Abstract:

Objective: Through establishing models of hyperlipidemia in rats, to carry out a preliminary research on lipid-lowering effects of maca. Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats of 5 weeks old were randomly divided into 2 groups, 10 in the control group and 40 in the model group. Successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to body weight, with 10 rats in each group.The high-dose group was given by gavage with 0.68 g/kg of ethanol extract of maca daily; the low-dose group was given by gavage with 0.34 g/kg of ethanol extract of maca daily; the positive control group was given by gavage with 20 mg/kg of simvastatin daily. After 15-week gavage, the levels of TG, TC, HDL and LDL in rats' serum were detected. Results: The levels of TG, TC, HDL and LDL in the blank group were lower than those in the negative group; the levels of TC and LDL in the positive group were lower than those in the negative group; the levels of TC and LDL in the high-dose group were lower than those in the negative group; the level of TC in the lowdose group is lower than that in the negative group. The above results were significantly different（P <0.01）. Conclusion: Ethanol extract of maca has had lipid-lowering effects on hyperlipidemia Wistar rats. Low doses of ethanol extract can reduce the level of TC, while high doses of ethanol extract can reduce both levels of TC and LDL.

Key words: ethanol extract of maca, hyperlipidemia, lipid-lowering effect