Ajuga Turkestanica as a Post Workout

Anabolic compounds in Ajuga turkestanica may potentially improve muscle growth and recovery.

Believed to carry bio-active compounds that resemble androgens in structure, Ajuga turkestanica could potentially impart such post-workout benefits as:

• Increasing muscle mass. Ajuga turkestanica has been shown to increase muscle protein synthesis in animals.
• Improving muscle recovery. The herb may increase the muscle-regenerating activity of satellite cells.

Overview

Ajuga turkestanica is a small flowering plant native to Uzbekistan. Traditionally, the shoots and leaves of the herb have been used as a kind of organic remedy for heart complications, stress, and body aches, especially as a hot broth.

Its health effects are believed to stem from compounds known as ecdysteroids – plant chemicals that are proposed to have anabolic effects akin to testosterone and other androgens. Common ecdysteroids include: ¹

• alpha-ecdysone
• sileneoside A
• turkesterone
• ecdysterone, typically found in maral root

The potential anabolic properties ecdysteroids have led some to suggest the use of Ajuga turkestanica as a safe alternative to anabolic steroids for boosting muscle mass, recovery, and physical performance.

How Ajuga Turkestanica Might Help Post-Workout Formulas

Stimulating protein synthesis

Ecdysteroids have been shown to possess anabolic properties that may ultimately lead to an increase in muscle mass², and ecdysteroids from Ajuga turkestanica in particular³ have been demonstrated to increase muscle protein synthesis in isolated animal cells.⁴ 

These anabolic effects have been suggested to result from two biological mechanisms:

1. Accelerating the translocation process. Ecdysteroids have been shown to increase the rate of protein molecule formation by speeding up the translocation part of muscle development rather than producing new muscle cells.⁵
2. Increase notch signaling, which is essential for the proliferation of muscle cells.⁶

Ajuga Turkestanica’s Potential Post-Workout Benefits & Uses

Ajuga turkestanica contains a considerable amount of ecdysteroids with anabolic properties that research has shown may have such potential post workout benefits as:⁷

• Increasing muscle mass
• Rejuvenating muscle repair

The major practical use of Ajuga based on these benefits is as an anabolic supplement ideal for sports and exercises related to resistance training, especially bodybuilding and wrestling.⁸ Having said, there is currently zero research on the anabolic effects of Ajuga and other sources of ecdysteroids in humans.

Research

Animal Research

Research in mice indicates that Ajuga turkestanica may support muscle cell growth and regeneration.

Ajuga (50 mg/kg) may increase the cellular activity of aged mouse skeletal muscle

In this randomized, controlled investigation, mice were assigned to a control group or given Ajuga turkestanica extract (ATE, 50 mg/kg body weight) daily for 28 days. After supplementation, the triceps brachii muscles were analyzed. Compared to the control, Ajuga turkestanica was found to significantly increase the percent of active Notch signaling molecules that are used to activate satellite cells, which are responsible for muscle regeneration.

• The researchers concluded that “ATE supplementation in aged mice increases Notch and Wnt signaling in triceps brachii muscle… then phytoecdysteroids may provide a protective effect and maintain the integrity of aged skeletal muscle.”¹⁰

Turkesterone in Ajuga (5 mg/kg) may stimulate protein biosynthesis in mice

In this investigation, mice were given either the ecdysteroid turkesterone at 5 mg/kg of body weight or the anabolic steroid nerobole at 10 mg/kg of body weight. Turkesterone was found to stimulate protein biosynthesis in the liver.

• The researchers concluded that “Actinomycin D, which inhibited the stimulation of protein biosynthesis in liver tissue of mice treated with nerobole, did not affect the phenomenon in mice treated with turkesterone.”¹¹

Ajuga may promote muscle growth, as demonstrated in isolated mouse cells

In this investigation mouse cells were treated with either Ajuga turkestanica extract (ATE) or the anabolic steroid nethandrostenolone. After 6 hours of incubation, Ajuga turkestanica demonstrated no significant loss of viability and a two-fold down regulation of caspase-3, a marker of cell death, and a four-fold down regulation of myostatin, which is a protein that blocks muscle cell growth.

• The researchers concluded that “our results indicate the potential for an ATE to support muscle mass without typical androgenic side effects of synthetic anabolic drugs.”¹²

Ecdysteroids in Ajuga (5 mg/kg) may reduce free fatty acid content

In this investigation, male rats with diabetes were administered the ecdysteroids ecdysterone and turkesterone at 5 mg per kg of mass and the anabolic steroid nerobol at 10 mg per kg of body mass every day for 15 days. The combination resulted in a decrease in the content of free fatty acids in the blood as well as normalized overall phospholipid content.

• The researchers concluded that “phytoecdysteroids in the first turn normalize the fractions of phospholipids which play the structural role in the mitochondrial membranes.”¹³

Human Research

There are currently no clinical studies examining the potential impact of Ajuga turkestanica on exercise performance.

Post-Workout Dosage

• No successful clinical research has delineated dosage for Ajuga turkestanica.
• Ajuga turkestanica supplements are offered at a wide range of 200 mg – 2 g daily.

Available Forms

• 20:1 liquid or powdered extract in gelatine capsules or as a tincture
• Pure dried plant steeped in hot water