Human Anatomy & Physiology

Medicinal plants have been used throughout history to heal several illnesses and are a staple in traditional medicine. Around twenty-five percent of modern drugs are derived from plants with only fifteen percent of the 300,000 plant species in existence evaluated to determine their pharmacological potential (Palhares, 2015). Nearly eighty percent of the world’s population resorts to traditional medicine for treating their disease, mainly based on the use of extracts and active substances from medicinal plants; two-thirds of these plants come from underdeveloped countries (Ibanez, 2009).

These plants have proven to have beneficial effects on the systems of the human body. In this report, I will discuss the effects of the maca plant on the endocrine system.

Native to the South American Peruvian Central Andes Mountain, the maca plant has been used by the natives in traditional medicine for 3000 years. The scientific name for maca is Lepidium meyenii and it belongs to the Brassicaceae family. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, ascorbic acid, proteins, carbohydrates, lignans, glucosinolates, sterols, and alkaloids.

The healing use of the plant is believed to be found in the root’s alkaloids and shown to be beneficial to the endocrine and reproductive systems. Much like ginseng, the maca plant is known as an adaptogen, meaning it controls the body’s response by helping it deal with physiological, biochemical, and psychological stressors and employs a normalizing effect on the user (Hudson, 2009). It is known as a hormone regulator and balancing agent supporting the endocrine system.

Researchers have found that the maca plant’s sterols stimulate the pituitary, adrenal, hypothalamus thyroid pineal, and ovarian glands and as a result, fertility is improved, sleeping is improved, sexual functions improved, energy is enhanced, and the immune system improved.

Get quality help now

Writer Lyla

Verified

Proficient in: Medicinal Plants

5 (876)

“ Have been using her for a while and please believe when I tell you, she never fail. Thanks Writer Lyla you are indeed awesome ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

It is useful in alleviating the effects of perimenopause and menopause by regulating the hormone levels in the body. It is often used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. According to research, maca stimulates hormonal reserves by strengthening the body’s ability to regain and maintain hormonal homeostasis in the face of stressors (Hudson, 2009). The plant helps support the endocrine system giving users relief from depression and memory loss. It has also been known to help with erectile dysfunction; it increases sex hormones and increases the production of sperm.

As mentioned earlier, the maca root contains sterols like campesterol, stigmasterol, and beta-sitosterol. It also contains two polyunsaturated fatty acids, machine and maximizes. According to most research, the mechanism of action to achieve the effects of the maca plant is mostly unknown; however, machine and maximize extracts are known to stimulate sexual feelings and reverse erectile dysfunction. It is also believed that the glucosinolates contained in maca may have cancer protection properties. In dealing with the alleviation of the effects of perimenopausal and menopausal the mechanism of action again are unknown; researchers believe that androgen levels may be responsible for the effects. The increase in memory and antidepressant effect of the maca root the mechanism of action is thought to be associated with an effect of a monoamine neurotransmitter.