• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.361-368
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to establish the best optimized extraction condition for the optimal development of fresh maca beverage using low temperature extraction and enzyme treatment. Low temperatures were applied to prevent heat-related nutritional loss during the extraction process. Best extraction conditions were investigated based on the ratio of maca to water, the ratio of enzymes, extraction temperature and time, and agitation. The optimal enzyme conditions were also examined after the treatment of cellulase:pectinase mixture to maintain the original color and flavor, as well as to increase the extraction yield. When cellulase:pectinase was 1:1, the extraction rate ranged from 77.84 to 79.29%. In addition, the best extraction rate was found when maca was mixed with twice volume of water and incubated at $45^{\circ}C$ ($84.05{\pm}0.32%$) with 90 rpm ($87.13{\pm}0.46%$) agitation for 3 hours ($84.73{\pm}0.29%$). Furthermore, sensory evaluation showed a high score in flavor, sweetness, and overall acceptability after adding 3% jujube concentrate into a fresh maca beverage.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.485-491
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• 2010

With an increase in the number of people suffering from ageing-related diseases in our rapidly aging society, interests in natural products such as maca(Lepidium meyenii), which has properties of enhancing cognition and sexual performance, have increased. This study was conducted to assess the effects of 7 weeks of maca extract supplementation(0.5~2.0 g/kg BW) on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice and on sperm count in male mice. All doses of maca supplementation significantly protected against scopolamine-induced amnesia as determined by a Morris water maze, but not according to passive avoidance tests. Maca supplementation did not affect acetylcholinesterase activity in the whole brain, nor the testicular sperm count of male mice. This study suggests that maca may have some neuroprotective properties in mice, which will be further examined by future studies.