Glucosinolates from Maca (Lepidium meyenii)

Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp) is a food plant belonging to the Cruciferae family. It is very interesting because it has one of the highest frost tolerances of any cultivated plant and can be grown at high altitudes (3800–4800 m) (Bonnier, 1986). Maca dry tubers were bought from INIA (Instituto National de Investigation Agroindustrial de Huancayo, Peru); a sample has been deposited in the Herbarium Neapolitanum the Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale Universita degli Studi ‘Federico II’ of Naples (herbarium code NAP).