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Henry O. Meissner, PhD
Pioneer in Maca Phenotypes for Women’s Hormone Health

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Henry O. Meissner, PhD, was a respected scientist and professor emeritus known for his pioneering work in nutritional biochemistry, functional foods, and herbal medicine. Over the course of more than five decades, he played key leadership roles in academia, international research, and the advancement of natural health science.

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His academic path began at the University of Cracow in Poland, where he earned a BSc in Agricultural Sciences (1961), an MSc in Environmental Sciences (1963), and a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry (1968). He later broadened his expertise with training in computer applications in research and a certification in radioisotope techniques.

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​Dr. Meissner’s career took him around the world. He served as a Senior Research Scientist at Australia’s CSIRO from 1979 to 1992 and led the Australian Food Information Centre during that time. In 1986, he became Executive Director of Research and Development at TTD International Pty Ltd, where he guided projects throughout Australia and New Zealand.​​

Image Credit: Who's Who Lifetime Achievement

Dr. Meissner’s numerous influential positions across the globe:

  • Senior Research Scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia (1979–1992), where he also served as Director of the Australian Food Information Centre (1983–1992).

  • Executive Director of Research and Development at TTD International Pty Ltd, leading projects in Australia and New Zealand since 1986.

  • Visiting and Honorary Professor at institutions such as Nagoya University in Japan, Hubei Agricultural University, and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

  • Senior Consultant and Project Coordinator for United Nations programs, including UNIDO and UNDP, focusing on environmental restoration and sustainable agriculture in China.

 

He also held academic appointments as a visiting or honorary professor at institutions including Nagoya University (Japan), Hubei Agricultural University, and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. As a consultant to the United Nations, he coordinated initiatives for UNIDO and UNDP aimed at restoring ecosystems and advancing sustainable agriculture in China.

Much of Dr. Meissner’s work focused on the development of functional foods and setting global standards for herbal extract quality. He published over 300 papers in scientific and technical journals. One of his most notable contributions was differentiating the phytochemical profiles of various maca phenotypes—research that deepened understanding of maca’s health benefits, particularly for women.

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His contributions were recognized globally. He was named Honorary Professor at major agricultural institutions in China, served on editorial boards of journals such as Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica and Herba Polonica, and was Executive Editor of the International Journal of Biomedical Science.

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Among his innovations were the development of a plant-based melatonin and the creation of Maca-GO, a maca-based supplement designed to support women’s hormonal balance. His work helped bridge the gap between traditional plant medicine and modern clinical science.

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Although Dr. Meissner passed away in 2024, his legacy lives on. His dedication to research, international collaboration, and scientific integrity continues to shape the fields of nutrition, herbal therapeutics, and integrative health.

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Publications:

Some 320 research & technical publications in professional journals, 21 books, and 11 book chapters.

 

Highlights include:

 

Compounds and Phytochemicals of Maca

 

Gaweł-Bęben K, Kukula-Koch W, Szwajgier D, Antosiewicz-Klimczak B, Orihuela-Campos RC, Głowniak K, Meissner HO. Synergism of Specific Maca Phenotypes (Lepidium peruvianum) in Combination with Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Extract for Chemoprevention of Prostate Cancer as Determined in In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assays on Human Epithelial and Prostate Cancer Cells. Molecules. 2024; 29(23):5632. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29235632

 

Kasprzak D, Gaweł-Bęben K, Kukula-Koch W, et al. Lepidium peruvianum as a Source of Compounds with Anticancer and Cosmetic Applications. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(19):10816. Published 2024 Oct 8. doi:10.3390/ijms251910816

 

Minich DM, Ross K, Frame J, Fahoum M, Warner W, Meissner HO. Not All Maca Is Created Equal: A Review of Colors, Nutrition, Phytochemicals, and Clinical Uses. Nutrients. 2024;16(4):530. Published 2024 Feb 14. doi:10.3390/nu16040530

 

Tarabasz D, Szczeblewski P, Laskowski T, et al. The Distribution of Glucosinolates in Different Phenotypes of Lepidium peruvianum and Their Role as Acetyl- and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors-In Silico and In Vitro Studies. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(9):4858. Published 2022 Apr 27. doi:10.3390/ijms23094858

 

Geng P, Sun J, Chen P, et al. Characterization of Maca (Lepidium meyenii/Lepidium peruvianum) Using a Mass Spectral Fingerprinting, Metabolomic Analysis, and Genetic Sequencing Approach. Planta Med. 2020;86(10):674-685. doi:10.1055/a-1161-0372

 

Meissner HO, Mscisz A, Baraniak M, et al. Peruvian Maca (Lepidium peruvianum) - III: The Effects of Cultivation Altitude on Phytochemical and Genetic Differences in the Four Prime Maca Phenotypes. Int J Biomed Sci. 2017;13(2):58-73.

 

Meissner HO, Mscisz A, Mrozikiewicz M, et al. Peruvian Maca (Lepidium peruvianum): (I) Phytochemical and Genetic Differences in Three Maca Phenotypes. Int J Biomed Sci. 2015;11(3):131-145.

 

Animal Studies using Maca-GO

 

Meissner HO, Kedzia B, Mrozikiewicz PM, Mscisz A. Short and long-term physiological responses of male and female rats to two dietary levels of pre-gelatinized maca (lepidium peruvianum chacon). Int J Biomed Sci. 2006;2(1):13-28.

 

Meissner HO, Mrozikiewicz P, Bobkiewicz-Kozlowska T, et al. Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (I) Biochemical and Pharmacodynamic Study on Maca using Clinical Laboratory Model on Ovariectomized Rats. Int J Biomed Sci. 2006;2(3):260-272.

