Maca roots (Lepidium meyenii) are an important medicinal herb that have long been used by the Andes-indigenous peoples and South Americans. In Korea, recently, it has attracted attention as a health food material because of nutritional values and physiological activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the industrial applicability of maca (red and golden varieties; R&G) as immunostimulating materials. In the macrophage stimulating assay using RAW 264.7 cells at 125~500 μg/mL of non-cytotoxicity doses, G-HW showed the most potent production of TNF-α, IL-6 and nitric oxide compared to red maca or the other extracts. The general component analysis results showed that all extracts comprised more than 90% neutral sugars with small amounts of uronic acid and protein. Meanwhile, component sugar analysis showed the difference in the content of uronic acids of cold- and hot-water extract. Additionally, the further fractionation of G-HW into crude polysaccharide (G-CP) greatly enhanced the macrophage stimulating activity, and G-CP contained macromolecules over 144 kDa, comprised mainly of glucose and galacturonic acid (51.0 and 34.9%). In conclusion, crude polysaccharide from maca showed industrial applicability as immunostimulating material, and especially golden maca showed higher macrophage stimulating activity than red maca.

This study was conducted to find out the bakery processing suitability of maca and to develop rice-based processed foods. We investigated the antioxidant activity and physicochemical properties of rice cookies prepared with the addition of maca (Lepidium meyenii) powder (1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% of the total materials). We observed an increase in the total polyphenol and flavonoid content, and DPPH-ABTS+ radical scavenging activity of the rice cookies as the proportion of added maca powder increased (p<0.05). The quality characteristics such as the “a” value, “b” value, and the hardness of the cookies increased with an increase in the proportion of maca powder (p<0.05) in the cookie, whereas the moisture content, pH of the dough, spread ratio, loss rate, leavening rate, and “L” values showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). In the sensory evaluation results, consumer acceptability showed a significantly higher value in the 2% maca cookie group (p<0.05), and the characteristic intensity rating (color, flavor, bitterness) increased as the proportion of maca added to the cookie increased (p<0.05). Therefore, this suggests that adding 2% maca powder as the functional ingredient in rice cookies can result in rice bakery products with excellent qualities.

The purpose of this study was to establish the best optimized extraction condition for the optimal development of fresh maca beverage using low temperature extraction and enzyme treatment. Low temperatures were applied to prevent heatrelated nutritional loss during the extraction process. Best extraction conditions were investigated based on the ratio of maca to water, the ratio of enzymes, extraction temperature and time, and agitation. The optimal enzyme conditions were also examined after the treatment of cellulase:pectinase mixture to maintain the original color and flavor, as well as to increase the extraction yield. When cellulase:pectinase was 1:1, the extraction rate ranged from 77.84 to 79.29%. In addition, the best extraction rate was found when maca was mixed with twice volume of water and incubated at 45°C (84.05±0.32%) with 90 rpm (87.13±0.46%) agitation for 3 hours (84.73±0.29%). Furthermore, sensory evaluation showed a high score in flavor, sweetness, and overall acceptability after adding 3% jujube concentrate into a fresh maca beverage.

마카(Lepidium meyenii)는 안데스산맥 해발 4.000미터 이상의 고지에서 자생하는 페루의 인삼으로 알려져 있다. 마카는 탄수화물 60~75％, 단백질 10~14％, 지질 2％, 섬유질 8.5％, 다량의 필수아미노산, 철분 및 칼슘 등을 함유하는 영양식품으로 알려지면서 2010년대 이후 건강식품으로 주목을 받고 있다. 마카에는 리놀렌산, 팔미트산, 올레인산 같은 지방산, 식물성 스테롤 및 미네랄도 다량 함유하고 있으며, 지표성분인 마카엔(macaene)이나 마카마이드(macamide)와 같은 다른 식물에서 발견되지 않는 고유의 불포화지방산이 존재한다. 마카는 항암작용, 불임증 해소, 남성의 정자 수 증가, 월경 증후군 및 갱년기 증상완화 같은 효능 역시 보고되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 추출용매의 특성을 이용하여 중국산 마카로부터 다양한 생리활성물질의 추출효율을 최적화하고자 하였다. 마카는 중국(윈난성)산으로 에스에스바이오팜㈜에서 제공받았으며, 추출용매는 식품에 사용가능한 주정, n-헥산, 물을 사용하였다. 생리활성물질은 Lowry 방법에 의한 단백질, Phenol-sulfuric 방법에 의한 총 당, DNS 방법에 의한 환원당, Aluminum nitrate colorimetry 방법에 의한 플라보노이드, Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetry 방법에 의한 페놀화합물, DPPH Radical Scavenge capacity를 이용한 항산화력, HPLC 방법에 의한 마카마이드 B(N-benzyl hexadecanamide)를 분석하였다. 마카추출액의 제조는 5시간의 추출시간과 마카와 추출용매의 비율(10%, w/v)을 기준으로 Soxhlet을 이용한 Reflux 방식과 40°C에서 교반하는 suspension방식을 적용하였다. Reflux 추출방법으로 추출된 전체 생리활성물질은 50% 및 100% 주정을 용매에서 27g%로 가장 높은 반면 지표성분인 마카마이드 B는 주정과 헥산이 1:1 혼합된 50% 헥산용매에서 85 mg%로 가장 높았다. 추출물의 항산화력은 1N HCl_주정을 이용한 추출물에서 1,050 mg%로 가장 높은 결과를 얻었다. 한편 단순 교반에 의한 Suspension 추출방법으로 1N HCl 주정을 이용한 경우 전체 생리활성물질은 64 g%로 Reflux 방식의 최대 추출효율 대비 2배 이상 추출효율이 향상되었다. Suspension 방법에 의한 추출물의 마카마이드 B는 50% 헥산용매에서 70 mg%, 100% 주정에서 61 mg%, 그리고 1N HCl 주정에서 59 m%로 유사한 수준이었다. 추출물의 항산화력 역시 1N HCl_주정을 이용한 Suspension 추출방법에서 974 mg%로 Reflux 방법의 추출효율과 유사하였다. Suspension방법으로 1N HCl 주정을 이용한 마카추출물은 100% 주정을 이용한 추출물 대비, 마카마이드 B, 플라보노이드, 항산화력은 유사한 수준인 반면 전체 생리활성물질의 추출효율은 4.5배, 페놀화합물, 총 당의 추출효율은 3배 이상 향상되었다. 따라서 마카로부터 생리활성물질의 대량생산은 1N HCl 주정을 이용하는 Suspension방법이 가장 효율적이었다.

