<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The macamides are a distinct class of secondary metabolites that have so far been found only in <jats:italic>Lepidium meyenii</jats:italic> Walp. (Maca). Using HPLC‐UV‐MS/MS, the main macamides have been identified as <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐benzylhexadecanamide, <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐benzyl‐(9Z)‐octadecenamide, <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐benzyl‐(9Z, 12Z)‐octadecadienamide, <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐benzyl‐(9Z, 12Z, 15Z)‐octadecatrienamide and <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐benzyloctadecanamide. The identities of <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐benzyl‐(9Z)‐octadecenamide and <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐benzyl‐(9Z, 12Z)‐octadecadienamide were confirmed by comparison of chromatographic and spectral properties with synthetic analogues. Total macamides have been quantified by HPLC‐UV in plant material from different vendors using <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐benzylhexadecanamide as an external standard. The amount of macamides in the dried plant material ranged from 0.0016 to 0.0123%. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.