Organizing co mmittee

MECHANISMS OF 20-HYDROECDYSIONE EFFECT
ON ELITE ATHLETES
J.I. Islamova
1
, V.N. Syrov
1
, A.X. Toychiev
2
, S.O. Osipova
2
, F.A. Kerimov
3 
1) S.Yu. Yunusov Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances Academy of sciences of 
the Republic of Uzbekistan st. Mirzo-Ulugbek, 77, 100170 Tashkent 
2) Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Epidemiology, 
Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Tashkent, Uzbekistan 
3) Uzbek State University of Phisical Culture and Sport, Tashkent, Uzbekistan 
 
Ecdysten was developed on the basis of hydroecdyson, it possesses a wide range of 
biological activities: anabolic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, 
actoprotective, etc. [Syrov V. et al. 2014]. Identification of the mechanisms of ecdysten 
effect on elite athletes, including elevation of performance as well as possible 
cancellation of overtraining syndrome (OS) is of particular interest. 
OS is an important problem in the training of elite athletes. There are different 
opinions on the nature of OS. Some believe that essentially OS is the result of 
undiagnosed abnormalities in the athlete’s health. Others attribute OS to physical 
exertion. There are various points of view on the OS development, including the 
cytokine theory [Kreher J.B., Schwartz J.B., 2012]. 
The aim
 
of the study to detect ecdysten influence on cytokines profile in elite athletes 
with OS. 
We examined 12 elite athletes (wrestlers) 18-22 aged with OS. Before examination 
intestinal parasites were excluded in all of them, because it was found that they can 
imitate the OS symptoms. Athletes received 100 mg of ecdysten per day (in three doses) 
for 4 weeks. Proinflammatory cytokines were determined by enzyme immunoassay at 
the beginning of the examination and 4 weeks after the start of treatment. The test 
systems were manufactured by Vector-Best, Russian Federation. The control group 
included 20 healthy individuals engaged in amateur sports (morning jogging or tennis 
once a week). 
At the beginning of the examination, we found a significant increase in the level of 
inflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (21.4 pg/mL), interleukin (IL)-6 
(45.7 pg/mL), IL-1β (32 pg/mL) in elite athletes compared to the control group (TNF-α-
5.1 pg/mL, IL-6-20.3 pg/mL and IL-1β-9.1 pg/mL) (P< 0.05). After the course of 
ecdysten the levels of TNF-α (14.7 pg/mL), IL-6 (32.4 pg/mL) and IL-1β (22.9 pg/mL) 
were decreased in 9 of 12 athletes. It was accompanied by an improvement in the 
performance and a drop of anxiety. In 3 athletes ecdysten did not cause the expected 
results: cytokines level did not decrease. Symptoms typical for OS did not change also. 
Causative factor remained unclear.
It is possible that ecdysten inefficiency is connected not only with muscles 
inflammation but other causes that dominate as triggers of inflammation and 
corresponding shifts in cytokines profile. The various positive properties of ecdysten 
and the absence of side effects deserve further research.