| Ajuga turkestanica | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Ajuga |
| Species: | A. turkestanica |
| Binomial name | |
| Ajuga turkestanica | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Ajuga turkestanica is a herbaceous flowering plant native to Central Asia. It was first described in 1894. [1]
A. turkestanica is a perennial herbaceous plant reaching heights between 40 and 60 cm. [2] The plant is typically found in populations between 10 and 300, and appear more frequent within Artemisia complexes. The leaves are an elliptical oblong shape, straight-edged and with a pointed tip. It will flower between May and June. The flowers are small, pink, and located within the axil of two leaves. The fruit consists of four nuts, a characteristic of the Lamiaceae family. Fruit is born by the end of May.[ citation needed ]
A. turkestanica is native to the Pamir-Alay mountain ranges of Central Asia, notably within the Surxondaryo Region of Uzbekistan. The species has also been observed within the low mountain regions of southern Tajikistan. It grows in rocky clay conditions up to elevations of approximately 2500 metres.[ citation needed ]
A. turkestanica, alongside many other Ajuga species, is claimed to have medicinal effects. [3] [4] [5] [6] The species has traditionally been used by local charmers (herbalists), who prescribe the herb as a tonic.[ citation needed ] Today, many bodybuilding supplements containing extracts of A. turkestanica can be found on the Internet. [2] A. turkestanica contains ecdysteroid derivatives such as turkesterone, though whether these produce anabolic effects in mammals is unclear and research has shown inconsistent results. [7] [8] [9] [10] Some proponents claim it promotes muscle growth and enhances recovery, although a study published in 2024 concluded that four weeks of supplementation with 500 mg of turkesterone did not affect body composition in active, healthy males and females. [11]
Liquorice or licorice is the common name of Glycyrrhiza glabra, a flowering plant of the bean family Fabaceae, from the root of which a sweet, aromatic flavouring is extracted.
20-Hydroxyecdysone is a naturally occurring ecdysteroid hormone which controls the ecdysis (moulting) and metamorphosis of arthropods. It is therefore one of the most common moulting hormones in insects, crabs, etc. A phytoecdysteroid produced by various plants, including Cyanotis vaga, Ajuga turkestanica and Rhaponticum carthamoides, its purpose is presumably to disrupt the development and reproduction of insect pests. In arthropods, 20-hydroxyecdysone acts through the ecdysone receptor. Although mammals lack this receptor, 20-hydroxyecdysone affects mammalian biological systems. 20-Hydroxyecdysone is an ingredient of some supplements that aim to enhance physical performance. In humans, it is hypothesized to bind to the estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) protein-coding gene.
Solanum nigrum, the European black nightshade or simply black nightshade or blackberry nightshade, is a species of flowering plant in the family Solanaceae, native to Eurasia and introduced in the Americas, Australasia, and South Africa. Ripe berries and cooked leaves of edible strains are used as food in some locales, and plant parts are used as a traditional medicine. Some other species may also be referred to as "black nightshade".
Tubocurarine is a toxic benzylisoquinoline alkaloid historically known for its use as an arrow poison. In the mid-1900s, it was used in conjunction with an anesthetic to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation. Safer alternatives, such as cisatracurium and rocuronium, have largely replaced it as an adjunct for clinical anesthesia and it is now rarely used.
Siraitia grosvenorii, also known as monk fruit, monkfruit, luó hàn guǒ, or Swingle fruit, is a herbaceous perennial vine of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. It is native to southern China. The plant is cultivated for its fruit extract containing mogrosides. Mogroside extract has been used as a low-calorie sweetener for drinks and in traditional Chinese medicine. One mogroside, mogroside V, creates a sweetness sensation 250 times stronger than sucrose.
Paraxanthine, also known as 1,7-dimethylxanthine, is a metabolite of theophylline and theobromine, two well-known stimulants found in coffee, tea, and chocolate mainly in the form of caffeine. It is a member of the xanthine family of alkaloids, which includes theophylline, theobromine and caffeine.
Camazepam is a benzodiazepine psychoactive drug, marketed under the brand names Albego, Limpidon and Paxor. It is the dimethyl carbamate ester of temazepam, a metabolite of diazepam. While it possesses anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, skeletal muscle relaxant and hypnotic properties it differs from other benzodiazepines in that its anxiolytic properties are particularly prominent but has comparatively limited anticonvulsant, hypnotic and skeletal muscle relaxant properties.
