Maca (Lepidium peruvianum / Lepidium meyenii) (a) is a plant cultivated more than two thousand years ago in the Central Andes of Peru and was fundamental pillar of the diet of the troops of the Inca Empiere. The most important and powerful American Empire..
Maca is cultivated betweem 3,800 and 4,500 meters over sea level, in lands with negative climates for any other type of cultivation. Being resistant to high altitude, frost, hail, snow and other climatic factors typical of its habitat. Likewise, its cultivation in areas with high mineralization allow Maca to be one of the most complete superfood, due to the variety of nutritional values that it obtains from the soil.
Experimental scientific evidence showed that maca has nutritional, energizer, and fertility-enhancer properties, and it acts on sexual dysfunctions, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, memory and learning, and protects skin against ultraviolet radiation. Clinical trials showed efficacy on sexual dysfunctions as well as increasing sperm count and motility. Maca is a plant with great potential as an adaptogen and appears to be promising as a nutraceutical in the prevention of several diseases. (b)
Different varieties of Maca have been described according to the color of the hypocotyls. The most frequent studied have been red, black and yellow varieties, the difference between them is their phitochemical constitution and biological activity (c).
Red maca root 
Black maca root 
Yellow maca root
Maca is a valuable source of essential amino acids, Vitamins B1, B2, B12, C, D3, E, complex carbohydrates, carotene and minerals including calcium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium and irom.(b)(d)(e)
Maca Scientific Classification
División : FANEROGRAMA
Sub – División : ANGIOSPERMAE
Clase : DICOTILEDONEA
Orden : ROHEDALES
Familia : CRUCIFERAE (BRASSICACEAE)
Género : LEPIDIUM
Especie: : Lepidium peruvianum Chacón sp. nov. / Lepidium meyenii W. (a)
Common names : MACA, MAKA