Maca Root
Energizing, Fertility, Nutritious, and Tonic effects

Raintree's Maca Root
(Lepidium meyenii)
100 Capsules/500 mg

Suggested Retail Price: $15.95
Our Price: $14.95

Maca Root (Lepidium meyenii) is growing in world popularity due to its energizing, fertility, nutritious, and tonic effects.

Raintree's Maca capsules are sold in bottles of 100 capsules with 500 milligrams per capsule of pure ground maca root—rich in the nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals which occur naturally in this plant. We use no binders or fillers so the capsules are 100% pure finely milled maca powder. Raintree's maca has been organically grown in the Andes Mountains of Peru and includes all three color cultivars: red, yellow, and black. For more complete information about this nutritious South American plant, please see the Tropical Plant Database File on Maca.

Maca Family: Brassicaceae
Maca Genus: Lepidium
Maca Species: meyenii
Maca Synonyms: Lepidium peruvianum, L weddellii, L. affine, L. gelidum
Common Names: Maca, Peruvian ginseng, maka, mace, maca-maca, maino, ayak chichira, ayuk willku, pepperweed
Part Used: Root

Maca Root Actions (in order):

• tonic (tones, balances, strengthens overall body functions),
• nutritional
• fertility enhancer
• endocrine function support
• anti-fatigue

Maca Traditional Uses (Peru) :

• as a natural source of nutrients (amino acids, minerals, etc.)
• to support endocrine function
• to reduce fertility problems (both male and female)
• to support erectile function
• as an aphrodisiac

Maca Root Actions Documented by Research:

• aphrodisiac
• fertility enhancer
• increases sperm count/motility

Maca Root Actions Documented by Traditional Use:

• hormonal
• immuno-stimulant
• stimulant
• tonic (tones, balances, strengthens overall body functions)

Maca's main plant chemicals/Nutritional Profile

Include: alkaloids, amino acids, beta-ecdysone, calcium, carbohydrates, fatty acids, glucosinolates, iron, magnesium, p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, phosphorus, potassium, protein, saponins, sitosterols, stigmasterol, tannins, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc.

Traditional Maca Preparation

In the Andes, as much as a pound of fresh and/or dried maca root is eaten as a food in a single day. In herbal medicine in the U.S., dried maca root tablets, capsules and powders are generally recommended at dosages of 5-20 g daily. The dried root powder (a more economical choice than tablets or capsules) can be stirred into juice, water, or smoothies (2 tsp. of root powder are about 5.5 g). For standardized and concentrated extract products, follow the labeled instructions.

Main Preparation Method: eaten fresh/dried, or in capsules.

Cautions: Large amounts may cause intestinal gas.

Contraindications: None reported.

Drug Interactions: None reported

Additional Maca Research and Information

*Clinical Documentation & Published Research:

Available third-party research on maca can be found at PubMed/Medline. A partial listing of the published research on maca is shown below:

Fertility Enhancement Actions:
Bustos-Obregon, E., et al. "Lepidium meyenii (Maca) reduces spermatogenic damage induced by a single dose of malathion in mice." Asian J. Androl. 2005 Mar; 7(1): 71-6.
Ruiz-Luna, A.C., et al. "Lepidium meyenii (Maca) increases litter size in normal adult female mice." Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. 2005 May; 3(1): 16.
Gonzales, C., et al. "Effect of short-term and long-term treatments with three ecotypes of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on spermatogenesis in rats." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Sep 17;
Gonzales, G. F., et al. "Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on spermatogenesis in male rats acutely exposed to high altitude (4340 m)." J. Endocrinol. 2004; 180(1): 87-95.
Gonzales, G. F., et al. "Lepidium meyenii (maca) improved semen parameters in adult men." Asian J. Androl. 2001; 3(4): 301–3.
Gonzales, G. F., et al. "Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) roots on spermatogenesis of male rats." Asian J. Androl. 2001; 3(3): 231–33.

Endocrine / Adrenal Actions:
Lopez-Fando, A., et al. “Lepidium peruvianum Chacon restores homeostasis impaired by restraint stress.” Phytother. Res. 2004; 18(6): 471-4.

Male Sexual Performance / Enhancement Actions:
Cicero, A. F., et al. “Hexanic maca extract improves rat sexual performance more effectively than methanolic and chloroformic maca extracts.” Andrologia. 2002; 34(3): 177–79.
Cicero, A. F., et al. “Lepidium meyenii Walp. improves sexual behaviour in male rats independently from its action on spontaneous locomotor activity.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 2001; 75(2–3): 225–29.
Zheng, B. L., et al. “Effect of a lipidic extract from Lepidium meyenii on sexual behavior in mice and rats." Urology 2000; 55(4): 598–602.

Hormonal Actions: (Studies showing maca does NOT increase testosterone, estrogen, or progesterone.)
Bogani, P., et al. “Lepidium meyenii (Maca) does not exert direct androgenic activities.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Oct 17;
Chung, F., et al. “Dose-response effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) aqueous extract on testicular function and weight of different organs in adult rats.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Apr; 98(1-2): 143-7.
Gonzales, G. F., et al. “Red maca (Lepidium meyenii) reduced prostate size in rats.” Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. 2005; 3(1): 5.
Gonzales, G. F., et al. “Effect of alcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on testicular function in male rats.” Asian J. Androl. 2003 Dec; 5(4): 349-52.
Gonzales, G. F., et al. “Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy men.” J. Endocrinol. 2003; 176(1): 163–68.
Gonzales, G. F., et al. “Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men.” Andrologia. 2002; 34(6): 367–72.