In Uzbekistan and Tadzhikistan the plant has been valued for its beneficial effects on muscle strength and stomach aches. This is plant with a long history of use in traditional medicine for its anabolic, adaptogenic, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic activity.
Turkesterone is one of the primary bioactive compounds naturally occurring in Ajuga turkestanica. Few studies have been performed on Turkesterone, however there has been interest in ecdysteroids, especially 20-Hydroxyecdysone as having many potential anabolic and beneficial effects including affecting metabolism and growth. In plants, these groups of compounds are used to deter predators while in insects they help to regulate key processes such as moulting and metamorphosis or insect development. Turkesterone is an ecdysteroid (ECDY) which are steroid hormones found commonly in arthropods & insects but can also be found in certain plant species. In the 1980s the most active phytoecdysteroid, ecdysterone (beta-ecdysone, a “Russian secret”), was suspected to be used by Russian Olympic athletes. What is known as a “natural anabolic agent” has been marketed to athletes to increase strength and muscle mass. Turkesterone is an ecdysteroid that has shown incredible results since it has been introduced into the supplement world.
