Ecdysterone is one of the most common phytoecdysteroids, widely distributed across plant species, including essential vegetables and crops such as Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach), Asparagus officinalis L. Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (quinoa) and Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen (kaniwa). It is also recognised for its diverse biological activities and commercial applications. In recent decades, extensive research has explored the potential performance-enhancing and therapeutic effects of ecdysterone. Its utilisation in the context of sports has been observed to be rapidly increasing. Moreover, the World Anti-Doping Agency included ecdysterone in their monitoring program in 2020 [1].

The objective of this study was to quantify the presence of ecdysterone in vegetables and crops, including spinach, asparagus, quinoa, and kaniwa, and to assess their relevance in the context of sport. A wide variety of analytical techniques are available for the identification, separation, and quantification of bioactive compounds. However, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) is widely regarded as an efficient, reliable and rapid approach for both qualitative and quantitative analyses. In the present study, ecdysterone levels were quantified using a previously validated HPTLC method for phytoecdysteroids [2].

The analysis revealed that kaniwa contains higher levels of ecdysterone compared to spinach, asparagus, and quinoa. The identification of ecdysterone in these vegetables and crops highlights them as significant components of athletes' diets. This underscores their potential as natural sources of ecdysterone, beneficial for enhancing physical performance and supporting recovery in sports medicine.

References:

The WADA 2020 Monitoring Program. Available Online: Https://Www.Wada-Ama.Org/Sites/Default/Files/Wada_2020_english_monitoring_program_.Pdf (Accessed on 3 May 2023).
Todorova, V.; Savova, M.S.; Ivanova, S.; Ivanov, K.; Georgiev, M.I. Anti-Adipogenic Activity of Rhaponticum Carthamoides and Its Secondary Metabolites. Nutrients 2023, 15, 3061, doi:10.3390/nu15133061.

Funding: This study was supported by the European Union-NextGenerationEU, through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, project № BG-RRP-2.004-0007-С03.