Turkesterone is a phytoecdysteroid that has been found inA. turkestanicaand has diverse biological activities.¹It binds to the ecdysteroid receptor (K_D= 0.491 µM for theC. tentansreceptor) and induces pupariation inG. mellonella, S. bullata, andD. vulpinuslast instar larvae (ED₅₀s = 10, 0.03, and 0.2 µg/larvae, respectively).^2,3Turkesterone scavenges DPPH radicals in a cell-free assay (IC₅₀= 140.92 µg/ml) and is cytotoxic to HeLa cervical, HepG2 hepatic, and MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC₅₀s = 75.2, 63.01, and 105.2 µg/ml, respectively).¹It decreases serum glucose levels and increases serum insulin and C-peptide levels in a rat model of diabetes induced by alloxan when administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg.⁴Turkesterone prevents immobilization stress-induced stomach ulcers in mice.⁵

1.Mamadalieva, N.Z., El-Readi, M.Z., Ovidi, E., et al.Antiproliferative, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the chemical constituents of Ajuga turkestanicaPhytopharmacology4(1)1-18(2013) 2.SlÁma, K., Abubakirov, N.K., Gorovits, M.B., et al.Hormonal activity of ecdysteroids from certain asiatic plantsInsect Biochem. Mol. Biol.23(1)181-185(1993) 3.Spindler-Barth, M., Quack, S., Rauch, P., et al.Biological effects of muristerone A and turkesterone on the epithelial cell line from Chironomus tentans (Diptera: Chironomidae) and correlation with binding affinity to the ecdysteroid receptorEur. J. Entomol.94(2)161-166(1997) 4.Kuchkarova, L.S., Rokhimova, S.O., and Syrov, V.N.Effect of turkesterone on the pancreas histology and function in diabetic ratsInt. J. Curr. Res. Rev.12(21)1-5(2020) 5.Shakhmurova, G.A., Syrov, V.N., and Khushbaktova, Z.A.Immunomodulating and antistress activity of ecdysterone and turkesterone under immobilization-induced stress conditions in micePharm. Chem. J.44(1)7-9(2010)