| Leuzea's root, known to the western world as Maral | | | | without the negative side effects of sleeping pills. It |
| root was first studied by Soviet scientists during the | | | | was also found to help with the intitial stages of |
| Second World War. Russian scientists were looking at | | | | impotence and diabetes. |
| anything that might have the potential to provide | | | | Ecdysterone |
| their soldier more strength and endurance as they | | | | One of the most interesting constituents that |
| slogged their way into Berlin. | | | | scientists found in Leuzea extract was a |
| The ethanol extract of the dried root was found to | | | | polyhydrodated sterol that belongs to the ecdysone |
| contain tannins, phytoecdsones, flavonoids, | | | | group known as ecdysterone. This sterol is usually |
| glycosides, lignins, alkaloids, vitamins, organic acid | | | | found in insects and crustaceans and is utilized to |
| along with some other compounds that could not be | | | | regulate protein synthesis. Early studies of the |
| identified. They conducted numerous clinical trials (on | | | | extract dismissed ecdysterone because of this, but |
| people as while as laboratory animals) and concluded | | | | later scientists discovered that this sterol possessed |
| that an extract of Leuzea's root displayed many | | | | anabolic activity meaning that it helped increase |
| properties capable of helping a person stay active | | | | muscle mass in much the same way that steroids do |
| and alert as well as the ability to restore energy and | | | | but without destroying the function of androgen. |
| even increase muscle mass. | | | | Ecdysterone also displayed the ability to activate the |
| They found that Maral Root could:o Help increase the | | | | synthesis of certain enzymes (glutamate |
| rate in which the cells restore their energy (ATP)o | | | | decarboxylase, acetylcholine esterase) in the brain as |
| Help build muscle masso Help improve the contraction | | | | well as enzymes in the cells which are involved in the |
| of the heart muscles and improve circulation to the | | | | generation of energy. It was also found to help |
| muscle and brain.o Help counteract oxygen | | | | protect the liver cells from free radical oxidation and |
| starvationo Help with fertilizationo Help with focus, | | | | DNA and cellular membranes from H2O2. |
| concentration allowing people to perform while | | | | Scientists believe that the ecdysterone has the ability |
| mentally fatiguedo Help with resistance to the | | | | to mimic the actions of the human steroid hormones, |
| common cold. | | | | except for the fact that they have much less of a |
| The Soviets also found that the extract t helped | | | | chance to get picked up by hormone receptors. This |
| people to counteract the brain numbing effects of | | | | means if the human body has an ample supply of |
| sodium barbital. Further tests revealed that Leuzea | | | | human steroid hormones, ecdysterone cannot |
| extract helped people keep their concentration during | | | | compete with them. However, if there happen to be |
| stressful situations allowing people to stay focused | | | | a deficiency in these hormones, which can occur |
| and attentive when they performed jobs that were | | | | during times of physical and mental stress, then |
| unusually stressful (i.e. Air traffic controller). The | | | | ecdysterone can bind with the receptors and provide |
| extract was also found to be beneficial as a sleep | | | | much needed energy and attention. |
| aid, preventing sleep disorders brought on by stress | | | | |