20-hydroxyecdysone

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Image:20-hydroxyecdysone.png Ecdysterone
(2β,3β,5β,22R)-2,3,14,20,22,25- hexahydroxycholest-7-en-6-one
CAS number 5289-74-7	ATC code
Chemical formula	C₂₇H₄₄O₇
Molecular weight	480.634
Bioavailability	?%
Metabolism	Hepatic
Elimination half-life	? hours
Excretion	Urinary:?%
Pregnancy category	X
Legal status	Undetermined
Routes of administration	Oral

20-hydroxyecdysone (Ecdysterone) is a naturally occurring ecdysteroid hormone produced by various plants including Cyanotis vaga. Upon its isolation, it quickly became apparent that it was taken up by insects feeding on the plant, and played a key role in cell proliferation, growth and apoptosis by controlling gene expression involved in ecdysis and metamorphosis. It acts through a heterodimeric receptor comprising the ecdysone receptor and the ultraspiracle proteins (USP) to cause a positive nitrogen balance in the body. When first isolated, there was little interest from the commercial sector due to the lack of a cost-effective way to extract or synthesise the chemical. However, recent breakthroughs have meant that it can now be isolated in an extremely concentrated form. This has led to experimentation with its use as an anabolic steroid in sport and bodybuilding.

Despite lacking FDA approval and being largely illegal in the West, it has proven to be moderately successful as a commercial product in the countries in which it is produced, likely due to its efficacy in promoting muscle growth and fat loss, and lower frequency of side-effects usually associated with anabolic steroids. Such side effects are still fairly common, however, as a result of increased testosterone and DHT production, and include androgenic changes in females such as growth of facial and body hair and deepening of the voice, as well as gastrointestinal problems for both sexes, such as nausea, bloating, and diarrhoea. Clinical studies by ICN Pharmaceuticals demonstrated that the results are further improved when the drug is combined with a high-protein diet, to the point of equalling or even surpassing the beneficial effects of conventionally derived steroids such as Dianabol<ref>Chermnykh, N.S., et.al. (November–December 1988). "The action of methandrostenolone and ecdysterone on the physical endurance of animals and on protein metabolism in the skeletal muscles". Farmakol Toksikol (USSR) 51 (6): 57–60. PMID 3234543.</ref><ref>Simakin, S. Yu., et al. (1988). "The Combined Use of Ecdisten and the Product 'Bodrost' during Training in Cyclical Types of Sport". Scientific Sports Bulletin (2).</ref>. The same studies showed the effective dose for a human to be around 5 mg per kg of body mass, daily. The compound becomes toxic only at doses of 6400 mg per kg of body mass per day.

In addition to its potential use as an anabolic growth hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone has proven to cause moderate increases in testosterone production in males. This has led to speculation and a small number of partially successful trials in testing its use in improving overall sexual function.