Unlocking Natural Gains: Turkesterone 101: A Guide to Plant-Based Muscle Protein Synthesis

Last updated: November 1, 2026 · Originally published: January 22, 2026 · By Eternal Elixir Editorial

Quick answer: Turkesterone is a plant ecdysteroid from Ajuga turkestanica, sold as a shortcut to unlocking natural gains in muscle. The claims about muscle protein synthesis come mainly from lab and animal work and from human trials of a related compound, ecdysterone, which gave mixed results: one 10-week trial in 46 young men found bigger gains, and an earlier 8-week trial in 45 trained men found none. PubMed lists no human clinical trial of turkesterone itself. Eternal Elixir doesn’t currently stock turkesterone. For the same strength and testosterone goal, our in-stock pick is Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract 2000mg: 90 capsules (30 serves) for $39.99.

Eternal Elixir makes Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract 2000mg, and it is our pick in this article because our turkesterone is sold out. Research claims link to the published papers listed under Sources, and product facts come from product pages checked in September 2026.

What is turkesterone?

Turkesterone is one of a family of compounds called ecdysteroids. Insects use ecdysteroids as moulting hormones, and some plants make them too, probably as a defence against insects that eat them. Supplements extract turkesterone from Ajuga turkestanica, a plant from Central Asia. Its better-studied cousin is ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone), which is found in spinach and several other plants.

Despite the “plant steroid” label, ecdysteroids are not anabolic-androgenic steroids. They don’t work through the androgen receptor the way testosterone does. The leading idea is that ecdysterone acts through oestrogen receptors, and a 2019 paper opens by noting that recent studies suggest its anabolic effect is mediated by oestrogen receptor binding (Isenmann 2019). That mechanism comes from cell and animal research. Nobody has measured it in people taking turkesterone.

Turkesterone and muscle protein synthesis: what the research shows

Muscle grows when muscle protein synthesis outpaces breakdown over weeks and months. Turkesterone is marketed as a way to tip that balance. Here is the evidence, from strongest to weakest for people.

• Turkesterone in humans: no trials. A PubMed search in September 2026 finds 33 records that mention turkesterone in the title or abstract and no human clinical trial of any design.
• Ecdysterone in humans: one positive trial. In a 10-week strength-training study of 46 young men, participants dosed with ecdysterone-containing supplements showed significantly higher increases in muscle mass and in one-rep bench press, with no rise in markers of liver or kidney strain (Isenmann 2019).
• Ecdysterone in humans: one null trial. In an 8-week double-blind study, 45 resistance-trained men took 20-hydroxyecdysone or placebo while training. There were no differences in fat-free mass, body fat, bench or leg press strength, sprint power or hormone levels (Wilborn 2006).
• Cell and animal studies. Most of the “protein synthesis” claims you read about turkesterone come from muscle cells in a dish and from rodents. They explain why researchers are interested. They don’t tell you what a capsule will do for you.

So the fair summary is that a related compound has one encouraging human trial and one that found nothing, and turkesterone itself hasn’t been tested in people. Claims that it speeds up protein synthesis or improves nitrogen retention in lifters go beyond anything measured in humans. Our article on how long turkesterone takes to work looks at timelines, and our turkesterone supplement comparison covers the products on sale.

What actually drives natural muscle gains

Is it possible to build muscle naturally? Yes, and the basics do most of the work. Muscle protein synthesis responds to two things above all: a training stimulus and enough protein.

• Progressive resistance training. Add weight, reps or sets over time, and train each muscle group regularly. Without a training stimulus, no supplement builds much muscle.
• Enough protein. A meta-analysis of 49 randomised trials with 1,863 participants found that protein supplements added to resistance training increased strength and muscle size. Gains in fat-free mass levelled off at a total protein intake of about 1.62 g per kilogram of body weight a day (Morton 2018).
• Age matters. The same analysis found the benefit of extra protein on fat-free mass got smaller with age and was larger in people who already trained (Morton 2018). Gaining muscle is still possible later in life, but it tends to come more slowly.
• Sleep and recovery. Training breaks muscle down, and recovery is when it rebuilds. Chronic short sleep and a constant large calorie deficit work against you.

If you are weighing turkesterone against better-studied options, our turkesterone vs creatine comparison sets out how they differ.

If you still want to try turkesterone: what to check

We don’t stock it at the moment, but if you buy turkesterone elsewhere, the label tells you a lot:

1. How much turkesterone, not just how much extract. Look for the percentage and the milligrams of turkesterone per capsule. Bulk Nutrients’ capsule, for example, lists 500 mg of Ajuga turkestanica extract providing 50 mg of turkesterone, and says the extract is tested by HPLC at greater than 10%. A label that only gives an extract ratio doesn’t tell you the turkesterone content.
2. The directions and warnings. Bulk Nutrients’ label says one capsule a day, not for children under 15 or pregnant women, and to use it only under medical or dietetic supervision.
3. Drug-tested sport. If you compete, check your sport’s anti-doping rules before taking any ecdysteroid. Our article on turkesterone and drug testing has more.
4. Your doctor. Talk to your GP before starting if you take prescription medicines or have a hormone-related medical condition.

