MACA
Ayak Chichira, Ayuk Willku, Ginseng Andin, Ginseng Péruvien, Lepidium meyenii, Lepidium peruvianum, Maca Maca, Maca Péruvien, Maino, Maka, Peruvian Ginseng, Peruvian Maca.<br/><br/>
Uses & Effectiveness
Insufficient Evidence for
- Sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressant drugs. Early research suggests that taking maca twice daily for 12 weeks slightly improves sexual dysfunction in women taking antidepressants.
- Male infertility. Early research shows that taking a specific maca product (Maca Gelatinizada La Molina, Laboratories Hersil, Lima, Peru) daily for 4 months increases semen and sperm count in healthy men. But it's not clear if this results in improved fertility.
- Postmenopausal conditions. Research suggests that taking maca (Maca Powder Healthychoices, Murwillumbah, NSW, Australia) daily for 6 weeks slightly improves blood pressure and some aspects of mood, including depression and anxiety, in postmenopausal women. But benefits are very small.
- Sexual desire. Early research shows that taking a specific maca product (Maca Gelatinizada La Molina, Laboratories Hersil, Lima, Peru) daily for 12 weeks can increase sexual desire in healthy men.
- "Tired blood" (anemia).
- Leukemia.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
- Improving energy and athletic performance.
- Improving memory.
- Depression.
- Female hormone imbalance.
- Menstrual problems.
- Symptoms of menopause.
- Osteoporosis.
- Stomach cancer.
- Tuberculosis.
- Boosting the immune system.
- HIV/AIDS.
- Other conditions.
Side Effects & Safety
Maca is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken in amounts found in foods. Maca is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in larger amounts as medicine (up to 3 grams daily) for up to 4 months. Maca seems to be well tolerated by most people.Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking maca if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Extracts from maca might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, do not use these extracts.
Interactions
We currently have no information for MACA Interactions.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of maca depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for maca (in children/in adults). Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
REFERENCES:
- Deng, G., Lin, H., Seidman, A., Fornier, M., D'Andrea, G., Wesa, K., Yeung, S., Cunningham-Rundles, S., Vickers, A. J., and Cassileth, B. A phase I/II trial of a polysaccharide extract from Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom) in breast cancer patients: immunological effects. J.Cancer Res.Clin.Oncol. 2009;135(9):1215-1221. View abstract.
- Fukushima, M., Ohashi, T., Fujiwara, Y., Sonoyama, K., and Nakano, M. Cholesterol-lowering effects of maitake (Grifola frondosa) fiber, shiitake (Lentinus edodes) fiber, and enokitake (Flammulina velutipes) fiber in rats. Exp Biol Med (Maywood.) 2001;226(8):758-765. View abstract.
- Fullerton, S. A., Samadi, A. A., Tortorelis, D. G., Choudhury, M. S., Mallouh, C., Tazaki, H., and Konno, S. Induction of apoptosis in human prostatic cancer cells with beta-glucan (Maitake mushroom polysaccharide). Mol Urol 2000;4(1):7-13. View abstract.
- Gonmori, K. and Yokoyama, K. [Acute encephalopathy caused by cyanogenic fungi in 2004, and magic mushroom regulation in Japan]. Chudoku.Kenkyu 2009;22(1):61-69. View abstract.
- Gu, C. Q., Li, J. W., Chao, F., Jin, M., Wang, X. W., and Shen, Z. Q. Isolation, identification and function of a novel anti-HSV-1 protein from Grifola frondosa. Antiviral Res 2007;75(3):250-257. View abstract.
- Gu, C. Q., Li, J., and Chao, F. H. Inhibition of hepatitis B virus by D-fraction from Grifola frondosa: synergistic effect of combination with interferon-alpha in HepG2 2.2.15. Antiviral Res 2006;72(2):162-165. View abstract.
- Hong, L., Xun, M., and Wutong, W. Anti-diabetic effect of an alpha-glucan from fruit body of maitake (Grifola frondosa) on KK-Ay mice. J Pharm Pharmacol 2007;59(4):575-582. View abstract.
- Horio, H. and Ohtsuru, M. Maitake (Grifola frondosa) improve glucose tolerance of experimental diabetic rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol.(Tokyo) 2001;47(1):57-63. View abstract.
- Inoue, A., Kodama, N., and Nanba, H. Effect of maitake (grifolafrondosa) D-fraction on the control of the T lymph node Th-1/Th-2 proportion. Biol Pharm Bull 2002;25(4):536-540. View abstract.
- Ishibashi, K., Miura, N. N., Adachi, Y., Ohno, N., and Yadomae, T. Relationship between solubility of grifolan, a fungal 1,3-beta-D- glucan, and production of tumor necrosis factor by macrophages in vitro. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2001;65(9):1993-2000. View abstract.