 

Clinical Trials using Maca-GO

 

Meissner HO, Reich-Bilinska H, Mscisz A, Kedzia B. Therapeutic Effects of Pre-Gelatinized Maca (Lepidium Peruvianum Chacon) used as a Non-Hormonal Alternative to HRT in Perimenopausal Women - Clinical Pilot Study. Int J Biomed Sci. 2006;2(2):143-159.

 

Meissner HO, Kapczynski W, Mscisz A, Lutomski J. Use of gelatinized maca (lepidium peruvianum) in early postmenopausal women. Int J Biomed Sci. 2005;1(1):33-45.

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Meissner HO, Mscisz A, Reich-Bilinska H, et al. Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (II) Physiological and Symptomatic Responses of Early-Postmenopausal Women to Standardized doses of Maca in Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multi-Centre CInt J Biomed Sci. 2006;2(4):360-374.

 

Meissner HO, Mscisz A, Reich-Bilinska H, et al. Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (III) Clinical responses of early-postmenopausal women to Maca in double blind, randomized, Placebo-controlled, crossover configuration, outpatient study. Int J Biomed Sci. 2006;2(4):375-394.

 

Appointments:

  • O.I.C. Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Zootechnics, Balice, Cracow (1964-70)

  • UN FAO Research Fellow at Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, Scotland, (1968)

  • Nutrition Department Head, Central Laboratory of Food Industry, Lublin Poland (1970-72)

  • Project Leader, Herbal Extraction Lab., Ruakura Res. Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand (1972-76)

  • Senior Lecturer, Applied Biochemistry, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Australia (1977-78)

  • Lecturer, Nutritional Biochem. & Environmental Physics, Sydney University, Australia (1978-79)

  • Project Leader, Nutritional Biochemistry, Centre for Research & Development, Bogor, Indonesia (1979-82)

  • Senior Research Scientist, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Res. Org. - CSIRO-Australia (1982-92)

  • Director, Australian Food Information Centre, CSIRO-Sydney, Australia (1983-92)

  • Research Fellow, US Department of Agric, Mayaguez Res. Station, Puerto Rico-USA (1984-85)

  • Executive Director (R & D), Technology Transfer & Development – TTD International Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia and Hamilton, New Zealand (1987-)

  • Research Fellow, Availability of Nutrients, Biochemical Aqua-Database, Oceanic Institute,Hawaii, USA (1991-98)

  • Visiting Professor, Biochem.of Herbal Extraction & Refining, Nagoya University, Japan (1992-97)

  • Professor (Hon.), Poly-culture for “Three Gorges Project”, Hubei University, China (1994-98)

  • Senior Consultant and Project Coordinator, UNIDO-IPS, Beijing, China (1996-98)

  • Senior Technical Advisor, China International Centre for Economical & Technical Exchanges (CICETE), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Beijing, China, (1999-2000)

  • Professor (Hon.), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China (1995-99)

  • Research Associate and Consultant in Natural Therapeutics and Refined Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Regional Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Sydney, Australia (1995-2000)

  • R & D Consultant in Functional Foods & Herbal Extracts, Freedom Foods, Melbourne, (1995-)

  • International Coordinator & Project Leader, Joint China-Australian Project “Ecology Restoration and Management in the Mountainous Area Surrounding Bejing City”, International Cooperation Department, Commission of Science and Technology, Baoding, Hebei Province, China (1996-2000)

  • Project Leader, Computerised Quality Certification Network for Exported/Imported Food Commodities and Medicinal Herbs, AFIC, Sydney (Australia)–Lelystadt, (Holland) (1994-2001)

  • Director, R & D, Wild Herbs Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia (1998-2001)

  • Chairman, Therapeutic Res.Fund,Charles Sturt Uni. Foundation,Bathurst, Australia (1998-2001)

  • International Research Project Coordinator, Camptotheca acuminata – Xi-Shu Tree for Cancer Cure & Prevention, Northern University Harbin, China (1999-2001)

  • Professor (Assoc.) in Therapeutic Research, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Aust. (1999-2001)

  • Project Coordinator, Joint Therapeutic Research Project on Medicinal Plants, Australia-Poland, Research Institute for Medicinal Plants, Poznan, Poland (2000-)

  • International Coordination, Distant Education Post-Diploma Courses for Medicine Graduates in Complementary Medicine, Pomeranian Medical Academy, Szczecin, Poland (2000-2002)

  • Director (R & D), Nature Corp Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia (2001-2006)

  • Chairman, Therapeutic Research Oceania, Sydney Australia (2001-2004)

  • International Project Coordinator (Environmental Restoration), Forest NetWorld, Sydney Australia (2002-2004)

  • Chairman, Greening China Fund Ltd, Hong Kong-ZhuHai, Beijing (China) and Sydney (Australia) (2002-03)

  • Director of Research and Development, Natural Health International and NHI Inc. (2006-)

  • Director of Research and Development, Symphony Natural Health, Utah, USA (2018-)

 

Honors:

  • Honorary Professor, Hubei Agricultural University, Hubei Province, China (1993)

  • Honorary Professor, Chinese Academy of Agric. Science, Beijing, China (1996)

  • Visiting Professor, Nagoya University, Japan (1992)

  • Honorary International Editorial Board Member, Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica (2001)

  • Editorial Board Member, Herba Polonica (2015-)

  • Coordinator of the Project “Identifying Phytochemical differences between Maca cultivated in Peru & China” in association with Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), Beijing.

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