Effects of Maca Root Extract on Some Molecular Parameters of Kidney Tissue in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) has been used as a dietary supplement in ethnomedicine for centuries.\rMaca has recently become a high-functional food globally, due to its numerous biological benefits.\rThe high-fat diet (HFD) is closely related to the occurrence of obesity. Obesity is a common cause\rfor chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maca on organic\ranion transporters-3 (OAT-3), organic cation transporter-1 (OCT-1), organic cation transporter-2\r(OCT-2), insulin receptor substrate-1(IRS-1), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and\rvascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein levels. In the study, 28 Sprague-Dawley male\rrats were randomly allocated into four groups (n=7); i) Control group (fed with standard diet); ii)\rGroup fed with standard diet and supplemented with Maca (40mg/kg/day) group; iii) Group fed a\rHFD; iv) Group fed with Maca+HFD. After the 60-day of study, kidney OCT-1, OCT-2 and IRS-1\rprotein levels showed a significant increase in the HFD+Maca treated group compared to the HFD\rgroup (P<0.05). Renal OAT-3 level was found to be significantly lower in the HFD group compared\rto the control group (P<0.0001). In addition, a significant decrease in VCAM-1 and VEGF protein\rlevels was observed in the HFD+Maca group compared to the HFD group (P<0.0001). These\rresults show the protective and regulatory activity in the Maca's kidney tissue when both normally\rand the HFD diet is fed