With an increase in the number of people suffering from ageing-related diseases in our rapidly aging society, interests in natural products such as maca(Lepidium meyenii), which has properties of enhancing cognition and sexual performance, have increased. This study was conducted to assess the effects of 7 weeks of maca extract supplementation(0.5~2.0g/㎏ BW) on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice and on sperm count in male mice. All doses of maca supplementation significantly protected against scopolamine-induced amnesia as determined by a Morris water maze, but not according to passive avoidance tests. Maca supplementation did not affect acetylcholinesterase activity in the whole brain, nor the testicular sperm count of male mice. This study suggests that maca may have some neuroprotective properties in mice, which will be further examined by future studies.

The objective of this study was to examine the quality characteristics and antioxidant activity of yogurt containing hot water extract from maca. Four different levels (0, 4, 8, 12%) of maca extract were added to milk followed by fermentation with lactic acid bacteria at 37℃ for 12 hrs, and then the physicochemical properties of the samples were investigated. During 7 days of storage at 4±1℃, the acid production (pH and titratable acidity) of the yogurt increased with the addition of maca extract. The Hunter L value (lightness) decreased, while the b value (yellowness) increased as the maca extract level in the yogurt increased. Viable cell counts were not significantly different among the samples. The results of consumer acceptance tests showed that no significant differences in overall acceptability were observed between the yogurts containing 4% and 8% of maca extract and a control yogurt. The yogurt containing maca extract exhibited higher DPPH radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities than the control yogurt over the storage period.

Lepidium meyenii, known as Maca, is traditionally employed in the Andean region for its supposed properties to improve energy and fertility. In the present study, we investigated the effects of gelatinized and fermented Maca on improvement of physical stamina and epididymal sperm counts, and on blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue and tissue injury: creatine phosphokinase, aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, total cholesterol and total proteins. Adult male mice was divided at random into two main groups (resting and excercise groups). The excercise group was separated into three subgroups (exercise only, exercise with gelatinized Maca and fermented Maca-treatment groups). Gelatinized or fermented Maca (800 mg/kg) were orally administered for 30 days. All animals in exercise groups were subjected to daily 30-min swimming for 28 days 30 min after Maca treatment. Daily exercise decreased the body weight gain, and fermented Maca further attenuated the body weight increase. Gelatinized and fermented Maca significantly increased the maximum swimming time on 14 and 28 days of treatment (p<0.05), respectively, suggestive of a long-term stamina-enhancing effect of fermented Maca. Both Maca fully or significantly recovered blood parameters of energy as well as muscular and hepatocytic injuries changed by repeated exercise and maximum swimming performance (p<0.01). Moreover, gelatinized and fermented Maca increased epididymal sperm counts 22.0% and 32.0%, respectively. In conclusion, the results indicate potential benefits of Maca for improving both physical stamina by minimizing muscular and hepatic damage and preserving energy during swimming exercise and male reproductive function by increasing epididymal sperm counts.

본 연구에서는 마카 열수 추출액을 다양한 수준(0%, 8%, 16%, 24% 및 32%)으로 첨가하여 음료를 제조한 후 품질 특성을 살펴보고 및 에서 4주간 저장하면서 항산화능의 변화를 분석하였다. 마카 음료의 pH는 마카 추출액 첨가군이 대조군보다 낮게 나타났고 는 높게 나타났다. 색도측정 결과 마카 추출액 첨가량이 증가할수록 명도는 감소하였고 적색도는 증가하였다. 소비자 기호도 검사결과 대조군과 비교하여 24% 첨가군까지 전반적인 바람직성에

음료 베이스용 시럽을 개발하기 위하여 마카 추출액을 다양한 수준(0%, 7%, 14%, 21%, 28%)으로 첨가하고 품질 특성 및 항산화활성을 측정하였다. pH는 대조군보다 첨가군이 낮았고 시럽의 당도는 시료간에 유의적인 차이가 없었으며 점도는 마카추출액의 농도가 증가할수록 증가하였다. 명도를 나타내는 L값은 마카 추출액의 첨가비율이 증가할수록 감소하였고 b값은 증가하였다. 기호도 검사 결과 향, 단맛 및 전반적인 기호도면에서 시료간에 유의적인