Ecdysteroid Biology and Applications in Health

Ecdysteroids are a class of polyhydroxylated steroidal compounds originally identified as insect moulting hormones and later discovered in a wide range of plant species. In plants, these molecules appear to function as defence agents against herbivorous arthropods, whereas in mammals they exert multiple non-hormonal pharmacological effects, including anabolic, adaptogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The most abundant and extensively studied ecdysteroid is 20-hydroxyecdysone, which has attracted interest for its potential to enhance muscle growth, improve metabolic homeostasis and protect against tissue injury. Advances in biotechnological production—such as plant in vitro culture, elicitor-induced synthesis and precursor feeding—are expanding the sustainable supply of these compounds. Emerging preclinical and early clinical data indicate therapeutic promise in contexts as diverse as sarcopenia, cardiometabolic syndrome, gastrointestinal motility disorders and certain malignancies. Quality control of ecdysteroid-containing products has also become critical in light of investigations revealing adulteration and counterfeiting in commercial supplements. Taken together, the field of ecdysteroid biology is rapidly evolving towards translational applications, with efforts focused on elucidating mechanisms of action, optimising production processes and conducting rigorous safety and efficacy assessments.

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Ecdysteroid Biology and Applications in Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ecdysteroid biology and applications in health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ecdysteroids: Polyhydroxylated steroids originally identified as insect moulting hormones and present in certain plants, with various non-hormonal effects in vertebrates.

Phytoecdysteroids: Plant-derived ecdysteroids that contribute to defence against herbivory and exhibit bioactivity in mammalian systems.

20-Hydroxyecdysone: The most abundant ecdysteroid in plants, notable for its anabolic, adaptogenic and antioxidant properties in preclinical models.

Anabolic: Pertaining to metabolic processes that build up tissues, particularly muscle, by stimulating protein synthesis.

Adaptogenic: Describing substances that enhance the organism’s resilience to physical and psychological stress without disrupting normal physiological functions.

References

1. Ecdysterone and Turkesterone—Compounds with Prominent Potential in Sport and Healthy Nutrition. Nutrients (2024).
2. Phytoecdysteroids: Quantification in Selected Plant Species and Evaluation of Some Effects on Gastric Smooth Muscles. Molecules (2024).
3. 20-Hydroxyecdysone Confers Antioxidant and Antineoplastic Properties in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells. Metabolites (2023).
4. Ecdysteroids: production in plant in vitro cultures. Phytochemistry Reviews (2016).
5. 20-Hydroxyecdysone, from Plant Extracts to Clinical Use: Therapeutic Potential for the Treatment of Neuromuscular, Cardio-Metabolic and Respiratory Diseases. Biomedicines (2021).
6. Ecdysteroid-containing food supplements from Cyanotis arachnoidea on the European market: evidence for spinach product counterfeiting. Scientific Reports (2016).