Macamide, a component of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp) lipophilic extract, enhances myogenic differentiation via AKT/p38 signaling and attenuates dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy.

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a plant that grows in the central Andes region of Peru, and it has been reported to have various bioactive functions, such as improving or preventing osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, and memory impairment. In this study, maca roots of various colors (yellow, red, or black) were extracted using different polar solvents (PE, HEX, or BuOH) to compare their effects on muscle differentiation. Among them, the red maca lipophilic extract, which showed the most effectiveness, was chosen for further investigation. Our results show that RMLE enhances muscle differentiation by inducing MyoD-E2A heterodimerization through the activation of the AKT/p38 pathway. Additionally, RMLE attenuated dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy by inhibiting nuclear translocation of FoxO3a and expression of E3-ligase (MAFbx and MURF1) in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, based on these results suggest that lipophilic extract of maca, which can abundantly contain nonpolar compounds, macamides, can enhance the functional properties of maca in alleviating muscle homeostasis.