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Ecdysterone Supplement Review


Q. I've come across this term a few times while looking at some sites online, many say it is the next big thing. Is it really all these web sites make it out to be? One of the sites says "Ecdysterone can increase lean muscle tissue by 7% and decrease body fat by 10% in only ten days". Call me a skeptic, but this sounds WAY to good to be true. So what are the real benefits of this supplement and how effective is it?

A. Here is some information on scientific studies and reviews for this supplement.

Ecdysterone compared to methandrostenolone (D-bol):

The action of methandrostenolone and ecdysterone on the physical
endurance of animals and on protein metabolism in the skeletal
muscles.

Author:
Chermnykh NS ; Shimanovskiši NL ; Shutko GV ; Syrov VN

Farmakol Toksikol, 51(6):57-60 1988 Nov-Dec

Abstract:
The results of the comparative study on the myotropic activity of
methandrostenolone and ecdysterone and their effects on physical
endurance of animals suggested that ecdysterone possessing a wider
spectrum of the anabolic action on the contractile proteins of the
skeletal muscles exerts a more pronounced influence on physical
endurance of animals without their preliminary training.

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This study shows anabolic effects with no andrgenic effects as
compared to D-bol:

Anabolic activity of phytoecdysone-ecdysterone isolated from
Rhaponticum carthamoides.

Author:
Syrov VN ; Kurmukov AG
Farmakol Toksikol, 39(6):690-3 1976 Nov-Dec

Abstract:
Introduction of phytiexdizone-exdisterone (0.5 mg/100 g) to rats for 7
days is shown to be attended by an accelerated body weight gain and
also by a rising weight of the liver, heart, kidneys and musculus
tibialis anterior. In these organs the total amount of protein
increases. All of the above-stated changes are more marked when the
substance is given to growing rats (70--80 g). In experiments on
castrated sexually immature rats the androgenic action of exdisterone,
unlike that of methandrostenolone, is not demonstrable.

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Positive insulin response:

The effect of nerobol and ecdysterone on insulin-dependent processes
linked normally and in insulin resistance

Author:
Kosovskiši MI ; Syrov VN ; Mirakhmedov MM ; Katkova SP ; Khushbaktova
ZA
Probl Endokrinol (Mosk), 35(5):77-81 1989 Sep-Oct

Abstract:
The effect of substances with anabolic activity (metandienone and
ecdysterone phytoecdysteroid) on the manifestation of insulin effects
was studied on a model of insulin resistance in rats induced by
injections of hydrocortisone or by insulin insufficiency caused by
alloxan. The sensitivity of the body to i. v. infusion of insulin and
the reactivity of isolated fatty tissue to the hormone were increased
after administration of these substances to test animals. The above
effects of steroids were determined by nonspecific synthesis of total
proteins in cells rather than by an increase in insulin secretion.

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Also a very very strong adaptogen and antioxidant:

Antioxidant effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone in a model system

Kuz'menko AI - Ukr Biokhim Zh - 1999 May-Jun; 71(3): 35-8

Original Title:
Izuchenie antiokislitel'nogo effekta 20-gidroksiekdizona v model'noi
sisteme.

Abstract:
Changes in the level of lipid free-radical oxidation in mitochondrial
fraction at the presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone in 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 microM
concentration with the help of a chemiluminescence (ChL) method were
investigated in vitro. Statistically authentic reduction of ChL
kinetic parameters--I(s) and tg alpha, at 20-hydroxyecdysone presence
in concentration of 2 microM was found. 20-hydroxyecdysone
administration in concentration 4 microM and more leads to the
statistically authentic change of all four ChL parameters. The
antioxidizing effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone was compared with action of
such antioxidant as a hydroquinone. The higher activity of
20-hydroxyecdysone as an antioxidant in comparison with the
hydroquinone was shown. For changes of all four measured kinetic
parameters of ChL, concentration of the hydroquinone as much 2-fold
than for 20-hydroxyecdysone is necessary. On the basis of our
researches in the model system a conclusion was made that
20-hydroxyecdysone has an antioxidizing action on lipid free radical
oxidation in mitochondrial fraction in dependents on concentration.
20-Hydroxyecdysone has antioxidizing properties directly, in these
conditions in vitro, when its metabolites formation does not occur
yet.

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Insect hormones in vertebrates: anabolic effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone
in Japanese quail.

