To evaluate the effects of Maca in protecting the liver,promoting defecation,and regulating intestinal flora to further explore the medicinal value of Maca and provide references for Maca application.Methods:The liver function,inflammatory mediators,and lipid peroxidation indexes were measured to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Maca aqueous extract in the alcoholic liver disease(ALD) mouse model.A mouse model of small intestinal peristalsis inhibition was used to evaluate the promoting effect on defecation of Maca water extract by measuring the ink propulsion rate,serum motilin(MTL) and cGMP levels.The intestinal flora of cecal contents was determined by 16S rDNA technology,and the obtained data were analyzed by bioinformatics to evaluate the regulatory effect of Maca water extract on intestinal flora.Results:In the ALD mouse model,compared with the model group,the medium-dose group showed blunted activity of GPT and GOT in the serum(P<0.05); the low-dose group showed reduced activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) in the serum(P<0.05); the high-and low-dose groups showed reduced content of inflammatory factor monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) in mouse liver tissues(P<0.05 or P<0.01); the high-and medium-dose groups displayed inhibited levels of inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the serum(P<0.05 or P<0.01); the high-,medium-,and low-dose groups showed increased content of glutathione(GSH) in mouse liver tissues(P<0.05 or P<0.01).In the mouse model of small intestinal peristalsis inhibition,compared with the model group,the high-dose Maca water extract group showed increased small intestinal propulsion rate(P<0.01 or P<0.05); the medium-dose group showed increased content of MTL in the serum(P<0.05); the high-and medium-dose groups showed reduced cGMP levels.The study of the regulatory effect of Maca on intestinal flora showed that compared with the blank group at the phylum level,the high-,medium-,and low-dose Maca water extract groups showed reduced abundance of Firmicutes; high-and low-dose groups showed increased abundance of Bacteroidetes.At the genus level,the medium-dose Maca water extract group showed increased abundance of Lactobacillus; the medium-and low-dose groups showed increased abundance of Alloprevotella; the high-,medium-,and low-dose groups showed significant differences in the intestinal microbial community.The results of metabolic function prediction showed that compared with the blank group,the high-and low-dose Maca water extract groups showed decreased RNA processing and modification,cell movement,extracellular structure,and cytoskeleton and increased other metabolic functions; the medium-dose group showed decreased cell movement and cytoskeleton and increased other metabolic functions.Conclusion:Maca water extract has the functions of protecting the liver,promoting defecation,and regulating intestinal flora.