Decoding Multiple Biofunctions of Maca on Its Anti-allergic, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-thrombotic, and Pro-angiogenic Activities.

Four active partition layers and ten isolates, including (5)- and (5)-macapyrrolidone A (, ), and four new alkaloids, (5)- and (5)-macapyrrolidone B (, ) and macapyrrolins D, E (, ), were isolated from maca ( Walp.), an indigenous food plant from Peru. Derived from the -hexane layer, the macamide-rich fraction exhibited pro-angiogenic activity on EPC and HUVEC cells. Anti-thrombotic activity was displayed by the polar part of maca extracts (-butanol and water layers). Both 75% methanol aq. (midlower polar part) and -hexane (low polar part) layers, which showed signs of fatty acid content, markedly inhibited superoxide and elastase release in an anti-inflammatory assay. The 75% methanol aq. layer showed strong anti-allergic activity, and macapyrrolin A () was found active based on β-hexosaminidase release inhibition assays and a ChemGPS-NP experiment. These valuable bioactivity results suggest that maca is a food plant with good benefits for human health.