>We searched 17 databases from their inception to April 2010 and included all randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of any type of maca compared to a placebo for the trea ...[more]

PMID: 20691074

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Project description:Lepidium meyenii or Maca is widely cultivated as a health care food supplement due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. Although there are a few in-depth studies evaluating Maca antihypertensive effects, the correlations between the chemical constituents and bioactivity of the plant have not been studied before. Thus, the roots were extracted using different solvents (aqueous, methanol, 50% methanol, and methylene chloride) and investigated for their antihypertensive and antioxidant activities through several in vitro assays. The methanolic extract exhibited the best renin and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 24.79 ± 1.3 ng/mL and 22.02 ± 1.1 ng/mL, respectively, along with the highest antioxidant activity. In total, 120 metabolites from different classes, e.g., alkylamides, alkaloids, glucosinolates, organic acids, and hydantoin derivatives, were identified in the methanolic extract using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC/HRMS). Molecular docking simulations were used to investigate the potential binding modes and the intermolecular interactions of the identified compounds with ACE and renin active sites. Glucotropaeolin, β-carboline alkaloids, succinic acid, and 2,4-dihydroxy-3,5-cyclopentyl dienoic acid showed the highest affinity to target the ACE with high docking scores (S ranging from -35.32 to -22.51 kcal mol-1) compared to lisinopril (S = -36.64 kcal mol-1). Interestingly, macamides displayed the greatest binding affinity to the active site of renin with docking scores (S ranging from -22.47 to -28.25 kcal mol-1). Further, β-carbolines achieved docking scores comparable to that of the native ligand (S ranging from -13.50 to -20.06 kcal mol-1). Molecular dynamics simulations and MMPBSA were also carried out and confirmed the docking results. Additionally, the computational ADMET study predicted that the compounds attaining promising docking results had proper pharmacokinetics, drug-likeness characteristics, and safe toxicological profiles. Ultimately, our findings revealed that Maca roots could be considered a promising candidate as an antihypertensive drug.

Dataset Information

Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review.

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