Antioxidant and neuroprotector effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) methanol leaf extract against 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA)-induced toxicity in PC12 cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are normally produced during cell metabolism, there is strong evidence to suggest that ROS produced in excess impair the cell and may be etiologically related to various neurodegenerative diseases. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) methanol leaf extract on neurotoxicity in PC12 cell exposed to 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Fresh samples of “maca” leaves were processed in order to obtain foliar extracts and to evaluate the neurobiological activity on PC12 cells, subjected to the cytotoxic effect of 6-OHDA through the determination of the capacity antioxidant, cell viability and cytotoxicity assays on PC12 cells. The results of the tests of antioxidant activity, showed maximum values of 2262.37 and 1305.36 expressed in Trolox equivalents (TEAC), for the methanolic and aqueous fractions respectively. Cell viability assays at a dose of 10?μg extract showed an increase of 31% and 60% at 6 and 12?h of pretreatment, respectively. Cytotoxicity assays at the same dose and exposure time showed a 31.4% and 47.8% reduction in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The results allow us to affirm that the methanolic foliar extract of “maca” presents in vitro neurobiological activity of antioxidant protection, increase in cell viability and reduction of cytotoxicity against oxidative stress generated by 6-OHDA. In conclusion, the present study shows a protective role for Lepidium meyenii leaf extract on 6-OHDA-induced toxicity by an antioxidant effect.     

玛咖质量标准研究

为了建立玛咖定性、定量标准,参照2010年版药典附录相关方法,分别对玛咖的水分、浸出物、总灰分、酸不溶成分、重金属含量进行了测定;以玛咖中特征性酰胺类成分亚油酰胺为指标性成分,分别采用TLC和HPLC进行定性鉴别和含量测定研究。结果显示,玛咖中亚油酰胺的薄层色谱鉴别特征明显,专属性强;含量测定线性范围为0.01~2.00 μg(r=0.999 8),平均回收率(n=9)为99.27%(RSD 2.0%) 。所建立的玛咖定性鉴别和定量测定方法简单准确,能够为玛咖的质量控制提供有效数据。     

Studies on antidiarrheal and antispasmodic activities of Lepidium sativum crude extract in rats

This study was aimed to provide the pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Lepidium sativum in diarrhea using in vivo and in vitro assays. The seed extract of Lepidium sativum (Ls.Cr) at 100 and 300 mg/kg inhibited castor oil‐induced diarrhea in rats. In isolated rat ileum, Ls.Cr (0.01–5 mg/mL) reversed carbachol (CCh, 1 µ m ) and K⁺ (80 m m )‐induced contractions with higher potency against CCh, similar to dicyclomine. Preincubation of rat ileum with a lower concentration of Ls.Cr (0.03 mg/mL) caused a rightward parallel shift in the concentration–response curves (CRCs) of CCh without suppression of the maximum response, while at the next higher concentration (0.1 mg/mL), it produced a non‐parallel rightward shift with suppression of the maximum response, similar to that of dicyclomine. Ls.Cr shifted the CRCs of Ca⁺⁺ to the right with suppression of the maximum response, similar to verapamil. These data suggest that Lepidium sativum seed extract possesses antidiarrheal and spasmolytic activities mediated possibly through dual blockade of muscarinic receptors and Ca⁺⁺ channels, though additional mechanism(s) cannot be ruled out and this study explains its medicinal use in diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well‐being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised,double‐blind clinical trial

Lepidium meyenii (Maca) is a cultivated root belonging to the brassica family used in the Andean region for its supposed aphrodisiac properties. We carried out a double‐blind clinical trial on 50 Caucasian men affected by mild erectile dysfunction (ED), randomised to treatment with Maca dry extract, 2400 mg, or placebo. The treatment effect on ED and subjective well‐being was tested administrating before and after 12 weeks the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF‐5) and the Satisfaction Profile (SAT‐P). After 12 weeks of treatment, both Maca‐ and placebo‐treated patients experienced a significant increase in IIEF‐5 score (P < 0.05 for both). However, patients taking Maca experienced a more significant increase than those taking placebo (1.6 ± 1.1 versus 0.5 ± 0.6, P < 0.001). Both Maca‐ and placebo‐treated subjects experienced a significant improvement in psychological performance‐related SAT‐P score, but the Maca group higher than that of placebo group (+9 ± 6 versus +6 ± 5, P < 0.05). However, only Maca‐treated patients experienced a significant improvement in physical and social performance‐related SAT‐P score compared with the baseline (+7 ± 6 and +7 ± 6, both P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data support a small but significant effect of Maca supplementation on subjective perception of general and sexual well‐being in adult patients with mild ED.     

