Acute and Chronic Dosing of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on Male Rat Sexual Behavior

Aaron Lentz, MD, Karla Gravitt, BSc, Culley C. Carson, MD, and Lesley Marson, PhD
Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2007.00437.x

A B S T R A C T

Introduction. The use of natural remedies for the treatment of sexual disorders is under current investigation. For
generations people of the rural community in Peru have used Lepidium meyenii Walpers (Maca), because of their
belief that it improves fertility and sexual desire.

Aim. To determine the acute and chronic effects of Maca on male sexual behavior and to examine chronic
administration of Maca on anxiety.

Main Outcome Measures. Ejaculatory and mounting behavior and postejaculatory interval. Anxiety tests using an
elevated plus maze, locomotion, and social interaction with another male.

Methods. Maca (25 and 100 mg/kg) was orally administered to male rats for 30 days. Male sexual behavior was
monitored after acute, 7 and 21 days of treatment. Anxiety behavior and locomotion were measured at 28–29 days
using the elevated plus maze and social interaction tests.

Results. Maca treatment did not produce large changes in male sexual behavior. However, an increase in ejaculation
latency and postejaculatory interval was observed after both acute and 7 days of treatment. After 21 days of treatment
Maca had no effect on sexual behavior. Chronic administration of Maca did not increase locomotion or anxiety.

Conclusion. Acute and short-term administration of Maca produced a small effect of rat male sexual behavior and
long-term administration did not increase anxiety.

(Conclusion from the full study:

The present study demonstrated that acute and
daily administration of Maca in sexually experienced
male rats produced a small change in ejaculation
latency and postejaculatory interval and
these changes disappeared with chronic treatment.
Chronic administration of Maca did not increase
anxiety and had some effect on locomotor activity.)

Lentz A, Gravitt K, Carson CC, and Marson L. Acute and
chronic dosing of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on male rat sexual behavior. J Sex Med 2007;4:332–340.
Key Words. Ejaculation; Elevated Plus Maze; Social Interaction; Postejaculatory Interval; Herbal Remedies