Effect of red maca (Lepidium meyenii) on INF-γ levels in ovariectomized rats

• Main Authors: Johanna Leiva-Revilla, Félix Guerra-Castañon, Paola Olcese-Mori, Iván Lozada, Julio Rubio, Carla Gonzales, Gustavo F Gonzales
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Instituto Nacional de Salud 2014-12-01
• Series: Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública
• Subjects: maca; interferón gamma; ovariectomía; estradiol
• Online Access: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/118

Objectives. Compare the effect of different doses of red maca on gamma interferon (IFN-γ) levels in ovariectomized rats (OVX). Materials and methods. Adult female rats were randomly divided into the following six groups: Group 1: pseudo-ovariectomized rats (PO); Group 2: OVX rats; Group 3: OVX rats treated with 4 ug/kg estradiol; and Group 4, 5 and 6: OVX rats treated with red maca extracts with 2.15, 4.3 and 8.6 mg polyphenols/body weight kilogram, respectively. Results. OVX rats showed low levels of IFN-γ compared to PO rats. Estradiol and red maca reversed the effect of ovariectomy on the IFN-γ levels. A positive dose-response effect of red maca on IFN-γ levels was shown (r = 0.57, p 0.05). Conclusions. Red maca administration increases levels of IFN-γ in ovariectomized rats.