Here is some information on Ecdysterone. I wouldn't expect anything like 4-AD or so-called 1-T, but it does have some potential.
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20-hydroxyecdysone is a phytoecdysteroid. Phytosteroids are compounds that come from plants that have a steroid-like structure. Ecdysteroids were first discovered some 50 years ago by a scientists named peter Karlson in 1950. Scientists have since isolated over 100 ecdysteroids, many of which occur not only in plants, but also in many insect species. In fact, in addition to plants and insects, ecdysteroids are also found in viruses, as well as parasitic worms and even crustaceans (lobsters, crabs, etc.).
Ecdysterone does not work through the endocrine or hormone system. In other words, although it appears to have some anabolic properties, it does not affect testosterone levels or even work through testosterone receptors. This was both interesting and perplexing to early Russian scientists. Syrov, who was involved in much of the ecdysterone research, was able to show that ecdysterone does not increase the level of mRNA or blueprints for protein like testosterone does, but instead it increases the rate of ribosomal activity. Ribosomes are cellular proteins that actually hook amino acids together to form new proteins. This has the effect of enabling the muscle cell to “work faster” to put amino acids together into protein chains. (9)
In addition to increasing performance and potentially increasing muscle mass, phytoecdysteroids have been shown to have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity (10), arrhythmias (11), red blood cell count (12), and other pathologies.
References:
1. Chermnykh NS, Shimanovskii NL, Shutko GV, Syrov VN. [The action of methandrostenolone and ecdysterone on the physical endurance of animals and on protein metabolism in the skeletal muscles]. Farmakol Toksikol 1988 Nov-Dec;51(6):57-60
2. Smetanin B. et al. The influence of preparations of plant origin on physical work capacity. The Russian Ministry of Public Health. 1986.
3. Fadeev BG. et al. Comments on the results of research of Ratibol in the practice of athletic training and rehabilitation. National Sports Research Institute. (In Press)
4. Slama K, Koudela K, Tenora J, Mathova A. Insect hormones in vertebrates: anabolic effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone in Japanese quail. Experientia 1996 Jul 15;52(7):702-6
5. Xu H, Cheng X, Cui Z, Wang B. [Androgen-like and anabolic action of Antheraea pernyi Guerin-Meneville Pas]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1991 Apr;16(4):237-40, 256 [Article in Chinese]
6. Syrov VN, Kurmukov AG. [Anabolic activity of phytoecdysone-ecdysterone isolated from Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin]. Farmakol Toksikol 1976 Nov-Dec;39(6):690-3
7. Simakin S., et al. The combined use of Ecdisten and the product Bodrost during training in cyclical type sport. Scientific Sports Bulletin, No. 2, 1988
8. Gadzhieva RM, Portugalov SN, Paniushkin VV, Kondrat'eva II. [A comparative study of the anabolic action of ecdysten, leveton and Prime Plus, preparations of plant origin]. Eksp Klin Farmakol 1995 Sep-Oct;58(5):46-8
9. Syrov VN. [Mechanism of the anabolic action of phytoecdisteroids in mammals]. Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki 1984;(11):16-20
10. Kosovskii MI, Syrov VN, Mirakhmedov MM, Katkova SP, Khushbaktova ZA. [The effect of nerobol [dianabol] and ecdysterone on insulin-dependent processes