- Kidd, P. M. The use of mushroom glucans and proteoglycans in cancer treatment. Altern.Med Rev. 2000;5(1):4-27. View abstract.
- Kodama, N., Komuta, K., and Nanba, H. Can maitake MD-fraction aid cancer patients? Altern.Med Rev 2002;7(3):236-239. View abstract.
- Kurashige, S., Akuzawa, Y., and Endo, F. Effects of Lentinus edodes, Grifola frondosa and Pleurotus ostreatus administration on cancer outbreak, and activities of macrophages and lymphocytes in mice treated with a carcinogen, N-butyl-N- butanolnitrosoamine. Immunopharmacol.Immunotoxicol. 1997;19(2):175-183. View abstract.
- Li, X., Rong, J., Wu, M., and Zeng, X. [Anti-tumor effect of polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa and its influence on immunological function]. Zhong.Yao Cai. 2003;26(1):31-32. View abstract.
- Lin, J. T. and Liu, W. H. o-Orsellinaldehyde from the submerged culture of the edible mushroom Grifola frondosa exhibits selective cytotoxic effect against Hep 3B cells through apoptosis. J Agric Food Chem 10-4-2006;54(20):7564-7569. View abstract.
- Manohar, V., Talpur, N. A., Echard, B. W., Lieberman, S., and Preuss, H. G. Effects of a water-soluble extract of maitake mushroom on circulating glucose/insulin concentrations in KK mice. Diabetes Obes.Metab 2002;4(1):43-48. View abstract.
- Matsui, K., Kodama, N., and Nanba, H. Effects of maitake (Grifola frondosa) D-Fraction on the carcinoma angiogenesis. Cancer Lett 10-30-2001;172(2):193-198. View abstract.
- Mayell, M. Maitake extracts and their therapeutic potential. Altern Med Rev 2001;6(1):48-60. View abstract.
- Miura, N. N., Ohno, N., Aketagawa, J., Tamura, H., Tanaka, S., and Yadomae, T. Blood clearance of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in MRL lpr/lpr mice. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 1996;13(1):51-57. View abstract.
- Nanba, H. Maitake D-fraction: Healing and preventing potentials for cancer. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients 1996;151/152:84-85.
- Ohno, N., Egawa, Y., Hashimoto, T., Adachi, Y., and Yadomae, T. Effect of beta-glucans on the nitric oxide synthesis by peritoneal macrophage in mice. Biol Pharm Bull 1996;19(4):608-612. View abstract.
- Okazaki, M., Adachi, Y., Ohno, N., and Yadomae, T. Structure-activity relationship of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans in the induction of cytokine production from macrophages, in vitro. Biol Pharm Bull 1995;18(10):1320-1327. View abstract.
- Preuss, H. G., Echard, B., Bagchi, D., Perricone, N. V., and Zhuang, C. Enhanced insulin-hypoglycemic activity in rats consuming a specific glycoprotein extracted from maitake mushroom. Mol.Cell Biochem 2007;306(1-2):105-113. View abstract.
- Sanzen, I., Imanishi, N., Takamatsu, N., Konosu, S., Mantani, N., Terasawa, K., Tazawa, K., Odaira, Y., Watanabe, M., Takeyama, M., and Ochiai, H. Nitric oxide-mediated antitumor activity induced by the extract from Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom) in a macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2001;20(4):591-597. View abstract.
- Sliva, D. Cellular and physiological effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi). Mini.Rev.Med Chem. 2004;4(8):873-879. View abstract.
- Spelman, K., Burns, J., Nichols, D., Winters, N., Ottersberg, S., and Tenborg, M. Modulation of cytokine expression by traditional medicines: a review of herbal immunomodulators. Altern.Med.Rev. 2006;11(2):128-150. View abstract.
- Chung, F., Rubio, J., Gonzales, C., Gasco, M., and Gonzales, G. F. Dose-response effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) aqueous extract on testicular function and weight of different organs in adult rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 4-8-2005;98(1-2):143-147. View abstract.
- Cui, B., Zheng, B. L., He, K., and Zheng, Q. Y. Imidazole alkaloids from Lepidium meyenii. J Nat Prod 2003;66(8):1101-1103. View abstract.
- Gonzales, C., Rubio, J., Gasco, M., Nieto, J., Yucra, S., and Gonzales, G. F. Effect of short-term and long-term treatments with three ecotypes of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on spermatogenesis in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2-20-2006;103(3):448-454. View abstract.
- Gonzales, G. F., Ruiz, A., Gonzales, C., Villegas, L., and Cordova, A. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) roots on spermatogenesis of male rats. Asian J Androl 2001;3(3):231-233. View abstract.
- Lee, K. J., Dabrowski, K., Rinchard, J., and et al. Supplementation of maca (
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