Molecules (May 2019)

Chemical Analysis of <i>Lepidium meyenii</i> (Maca) and Its Effects on Redox Status and on Reproductive Biology in Stallions <sup>†</sup>

  • Simona Tafuri,
  • Natascia Cocchia,
  • Domenico Carotenuto,
  • Anastasia Vassetti,
  • Alessia Staropoli,
  • Vincenzo Mastellone,
  • Vincenzo Peretti,
  • Francesca Ciotola,
  • Sara Albarella,
  • Chiara Del Prete,
  • Veronica Palumbo,
  • Luigi Esposito,
  • Francesco Vinale,
  • Francesca Ciani

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24101981
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 10
p. 1981

Abstract

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The present study was conducted to assess the chemical composition of Yellow Maca (Lepidium meyenii) and its biological activity on stallions following oral administration of hypocotyl powder. Maca was subjected to methanolic extraction and the chemical analysis was carried out by LC-MS-QTOF (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry). Our results showed that Maca contains some effective antioxidants, a high percentage of glucosinolates, and other important components with a high antioxidant capacity. To evaluate the plant biological activity in stallions fed with Maca powder for 60 days, the redox status and some reproductive parameters were investigated. Blood and semen samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 days from the beginning of this study. Blood samples showed a decrease of the reactive oxygen metabolites, evaluated by d-ROMs test, and an increase of the antioxidant barrier in terms of biological antioxidant potential (BAP test), powerful oxidant capacity (OXY-Adsorbent test), and thiols evaluation (-SHp test). Furthermore, semen samples showed a positive trend during Maca administration in the following parameters: ejaculate volumes and sperm concentrations, total and progressive motility, and acrosome integrity.

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