Contents of eight mineral elements in maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) from China and Peru were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Cu contents in maca samples from China (2.5-31 mg kg(-1) dry weight, dw) were higher than the samples from Peru (<2.1 mg kg(-1) dw). Na in two samples from China was found to be significantly of high content (2400 and 2600 mg kg(-1) dw). The contents (mg kg(-1) dw) of B, Co, Cr, Li, Ni, and Zn were, respectively, 8.1-21, <0.023, <1.1~3.5, 0.020-0.17, 0.085-4.5, and 10-39 for the samples from China, while being 6.6-12, <0.023, <1.1~2.3, 0.035-0.063, 0.68-1.7, and 27-39 for the samples from Peru.