[Effect of red maca (Lepidium meyenii) on INF-γ levels in ovariectomized rats]
Johanna Leiva-Revilla1, Félix Guerra-Castañon2, Paola Olcese-Mori1
1Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Reproducción, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
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.