Methyllycaconitine (MLA) is a diterpenoid alkaloid found in many species of Delphinium (larkspurs). In common with many other diterpenoid alkaloids, it is toxic to animals, although the acute toxicity varies with species. Methyllycaconitine was identified one of the principal toxins in larkspurs responsible for livestock poisoning in the mountain rangelands of North America. Methyllycaconitine has been explored as a possible therapeutic agent for the treatment of spastic paralysis, and it has been shown to have insecticidal properties. It has become an important molecular probe for studying the pharmacology of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
Ursolic acid, is a pentacyclic triterpenoid identified in the epicuticular waxes of apples as early as 1920 and widely found in the peels of fruits, as well as in herbs and spices like rosemary and thyme.
Ecdysteroids are arthropod steroid hormones that are mainly responsible for molting, development and, to a lesser extent, reproduction; examples of ecdysteroids include ecdysone, ecdysterone, turkesterone and 2-deoxyecdysone. These compounds are synthesized in arthropods from dietary cholesterol upon metabolism by the Halloween family of cytochrome P450s. Phytoecdysteroids also appear in many plants mostly as a protection agents against herbivore insects.
Aeruginascin, also known as 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N,N-trimethyltryptamine (4-PO-TMT), is an indoleamine derivative which occurs naturally within the mushrooms Inocybe aeruginascens, Pholiotina cyanopus, and Psilocybe cubensis.
Anabolic steroids, also known as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), are a class of drugs that are structurally related to testosterone, the main male sex hormone, and produce effects by binding to the androgen receptor (AR). Anabolic steroids have a number of medical uses, but are also used by athletes to increase muscle size, strength, and performance.
Enobosarm, also formerly known as ostarine and by the developmental code names GTx-024, MK-2866, and S-22, is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) which is under development for the treatment of androgen receptor-positive breast cancer in women and for improvement of body composition in people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide. It was also under development for a variety of other indications, including treatment of cachexia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, muscle atrophy or sarcopenia, and stress urinary incontinence, but development for all other uses has been discontinued. Enobosarm was evaluated for the treatment of muscle wasting related to cancer in late-stage clinical trials, and the drug improved lean body mass in these trials, but it was not effective in improving muscle strength. As a result, enobosarm was not approved and development for this use was terminated. Enobosarm is taken by mouth.
Glycine tabacina, commonly known as variable glycine, is a scrambling plant in the bean family found in Australia. It grows in areas of high rainfall, ranging to semi-arid areas. The leaves are in threes, 7 cm long by 2 cm wide. Bluish to purple flowers form on racemes in the warmer months. The bean pod is up to 3 cm long. The habitat is among grasses, often in open country.
Pittosporum angustifolium is a shrub or small tree growing throughout inland Australia. Common names include weeping pittosporum, butterbush, cattle bush, native apricot, apricot tree, gumbi gumbi, cumby cumby, meemeei, poison berry bush, and berrigan.
Tetramethylammonium (TMA) is the simplest quaternary ammonium cation. It has the chemical formula [Me4N]+ and consists of four methyl groups attached to a central nitrogen atom. The cation is isoelectronic with neopentane. It is positively-charged and can only be isolated in association with a counter-ion. Common salts include tetramethylammonium chloride and tetramethylammonium hydroxide. Tetramethylammonium salts are used in chemical synthesis and in pharmacological research. It confers no color to its salts.
4'-Fluorocannabidiol is a fluorinated cannabidiol derivative that has more potent anxiolytic, antidepressant, antipsychotic and anti-compulsive activity in mice compared to its parent compound. It was first synthesized in 2016, alongside 10-fluorocannabidiol diacetate and 8,9-dihydro-7-fluorocannabidiol, which showed much weaker activity.
Gardenia erubescens is a shrub or small tree species with edible fruits that occurs in the Guinea and Sudan savannah vegetation of West and Central Africa. It is within the Rubiaceae family.
Turkesterone is a phytoecdysteroid found in numerous plant species, including Ajuga turkestanica, various Vitex species, Triticum aestivum, and Rhaponticum acaule.
MK-4541 is a dual selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) and 5α-reductase inhibitor (5α-RI) which has been of interest for the potential treatment of prostate cancer but has not been marketed at this time. It is intended for use by mouth.