Maca extracts and estrogen replacement therapy in ovariectomized rats exposed at high altitude

PURPOSE: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and herbal remedies are often used to alleviate menopausal symptoms, but their effects and efficacy at high altitudes presents with several uncertainties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether pre‐treatment with maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp) improved the tolerance to high altitude on an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model at sea level. METHOD: The animals were treated with 17β‐estradiol (200 µg/kg; E2), red and black maca (1.5 g/kg) for 28 days and exposed at high altitude or sea level. RESULT: Our findings showed that red and black maca extracts significantly (P < .001) reduced the MDA level in OVX rat serum under hypoxia in a similar way to E2. Red and black maca extracts had similar effects with E2, by significantly (P < .001) reversing and increasing the ovariectomized induced decrease in cornified endometrial cell number. Under hypoxic conditions, the black maca (P < .05) and E2 (P < .01) increased the uterine weight in OVX rats. Finally, E2 alone significantly recovered the frequency of the uterine contractile response. CONCLUSION: Aqueous extract of L. meyenii partially protects the reproductive function in hypobaric hypoxic environment, through the recovery of the cornified endometrial cells and uterine weight in a menopausal model of OVX rats.