玛咖独行菜对卵巢切除术后大鼠血脂及骨质代谢的影响

目的利用雌激素低下动物模型,探讨玛咖独行菜(LepidiummeyemiiWalp,俗称Maca)对雌性大鼠体脂、性激素、骨代谢的影响。方法健康SD雌性大鼠进行卵巢切除术后根据体重随机分为模型组、雌激素组以及Maca低、中、高剂量组;另设未做卵巢切除术的假手术组作为对照组。雌激素组每天灌胃己烯雌酚(30μg/kgbw);Maca低、中、高剂量组每天分别灌胃Maca悬浊液0.3、0.6、1.8g/kg;假手术组和模型组每天灌胃蒸馏水。7周后测定各组大鼠体重、子宫和肾上腺重量,及血脂、性激素、骨代谢相关指标的水平。结果模型组显示卵巢切除术后大鼠体重快速增长,子宫、肾上腺重量降低,雌、孕激素及睾酮水平下降,血脂水平增高,血碱性磷酸酶水平升高(和假手术组相比,P<0.05)。相比之下,给予己烯雌酚的雌激素组血雌激素水平提高、子宫重量维持不变、体重过度增长得到改善(和模型组相比,P<0.05);Maca高剂量组大鼠的低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、甘油三酯和血碱性磷酸酶水平明显降低,骨钙素的作用增强(和模型组相比,P<0.05),但性激素分泌无显著变化。结论玛咖独行菜有助于改善卵巢切除术后血脂异常和骨质代谢。     

玛咖醇提取物对小鼠的抗衰老作用

目的探讨玛咖醇提取物的抗衰老作用及其机制。方法采用自然衰老小鼠为模型,连续ig给予玛咖醇提取物60 d后,测定小鼠血清、肝脏、心脏组织中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(G SH-Px)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和丙二醛(M DA)的水平以及皮肤羟脯氨酸水平,免疫功能实验采用PHA刺激淋巴细胞转化及免疫器官指数的方法。结果玛咖醇提取物能显著提高老龄小鼠心脏和肝脏中G SH-Px活性及血清和肝脏中SOD活性,降低血清及肝脏中M DA水平,增加皮肤羟脯氨酸水平,提高PHA刺激的淋巴细胞转化率。结论玛咖醇提取物可能通过改善自由基代谢、增强细胞免疫发挥其抗衰老作用。     

葶苈子水提物对狗左心室功能的作用

iv葶苈子水提物0.2ml/kg(含生药2g/ml),能增加犬的左心室心肌收缩性和泵血功能,并能增加冠脉流量,与iv异丙肾上腺素10μg/kg的作用相似,但葶苈子水提物对心率、动静脉氧分压差及动静脉氧溶解度无明显影响。说明葶苈子水提物具有显著强心和增加冠脉流量的作用且不增加心肌耗氧量。     

玛咖提取物对雄性小鼠性活力的影响

目的:探讨口服玛咖根粉末的水提物、石油醚提取物和乙醇提取物对雄性小鼠性活力的影响。方法:将筛选后的小鼠随机分为实验组和对照组。实验组分别以各玛咖提取物的高、低剂量(4,0.8mg·g~(-1))灌胃,对照组自由活动。d6灌胃后1h,按1:3将雄、雌鼠合笼,记录各雄鼠交尾潜伏期和1h内的交尾次数。结果:与对照组比较,玛咖各提取物均明显缩短雄性小白鼠的交尾潜伏期并增加交尾次数。其中,石油醚提取物的效果最为显著。结论:玛咖石油醚提取物可显著增强雄性小鼠的性活力。     

秘鲁特产药用植物玛卡研究的新进展

对近5年来秘鲁特产药用植物玛卡的研究进展作了简要综述，内容包括玛卡的生物学及生态学研究、化学成分研究、药理作用研究以及临床应用研究。玛卡的药理作用及保健功能日益受到瞩目和关注。