Steroid Found In Mustard Plant Safely Stimulates Protein Synthesis, Builds Muscle

U.S. researchers have discovered that a steroid found in the mustard plant triggers a response in rats similar to anabolic steroids. Researchers fed healthy rats homobrassinolide, a type of brassinosteroid found in plants, orally each day for 24 days, then measured body weight, food consumption, and body composition. Rats receiving homobrassinolide experienced greater protein synthesis in muscle cells, gained more weight and slightly increased their food intake, without side effects. The researchers suggested that in the future it may be possible to breed or engineer plants such as the mustard for higher brassinosteroid content to produce functional foods that can treat or prevent diseases, decrease muscle wasting, and increase physical performance.