Scientific Name: Lepidium meyenii (synonym: Lepidium peruvianum)                                          Family Brassicaceae/Cruciferae ther Common Names                                                  Ayak Chichira, Ayuk  Willku, Ginseng Andin, Ginseng Péruvien, Maca Maca, Maca Péruvien,  Maino, Maka, Peruvian Ginseng, Peruvian Mac                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                           

Maca is a root vegetable that grows  in the Andes mountains, especially in Peru, at an elevation of 3700-4500  meters (40231, 60705, 104516). The root occurs in three colors (red, yellow, and black) and has been eaten baked, roasted, or in soup for over 3000 years (9926, 40231, 104516). Traditionally, it has been used for improving the fertility of humans and livestock (9925, 9926).                                 

Likely Safe when maca is consumed in food amounts (9926).                                                             

Possibly Safe when  used orally and appropriately, short term. Maca appears to be safe in  doses up to 3 grams daily for  4 months (9928, 10218, 18289, 90278, 108603).                                                             

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.                                                             

Orally,  no adverse effects have been reported with the medicinal use of maca.  However, a thorough evaluation of safety outcomes has not been  conducted.

It is unclear if oral maca is beneficial for age-related testosterone deficiency.

Although  there has been interest in using oral maca for amenorrhea, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of maca for  this purpose.

Although  there has been interest in using oral maca for anemia of chronic  disease, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical  effects of maca for this purpose.

It is unclear if oral maca is beneficial in patients with sexual dysfunction due to antidepressants.

It is unclear if oral maca is beneficial for athletic performance.

Although  there has been interest in using oral maca for CFS, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of maca for  this purpose.

Although  there has been interest in using oral maca for depression, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of maca for  this purpose.

Although  there has been interest in using oral maca for fatigue, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of maca for  this purpose.

Although  there has been interest in using oral maca for leukemia, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of maca for  this purpose.

It is unclear if oral maca is beneficial for male infertility.

Although  there has been interest in using oral maca for memory, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of maca for  this purpose.

Although  there has been interest in using oral maca for osteoporosis, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of maca for  this purpose.

It is unclear if oral maca is beneficial for postmenopausal conditions.

It is unclear if oral maca improves male sexual desire; it has not been evaluated for female sexual desire.

Although  there has been interest in using oral maca for tuberculosis, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of maca for  this purpose.

More evidence is needed to rate maca for these uses.

Maca has been used in doses of 1.5-3.5 grams daily, usually in divided doses, for 6-16 weeks. See Effectiveness section for condition-specific information.

Two classes of polyunsaturated fatty acids, macaenes and macamides, are used as marker compounds for maca (9926).  Analysis of commercially available maca products shows that the  percentage of total macaenes and macamides in preparations varies from  0.15% to 0.84% (9926).

In one clinical trial, the maca sample contained the macamides  N-benzyl-palmitamide 42.2 mg/gram, N-benzyl-stearamide 10.6 mg/gram,  N-benzyl-oleamide 16.4 mg/gram, N-(methoxy-benzyl)-oleamide 2.4 mg/gram,  N-benzyl-linoleamide 49.8 mg/gram, N-(methoxy-benzyl)-linoleamide 7.3  mg/gram, N-benzyl-linoleniamide 53.5 mg/gram,  N-(methoxy-benzyl)-linoleniamide 4.1 mg/gram, and  N-(methoxy)-benzylpalmitamide 4.4 mg/gram (90278).

 There is insufficient reliable information available about the presentation or treatment of overdose with maca.   There is insufficient available evidence about the pharmacokinetics of maca.

The  applicable part of maca is the root. Dried maca root contains 55% to 60%  carbohydrates; 10% to 12% protein; 8% to 9% fiber; and 2% to 3% lipids,  including linolenic, palmitic, and oleic acids. It also contains  sterols such as campesterol, stigmasterol, and beta-sitosterol, and  significant amounts of minerals including iron, calcium, copper, and  zinc, as well as amino acids and B, C, and E vitamins (9929, 40231, 90606, 104516).

Two classes of polyunsaturated fatty acids, macaenes and macamides, are used as marker compounds for maca (9926).  Analysis of commercially available maca products shows that the  percentage of total macaenes and macamides in preparations varies from  0.15% to 0.84% (9926).

