Leuzea (maral root) is the adaptogen that built its reputation in the Soviet school of sports - for strength, stamina and rapid recovery. The liquid extract absorbs conveniently and quickly. But let's be completely honest: what does leuzea actually do, what is confirmed, and why is it NOT what the adverts promise about testosterone.
What is leuzea and why a liquid extract
Leuzea (Rhaponticum carthamoides, "maral root") is a mountain plant from Siberia and the Altai. Its active compounds are ecdysteroids - most notably ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone). It is classed as an adaptogen - a group of plants with a tradition of increasing resilience to fatigue and physical load. <2>
The liquid form (a drop extract) absorbs quickly and allows convenient dosing - handy for active people who are already taking several supplements.
What it actually helps with: energy, stamina, recovery
This is where leuzea's strength lies. As an adaptogen it is traditionally used for tone, working capacity and recovery during demanding periods. Reviews of adaptogens describe how this group supports resilience to mental and physical exhaustion under stress and load. <1>, <2>
In other words - leuzea is about the energy and stamina of the active man: training, demanding weeks, spells of fatigue. It is not a stimulant like caffeine, but rather support for the body's capacity to endure and recover.
Muscle and strength: what the studies show (honestly)
Ecdysterone is often marketed for muscle mass. The data are mixed and deserve honesty:
- One randomised study in trained individuals over 10 weeks reported a greater gain in muscle mass with ecdysterone compared with placebo. <3>
- But a more recent 12-week double-blind study (2025) found no significant benefit - and revealed that the commercial product tested contained far less ecdysterone than declared. <4>
The practical takeaway: don't expect a "steroid" effect, and do choose a genuine, well-standardised extract - because product quality turns out to be decisive.
And for testosterone and libido? The honest answer
This is the most common expectation - and here we must be direct: leuzea is NOT a testosterone booster. Research shows that ecdysterone acts through the estrogen receptor beta, and NOT through the androgen receptor - meaning it does not work like anabolic steroids and does not raise testosterone. <5>, <6> As for libido, there are no human data to support any claim of benefit.
So be wary of adverts that sell leuzea as "natural testosterone". If your goal is specifically testosterone and libido, the traditional herb for that is Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris). Leuzea is for energy and stamina, not for the hormones - and that is exactly where its value lies.
How to take the liquid extract
- When: during the first half of the day - because of its toning effect it may interfere with sleep in the evening;
- How much: follow the dosage on the label; with a standardised extract the amount of ecdysteroids is clearly stated;
- How long: a course of a few weeks followed by a break, as with most adaptogens;
- In sport: ecdysterone is on WADA's monitoring programme - it is being watched, but at present it is not banned.
Who it's for (and who it isn't)
Suitable for: active men, those who train, and people in demanding periods who are looking for support with energy, stamina and recovery. Not for: those expecting a hormonal effect (testosterone/libido) - for that, see Tribulus above.
** This material is for information only and does not replace medical advice. Food supplements support wellbeing but do not treat disease. In case of illness, medication use, pregnancy or breastfeeding, consult a doctor.
Sources used:
<1> Panossian A, Wikman G. Evidence-based efficacy of adaptogens in fatigue, and molecular mechanisms related to their stress-protective activity. Curr Clin Pharmacol. 2009 Sep;4(3):198-219. doi: 10.2174/157488409789375311. PMID: 19500070. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19500070/
<2> Kokoska L, Janovska D. Chemistry and pharmacology of Rhaponticum carthamoides: a review. Phytochemistry. 2009 May;70(7):842-55. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.04.008. PMID: 19457517. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19457517/
<3> Isenmann E, Ambrosio G, Joseph JF, et al. Ecdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans. Arch Toxicol. 2019 Jul;93(7):1807-1816. doi: 10.1007/s00204-019-02490-x. PMID: 31123801. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31123801/
<4> Dissemond J, Havers T, Held S, et al. How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2025;22(1):2540408. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2025.2540408. PMID: 40781783. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40781783/
<5> Parr MK, Zhao P, Haupt O, et al. Estrogen receptor beta is involved in skeletal muscle hypertrophy induced by the phytoecdysteroid ecdysterone. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2014 Sep;58(9):1861-72. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201300806. PMID: 24974955. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24974955/
<6> Tariq SS, Sardar M, Shafiq M, et al. Molecular insights into the role of Estrogen Receptor Beta in Ecdysterone Mediated Anabolic Activity. PLoS One. 2025;20:e0320865. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320865. PMID: 40455734. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40455734/