Be wary of products that promise special absorption technology or dramatic gains. No published human study has compared absorption between turkesterone formulations, so those claims can’t be checked.

Our in-stock pick for the same goal: Tongkat Ali 200:1

Eternal Elixir doesn’t currently stock turkesterone. For people whose goal is strength, training drive and healthy testosterone, our in-stock pick is Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract 2000mg.

• What’s in it: tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) 200:1 extract, 2,000 mg per serve, with rice flour and a cellulose capsule.
• How to take it: three capsules a day on an empty stomach, or as directed by your doctor. Don’t take more than the label serve.
• Pack and price: 90 capsules (30 serves) for $39.99 (usually $59.99), which is $1.33 a serve.
• Buying here: 30-day money-back guarantee, dispatched in 1 business day, Afterpay available, and free shipping on orders over $100. Two bottles save 10%, three save 15% and five save 20%.

What the research on tongkat ali shows. Unlike turkesterone, tongkat ali has human trials. In a placebo-controlled study of 63 moderately stressed adults (32 men and 31 women), the group taking a standardised hot-water root extract for four weeks showed 16% lower cortisol exposure and 37% higher testosterone status, both measured in saliva (Talbott 2013). In a five-week pilot study without a placebo group, 13 active men and 12 active women aged 57 to 72 took a tongkat ali extract daily, and their total and free testosterone and handgrip strength rose (Henkel 2014). These trials used particular extracts at their own doses, so their results don’t transfer directly to any other product, including ours.

Who it suits: adults who train and want an in-stock herbal option for strength and testosterone support, taken consistently alongside good training, protein and sleep.

Who it doesn’t suit: anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, anyone under 18, and anyone taking prescription medicines or with a hormone-related medical condition unless their doctor agrees. It isn’t a replacement for training or protein.

For more on tongkat ali, read our science-based guide to tongkat ali for testosterone, how long tongkat ali takes to work and our tongkat ali vs shilajit comparison. You can also browse the full Eternal Elixir range.

The bottom line

Turkesterone is an interesting compound with a thin evidence base: no human trials of turkesterone itself, and mixed results for its cousin ecdysterone. Natural gains come mainly from progressive training, enough protein and recovery. We don’t currently stock turkesterone. If your goal is strength and testosterone support, our in-stock pick is Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract 2000mg, three capsules a day, 30 serves for $39.99.

Frequently asked questions

Does turkesterone work for building muscle?

It hasn’t been shown to. PubMed lists no human clinical trial of turkesterone. Its relative ecdysterone increased muscle gains in one 10-week trial of 46 young men and had no effect in an 8-week trial of 45 trained men. Until turkesterone is tested in people, any promise of muscle gains is a guess.

Is turkesterone a steroid?

Chemically it is a steroid, because of its ring structure, but it is an ecdysteroid, not an anabolic-androgenic steroid. It doesn’t act through the androgen receptor. Lab research suggests ecdysteroids act through oestrogen receptors instead.

Does Eternal Elixir sell turkesterone?

Not at the moment: our Turkesterone 500mg is sold out. For the same strength and testosterone goal, our in-stock pick is Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract 2000mg, three capsules a day, 30 serves for $39.99.

Add Tongkat Ali 200:1 to cart · $39.99

Is it possible to build muscle naturally?

Yes. Progressive resistance training and enough protein drive most natural muscle gain. A meta-analysis of 49 trials found protein supplements added to training increased strength and muscle size, with little extra gain in fat-free mass above about 1.62 g of protein per kilogram of body weight a day.

What age is hardest to gain muscle?

Gains tend to come more slowly with age. In the same meta-analysis, the benefit of extra protein on fat-free mass shrank as age increased. Older adults can still build muscle with regular resistance training and enough protein, ideally with advice from a doctor or exercise physiologist.

Will turkesterone fail a drug test?

If you compete in drug-tested sport, check your sport’s anti-doping rules before taking any ecdysteroid, and remember that supplements can be contaminated. Our article on turkesterone and drug testing in Australia covers the details.

Sources

• Isenmann E, Ambrosio G, Joseph JF, et al. Ecdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans. Arch Toxicol. 2019;93(7):1807-1816. PubMed 31123801
• Wilborn CD, Taylor LW, Campbell BI, et al. Effects of methoxyisoflavone, ecdysterone, and sulfo-polysaccharide supplementation on training adaptations in resistance-trained males. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2006;3(2):19-27. PubMed 18500969
• Morton RW, Murphy KT, McKellar SR, et al. A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(6):376-384. PubMed 28698222
• Talbott SM, Talbott JA, George A, Pugh M. Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013;10(1):28. PubMed 23705671
• Henkel RR, Wang R, Bassett SH, et al. Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors: a pilot study. Phytother Res. 2014;28(4):544-550. PubMed 23754792
• PubMed search for turkesterone (title or abstract), September 2026. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Label details, checked September 2026: Eternal Elixir Tongkat Ali 200:1, Bulk Nutrients Turkesterone Capsules