Maca also contains glucosinolates, including glucotropaeolin (9927, 9929, 60714).  The major components of the steam-distilled essential oil of maca are  phenyl acetonitrile (85.9%), benzaldehyde (3.1%), and  3-methoxyphenylacetonitrile (2.1%) (60707).  Other constituents of maca include (5-oxo-(6E,8E)-octadecadienoic  acid), lepidiline A and B,  (1R,3S)-1-methyltetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, and  macaridine (9927, 60704, 60708).

Animal  research in mice shows that pretreatment with maca extract before  strenuous exercise may reduce post-exercise levels of serum lactate  dehydrogenase, lactic acid, and blood urea nitrogen when compared with a  control group. These effects were similar to those seen with caffeine (108602).

In  animal research, maca extract improved several markers associated with  stress including ulcers, elevated corticosterone levels, and adrenal  weights (60730).

Maca contains glucosinolates, which might have cancer-protecting properties (9927, 9929).

In animal models of depression, maca and maca-derived extracellular vesicles (Maca-EVs) improve depressive behaviors (60724, 116973). Maca-EVs improve neurotransmitter levels, including serotonin, possibly by modulating the gut-brain axis (116973).

In  vitro research in muscle cell models designed to simulate  exercise-induced oxidative damage shows that maca extract may attenuate  oxidative effects by preventing the inhibition of dehydrogenase activity  and preserving mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. Research in  mice shows that pretreatment with maca extract before strenuous exercise  may reduce oxidative stress-induced muscle damage by decreasing levels  of reactive oxygen species in both blood and muscle (108602).

Maca contains glucosinolates, which might have central nervous system effects (9927, 9929).  The carboline, (1R,3S)-1-methyltetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic  acid, found in maca has been reported to exert many activities on the  central nervous system (9927).

In animal research, maca reduced time required to find water, suggesting beneficial effects on memory (60724).

In  animal research, maca extracts increased swimming activity and improved  recovery from muscle fatigue based on production of lactic and malonic  acids (60732).  Other animal research in mice shows that administration of maca extract  daily for 4 weeks improves grip strength and exercise endurance more  than a control group and similarly to caffeine. Maca also appears to  attenuate exercise-induced muscle fatigue and stress by increasing  muscle concentrations of coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide  (NAD+) and NAD(H) and reducing markers of inflammation and oxidative  stress (108602).

In female animals, maca extract increased litter size (60718). However, in other animal research it did not increase implantation of embryos (60709).

In an  animal model of metabolic syndrome, maca root extract protects against  liver damage as shown by improved liver function tests and  histopathological analysis (116975).

In animal research, diets supplemented with maca resulted in increased leukocyte counts (60733).  Similarly, a small study in mice with immunocompromise due to  cyclophosphamide suggests that maca polysaccharides improve immune cell  counts, including white blood cells, CD4+ T cells, interleukin-2, and  interferon-gamma when compared with control (112013). However, in human research, maca did not affect levels of cytokines involved in immunity (90606).

In an animal model of metabolic syndrome, maca root extract mitigates hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and weight gain(116975).

In animal research, maca extract prevented bone loss associated with estrogen deficiency (60722).

Maca  and extracts containing macaene and macamide seem to increase sexual  activity and correct erectile dysfunction in animal models. The  mechanism for this activity is unknown (10218, 60700, 60702, 60706). Also in animal models, maca increases spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm count (60710, 60711, 60715, 60723), as well as the weight of the testis and epididymis (60703). However, when different types of maca are compared in rats, only the black variety appears to improve spermatogenesis (60719).

Most  research suggests that maca is not beneficial for male infertility.  Maca does not appear to significantly affect serum concentrations of  reproductive hormones including testosterone, estradiol, and  17-hydroxyprogesterone in healthy males (10219, 112012).  In males with various combinations of oligospermia, asthenospermia,  teratospermia, and azoospermia, taking yellow maca 2.8 grams daily for  16 weeks also does not appear to significantly affect serum  concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone,  prolactin, estradiol, or testosterone (108603).  However, animal research in rats with monosodium glutamate  (MSG)-induced subfertility suggests that maca may partially improve  sperm motility(116976).

Reproductive  effects of maca in females may differ. Estrogenic effects of maca have  been shown in laboratory research in human breast cancer cell lines (18290). Also, in animal research, maca resulted in increased progesterone, but not estrogen, levels in females (60709) and increased testosterone levels in males (60709).

Adaptogens,                                     Testosterone Enhancers  

See Monograph References  

Literature Review Current Through: 5/18/2026, Last Updated: 7/5/2026

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