Brain & Cognition

Image Credit: Malík M, Tlustoš P. Nootropic Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees as Potential Cognitive Enhancers. Plants (Basel). 2023;12(6):1364. Published 2023 Mar 18. doi:10.3390/plants12061364 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

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Macamides, one phytochemical found in maca, have been proposed as a potential therapy for neurological disorders due to the low toxicity, neuroprotective, immune-enhancing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties (2). In part, macamides provide neuroprotection by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, resulting in improved synaptic plasticity and by modulating the gut microbiota (3). Macamides from maca extracts have been found to provide superior neuroprotective activity against PC12 cell injury* as compared to a drug therapy (nimodipine), along with higher nitric oxide (NO) inhibition, resulting in a greater anti-inflammatory response (4). Another promising potential for clinical application is reported in a 2025 in vitro study that found that liposomal delivery of macamides from Lepidium meyenii demonstrated an anticonvulsant effect comparable to that of carbamazepine, an FDA-approved antiepileptic drug (5).

 

The polysaccharides from maca leaves are noted to promote proliferation, enhance phagocytosis, increase nitric oxide production, and are potent free radical scavengers, with “enormous potential” for various neurologic clinical applications (1).

 

Animal Studies on Maca for Brain Health and Cognition

 

One mouse model compared the effects of four doses of a hydroalcoholic extract of black maca (0.125, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 g/kg of body weight) to assess the impact on memory impairment caused by ethanol. The total polyphenol content of the four black maca extract doses was equivalent to 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg pyrogallol/kg body weight, respectively. The mice treated with black maca reversed the deleterious effects of ethanol in a dose-dependent manner, with the authors suggesting this effect may be due to the polyphenolic compounds (quercetin and anthocyanins) found in black maca (6). 

 

A couple of animal studies have explored black maca’s effects on memory, specifically due to its antioxidant content and ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase. In ovariectomized mice, an aqueous extract of black maca (Peru-sourced) improved memory (7). Another study used two different doses of aqueous (0.50 and 2.00 g/kg) and hydroalcoholic (0.25 and 1.00 g/kg) extracts of black maca in male mice and found all doses and both extracts improved memory (8). Tarabasz et al. identified that glucosinolates, particularly methoxyglucobrassicacin, in Lepidium peruvianum could inhibit acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, making this a possible treatment consideration for memory-enhancing benefits (9).

 

In another study using ovariectomized mice undergoing cognitive testing, black maca (0.5 mg/kg body weight) reproduced the cognitive benefits shown with estrogen treatment, suggesting that black maca may support learning (10). 

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In one study exploring three colors (yellow, black, and red) of maca for depression, memory, and learning, all three colors provided anti-depressant effects. However, black maca provided the most beneficial effects on latent learning (water-finding task), particularly on trained mice, though all three phenotypes were effective for trained and non-trained mice (11). Red maca (2.0 g/kg body weight) has been shown to enhance learning and memory in ovariectomized rats, in a manner similar to estradiol (12).

 

An unspecified color of maca was found to improve cognitive functions, including memory retention and motor coordination, and significantly increase the activity of oxidative phosphorylation enzyme complexes, suggesting improved mitochondrial function in middle-aged mice (13).

 

For the first time, a study published in 2023 found that the oral administration of an aqueous black maca extract improved cognitive function, spatial memory, social acquisition, recognition, and neuronal activation in an animal model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), suggesting additional research should be conducted to assess black maca’s effect on social deficits in individuals with ASD (14).

 

Human Studies on Maca for Brain Health and Cognition

 

At present, human studies are lacking regarding the benefits of maca, specifically for memory and learning, though some studies show positive impacts on energy and mood, including depression and anxiety. 

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*PC12 cells are used in neuroscience research to study neurotoxicity, neuroprotection, neuronal differentiation, neurosecretion, neuroinflammation, and synaptogenesis.

Author: Kim Ross, DCN, and Emily Hernandez, MS, CNS
Reviewer: Deanna Minich, PhD
Last Updated: April 14, 2026

 

References

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1. Malík M, Tlustoš P. Nootropic Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees as Potential Cognitive Enhancers. Plants (Basel). 2023 Mar 18;12(6).

2. Vera-López KJ, Davila-Del-Carpio G, Nieto-Montesinos R. Macamides as Potential Therapeutic Agents in Neurological Disorders. Neurol Int. 2024 Nov 21;16(6):1611–25.

3. Xia N, Xu L, Huang M, Xu D, Li Y, Wu H, et al. Neuroprotection of macamide in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease involves Nrf2 signaling pathway and gut microbiota. Eur J Pharmacol. 2024 Jul 15;975:176638.

4. Li K, Li Z, Men L, Li J, Gong X. Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Ultrasound-Assisted Strategy for Simultaneous Extraction of Five Macamides from Lepidium meyenii Walp and In Vitro Bioactivities. Foods. 2023 Jan 5;12(2).

5. Vera-López KJ, Aranzamendi-Zenteno M, Davila-Del-Carpio G, Nieto-Montesinos R. Using Immunoliposomes as Carriers to Enhance the Therapeutic Effectiveness of Macamide N-3-Methoxybenzyl-Linoleamide. Neurol Int. 2025 Mar 3;17(3).

6. J. R, S. Y, M. G, G.F. G. Dose response effect of black maca (Lepidium meyenii) in mice with memory impairment induced by ethanol. Vol. 21, Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods. 2011.

7. Liu X, Rubio J, Qiong W, Jiang Z, Dang H, Chen SL, et al. Aqueous extract of black maca (Lepidium meyenii) on memory impairment induced by ovariectomy in mice. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011;2011.

8. Rubio J, Dang H, Gong M, Liu X, Chen S lin, Gonzales GF. Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Black Maca (Lepidium meyenii) improve scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2007;45(10).

9. Tarabasz D, Szczeblewski P, Laskowski T, Płaziński W, Baranowska-Wójcik E, Szwajgier D, 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 Apr 27;23(9):4858.

10. Quispe-Díaz IM, Ybañez-Julca RO, Asunción-Alvarez D, et al. Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, and Antinociceptive Effects of Peruvian Black Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.). Antioxidants (Basel). 2025;14(10):1214. Published 2025 Oct 8. doi:10.3390/antiox14101214

11. Rubio J, Caldas M, Dávila S, Gasco M, Gonzales GF. Effect of three different cultivars of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on learning and depression in ovariectomized mice. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2006 Jun 23;6:23.

12. Ybanez-Julca RO, Quispe-Diaz IM, Asuncion-Alvarez D, Sanchez-Munoz K, Vargas-Gonas A, Morote-Guzman J, et al. Antidepressant-Like Behavioral and Spatial Memory Effects in Peruvian Red Maca (Lepidium meyenii)-Treated Rats. Pharmacognosy Journal. 2021 Jan 8;13(1):81–8.

13. Guo SS, Gao XF, Gu YR, Wan ZX, Lu AM, Qin ZH, et al. Preservation of Cognitive Function by Lepidium meyenii (Maca) Is Associated with Improvement of Mitochondrial Activity and Upregulation of Autophagy-Related Proteins in Middle-Aged Mouse Cortex. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2016;2016.

14. Fu P, Luo S, Liu Z, Furuhara K, Tsuji T, Higashida H, et al. Oral Supplementation with Maca Improves Social Recognition Deficits in the Valproic Acid Animal Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Sci. 2023;13(2).