Dry extract of Ajuga turkestanica in lean mass gain in healthy male individuals who practice weight training, Rio Paranaíba-MG

Abstract

Gaining lean muscle mass and losing fat are the main goals of many individuals who practice weight training. The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), especially among young people, remains common despite the serious health risks. In this context, herbal substances with potential anabolic effects have emerged, such as the extract of Ajuga turkestanica. However, scientific studies involving this plant are scarce, which motivated the development of this study. The research involved 20 healthy adult men who practiced weight training and consumed Ajuga turkestanica extract for 8 weeks. Participants were divided into two groups: a control group (placebo) and an experimental group (extract). Both groups underwent anamnesis, anthropometric assessment, dietary intake analysis, and biochemical tests at the beginning and end of the study. Data analysis was performed using Excel and JAMOVI software, applying ANOVA and Student’s t-test, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Over the 8-week period, there were no statistically significant differences in anthropometric variables or dietary intake, except for cholesterol levels. Regarding biochemical parameters, an increase in urea and cortisol was observed in the control group, which was not seen in the experimental group, suggesting a possible anti-catabolic effect of the extract. Supplementation with Ajuga turkestanica dry extract proved to be safe for healthy young adults, showing no side effects or alterations in liver and kidney function parameters. However, the supplementation was ineffective in promoting lean mass gain or muscle hypertrophy in these individuals.