AIMTo evaluate the effect of the alcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on the spermatogenesis in male rats.

METHODSIn Holtzman rats, Maca alcoholic extract (5 %) was given by oral route at doses of 48 mg/day or 96 mg/day for 7 days, 14 days and 21 days. Testicular function was assessed by measurements of lengths of different stages of seminiferous epithelia and by epididymal sperm count.

RESULTSEthanolic extract of Maca increased the length of stages IX-XI of seminiferous epithelium at treatment day 7, day 14 and day 21. Progression of spermatogenesis was evident only after day 21 when lengths of stages XII-XIV of seminiferous epithelium were increased; at day 7 and day 14, no important change in spermatogenesis was observed. Epididymal sperm count was increased with 48 mg/day at all times. With 96 mg/day an increase in sperm count was observed at day 7, but it was reduced at day 14 and day 21 of treatment. Serum testosterone levels were not affected.

CONCLUSIONThe alcoholic extract of Maca activates onset ant progression of spermatogenesis at 48 mg/day or 96 mg/day in rats.

Animals ; Epididymis ; cytology ; Ethanol ; Lepidium ; chemistry ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Testosterone ; blood

AIMTo determine the effect of two different extracts of red maca in male rats.

METHODSProstatic hyperplasia was induced in male rats with testosterone enanthate (TE). The study comprised six groups: one control group (group 1), one group treated with TE (group 2), two groups treated with TE and aqueous extract of red maca (groups 3 and 4), one group treated with hydroalcoholic extract of red maca (group 5) and one group treated with finasteride (0.1 mg, group 6). Differences in the aqueous extract dependent on the length of time of boiling, whether for 2 or 3 hours, for groups 3 and 4 was assessed. Extracts of red maca contained 0.1 mg of benzylglucosinolate. Thereafter, a dose-response effect of different doses of benzylglucosinolates (0.02-0.08 mg) in red maca extracts was assessed.

RESULTSProstate weight was similar in rats treated with freeze-dried aqueous extract of red maca prepared after 2 and 3 hours of boiling. Freeze-dried aqueous extract of red maca, hydroalcoholic extract of red maca and finasteride reduced prostate weight in rats with prostatic hyperplasia. No difference was observed between the data obtained from aqueous extract or hydroalcoholic extract of red maca. A dose dependent reduction of prostate weight was observed with the increase of the dose of benzylglucosinolates in red maca extracts.

CONCLUSIONThe present study showed that hydroalcoholic or aqueous extract of red maca containing 0.1 mg of benzylglucosinolate can reduce prostate size in male rats in which prostatic hyperplasia had been induced by TE.

Alcohols ; Animals ; Finasteride ; therapeutic use ; Lepidium ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Prostate ; drug effects ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Rats ; Testosterone ; analogs & derivatives ; Thiocyanates ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Thioglucosides ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Water