Phytoecdysteroids - From Isolation to Their Effects on Humans

Abstract

An overview is given on both well-known and recently discovered phytoecdyteroids including a sophisticated isolation scheme and notable physiological and pharmacological effects of ecdysteroids on vertebrates. The isolation of pure ecdysteroids has been improved by the use of low-pressure reversed-phase chromatography. An optimized combination of preliminary purification and chromatographic separations results in pure ecdysteroids. Structural elucidation has been done using spectroscopic methods, however, the final proof of the steric structure is rendered using x-ray crystallography. Ecdysteroid containing preparations show a boom and both OTC products and numerous preparation techniques can be found using the Internet. This paper will give a review on the kaleidoscope of pharmacological effects attributed to the ecdysteroids, such as: An increase of protein synthesis (for body-building, AIDS, patients with neoplasm disease, etc.), and other body functions; Antidepressant effect; Shielding the body from stress, and improve the physical and sexual performance; Prevention from infections and certain diseases. A list of recent offers of ecdysteroid-containing products will also be given. The perspective use of ecdysteroids is promising in genetics. Steroid regulation of programmed cell death during development and differentiation has recently come to the limelight. Murine model of human diseases and its influencing with ecdysteroids are detailed.

Phytoecdysteroids and Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids - Structure and Effects on Humans

“…20-Hydroxyecdysone (6), turkesterone (18) and 2-deoxyecdysone (13) in the same (0.5 mg/100 g) dose were found to stimulate protein synthesis in the liver of laboratory mice. The protein synthesisincreasing ability was associated with polyribosomal activity.…”

“…20-Hydroxyecdysone (6) can be isolated from these plant sources by simple separation procedures [12]. The isolation of minor ecdysteroids requires adequate plant sources, from which these ecdysteroids can be isolated in appropriate quantities by means of sophisticated methods [13]. Such plants are Ajuga, Serratula, Silene species and Leuzea.…”

Ecdysteroids act as inhibitors of calf skin collagenase and oxidative stress

“…Previous studies stated that they may be involved in plants defense mechanism against invading arthropods [2,5], in plant development (at low ecdysteroids content), and in the biochemical processes of storage, transportation, and metabolism of sterols (when at high ecdysteroids content). Many other pharmacological effects are attributed to these compounds [6]; however, reports on their collagenase inhibition potency are seldom in the literature.…”

Level and distribution of 20-hydroxyecdysone during Pfaffia glomerata development

“…However, it is suspected that PEs may have three different roles: 1) as physiologically active compounds (Dinan, 1998;Golovatskaya, 2004); 2) as compounds that protect plants from unadapted phytophagous insects (Lafont, 1997);and, 3) as compounds that supply the polyhydroxylated phytosterols that are required for growth and cell proliferation (Machackova et al, 1995). In addition, the PE 20E may have many pharmacological and medicinal effects on mammals (Slama and Lafont, 1995;Dinan, 2001;Lafont and Dinan, 2003;Bathori and Pongracz, 2005;Dinan and Lafont, 2006;Festucci-Buselli et al, 2008).…”