Slama K - Experientia - 1996 Jul 15; 52(7): 702-6

Authors:
Slama K; Koudela K; Tenora J; Mathova A

Abstract:
Ecdysteroids are hormones controlling cell proliferation, growth and
the developmental cycles of insects and other invertebrates. They are
occasionally present in various unrelated plants for no apparent
reason; no phytohormonal function has yet been identified. In certain
cases, ecdysteroids are accumulated to high levels in leaves, roots or
seeds. Some ecdysteroid-containing plants have been known as medicinal
plants for centuries. One of them, Leuzea carthamoides Iljin
(Asteraceae), growing in Central Asia, contains 0.4% ecdysteroid in
dry roots and 2% in seeds. A pharmacological preparation from this
plant, "Ecdisten', is already available as a commercial preparation
for its anabolic, tonic and other effects, for medical use (review).
It remained problematic, however, whether ecdysteroids were truly
responsible for these effects, because Leuzea contains a number of
other biologically active compounds in addition to ecdysteroids. We
extracted and purified ecdysteroids from the seeds of Leuzea. With 6 g
of 96% 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), we made a large-scale feeding assay
with Japanese quail to find out whether ecdysteroid alone could
duplicate the anabolic effects of the seeds. We found that the 96%
ecdysteroid increased the mass of the developing quails in a
dose-dependent manner, with the rate of increase proportional to the
ecdysteroid content in the seeds; there was a 115% increase in living
mass with 100 mg kg-1 of pure 20E compared with 109.5% increase with
100-180 mg kg-1 20E equivalents in the seeds. We conclude that the
plethora of growth-promoting, vitamin-like effects induced in
vertebrates by Leuzea is mediated by ecdysteroids.

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An experimental study of the hepatoprotective properties of
phytoecdysteroids and nerobol in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver
lesion:

Eksp Klin Farmakol 1992 May-Jun;55(3):61-5

Syrov VN, Khushbaktova ZA, Nabiev AN

The phytoecdisteroids ecdisterone and cyasterone were administered in
a dose of 5 mg/kg per os to rats with hepatitis induced by
subcutaneous injections of CCl4. Similarly to the anabolic drug
nerobol (10 mg/kg), the above agents not only interfere with the
manifestation of the hepatic action of CCl4 (in this case the effect
of the phytoecdisteroids is more remarkable) but also favour a more
rapid normalization, as compared to the control, of functional and
metabolic disorders in the liver. The phytoecdisteroids and nerobol
noticeably stimulate the recovery of bile secretion, the synthesis of
bilirubin and bile acids, cholesterol excretion.

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Effects of vitamin D3 and ecdysterone on free-radical lipid
peroxidation:

Biochemistry (Mosc) - 1997 Jun; 62(6): 609-12

Authors:
Kuzmenko AI; Morozova RP; Nikolenko IA; Korniets GV; Kholodova YuD

Abstract:
Free-radical-induced lipid peroxidation was studied in vivo by
measuring chemiluminescence of tissues from vitamin D-deficit animals
before and after peroral administration of low-molecular-weight
biological steroids vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and ecdysterone. The
kinetics of lipid chemiluminescence in model systems in vitro were
determined in blood serum and microsomal and mitochondrial fractions
of the liver. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and ecdysterone displayed
antiradical properties; the latter was more potent in this respect.
Oxidation of lipids by hydroxyl groups contained in ecdysterone can
account for its antiradical effect. Ecdysterone and D3 may cause
antiradical effects through the same mechanisms.

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Effect of vitamin D3 and 20-hydroxyecdysone on the content of ATP,
creatine phosphate, carnosine and Ca2+ in skeletal muscles.

Kholodova IuD; Tugai VA; Zimina VP - Ukr Biokhim Zh - 1997 May-Jun;
69(3): 3-9

Abstract:
The effect of vitamin D3, and extract containing 20-hydroxyecdysone on
the level of basic metabolites in the skeletal muscles of rats has
been studied. It was shown that development of D-hypovitaminosis is
accompanied by the decrease in content of ATP, creatine phosphate,
carnosine, and by the increase of Ca2+ content. Against the background
of D-hypovitaminosis the 20-hydroxyecdysone promote the increase of
the amount of these metabolites up to the control of one and normalize
Ca2+ content in them.

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Alterations in rat lipid metabolism following ecdysterone treatment.

Catalan RE - Comp Biochem Physiol [B] - 1985; 81(3): 771-5

Authors:
Catalan RE; Martinez AM; Aragones MD; Miguel BG; Robles A; Godoy JE

Abstract:
The influence of ecdysterone on the lipid metabolism in liver and
adipose tissue from rat was investigated using 14C-acetate and
32P-orthophosphate as precursors. Ecdysterone produced an increase in
14C-acetate incorporation into triglycerides. A concomitant decrease
in free fatty acids and diglycerides was observed. The effect of
ecdysterone on triglyceride lipase activity was investigated and a
significant decrease was found. Ecdysterone produced a significant
increase in the specific activity of phosphatidylethanolamine and
phosphatidylserine in liver. On the contrary, the specific activity of
phosphatidylcholine was reduced. In adipose tissue, the most evident
effect observed was the increase of specific activity of
phosphatidylcholine. These results contribute to knowledge of the
heterophylic action of ecdysterone. 


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