“Laxogenin” in supplements almost always means 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin, a steroid-like compound sold as a “natural,” plant-based alternative to anabolic steroids. The name comes from laxogenin, a steroidal sapogenin (the sugar-free core of a plant saponin) first isolated from the rhizomes of the climbing plant Smilax sieboldii. The 5α-hydroxy form sold in capsules has never been found in any plant. Chemical analyses indicate that it is made synthetically.
The most important fact is that there are no human trials. No study has tested whether 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin builds muscle or strength in people, or how the body handles it. In the only animal test of its anabolic claim, castrated rats given the compound for two weeks did not gain muscle, and at the highest dose they lost muscle weight. The FDA has stated that it is not a lawful dietary ingredient, and lab analyses of products sold as laxogenin have repeatedly found missing, underdosed or undeclared ingredients.
This page summarizes what the laboratory studies, product analyses and regulators report. It is for education only and is not medical advice.
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Class | Synthetic spirostane-type steroid; derivative of the plant sapogenin laxogenin |
| Chemical name | (25R)-5α-spirostan-3β,5-diol-6-one; C₂₇H₄₂O₅, 446.6 g/mol (PubChem) |
| Natural source | Laxogenin occurs in Smilax and some Allium species; 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin has not been found in nature |
| Route | Oral capsules (supplement products) |
| Amounts on labels | 50–105 mg per maximum daily serving on the 4 products analyzed by Cohen et al. 2020 |
| Human studies | None published |
| Half-life | Unknown in humans; no human pharmacokinetic data |
| Mechanism | Not established; activated the androgen receptor in one human cell assay, but showed no androgenic or anabolic effect in rats |
| US status | FDA: not a dietary ingredient; warning letters issued 2022. Not a scheduled controlled substance |
| WADA status | Not named on the 2026 Prohibited List |
What it is
Chemistry and origin
Laxogenin is a spirostane, a type of steroid with two extra oxygen-containing rings fused onto the side chain. It was described as a new steroidal sapogenin from Smilax sieboldii in 1963 (Akahori and Yasuda, Yakugaku Zasshi 1963). It has also been reported in two Allium species (Beer and Keiler, Arch Toxicol 2022).
The supplement ingredient differs from laxogenin by one extra hydroxyl (OH) group at carbon 5:
| Compound | Formula | Molecular weight | Found in plants? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laxogenin | C₂₇H₄₂O₄ | 430.6 g/mol | Yes (Smilax sieboldii rhizomes, some Allium species) |
| 5α-Hydroxy-laxogenin | C₂₇H₄₂O₅ | 446.6 g/mol | Not reported from any natural source |
Formulas and weights are from PubChem (CID 10950057; CID 69906537). The FDA’s ingredient directory also lists ester names such as decanoate and undecanoate forms among the compound’s synonyms (FDA ingredient directory).
Researchers at the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Products Research concluded that the 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin found in supplements is synthetic. They noted that it “has not been isolated or reported from any natural source” (Avula et al., J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019). Laxogenin itself was not detected in any of the 12 products they tested.
The “brassinosteroid” link
Brassinosteroids are plant growth hormones. Laxogenin is a spirostane, not a brassinosteroid, but it has been used as a starting material: chemists have made brassinosteroid analogues from laxogenin that promoted growth in a radish seedling assay (Wang et al., Nat Prod Res 2015). A related natural compound, laxogenin C, showed growth effects in tomato seedlings similar to those of brassinosteroids (Deng et al., Int J Mol Sci 2022).
The only rodent evidence that a plant brassinosteroid can be anabolic concerns a different molecule, 28-homobrassinolide. In healthy rats, oral homobrassinolide at 20 or 60 mg/kg/day for 24 days increased body weight gain, lean body mass and gastrocnemius muscle mass, and showed low androgenic activity (Esposito et al., FASEB J 2011). Those results cannot be transferred to 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin, which has a different structure and has been tested separately (see below).
Laxogenin is also distinct from the ecdysteroids sold as “natural anabolics,” turkesterone and ecdysterone, which belong to a different steroid family.
How it works in the body
Almost nothing is known about how 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin behaves in people. No study has measured its absorption, blood levels or half-life after oral intake.
The available data come from cells and rats:
| Model | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Human liver cell line (HepG2) | Formed 5 metabolites by reduction, hydroxylation or both | Derwand et al. 2026 |
| Castrated rats, daily injection under the skin for 14 days | 3 of the cell-line metabolites plus one additional mono-hydroxylated metabolite found in serum | Derwand et al. 2026 |
| Same rats | Serum signal of the parent compound fell with a half-life of ≈11 days, which the authors attributed to a slow-release depot from the oily injection | Derwand et al. 2026 |
The 11-day figure reflects release from an injected oil depot in rats. It says nothing about how long the compound lasts after swallowing a capsule. The authors suggested that fast conversion to inactive metabolites might explain why the compound did not act like an androgen in living animals.
Regulatory status
FDA: not a lawful dietary ingredient
In October 2019, the FDA added 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin to its Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List, to alert the public that it does not appear to be a lawful supplement ingredient (Cohen et al., JAMA Netw Open 2020). That list is now part of the FDA’s directory of select supplement ingredients. The directory places 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin in category 3: an ingredient that is “not a dietary ingredient” under section 201(ff)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDA ingredient directory).
In May 2022, the FDA posted warning letters to 10 companies selling supplements that contained one or more of 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin, higenamine, hordenine and octopamine (FDA constituent update, 2022). In one of these letters, the agency stated that 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin:
- is not a vitamin, mineral, amino acid, herb or other botanical, or other qualifying dietary substance;
- is not generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for its use in supplements;
- therefore makes products containing it adulterated, because it is an unsafe food additive (FDA warning letter, May 2022).
5α-Hydroxy-laxogenin has never been approved as a drug. It is not named in the US Schedule III list of anabolic steroids (21 CFR 1308.13), so it is not a scheduled controlled substance.
WADA
5α-Hydroxy-laxogenin and laxogenin are not named anywhere on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List. The list does include a catch-all class, S0, for pharmacological substances that have no current approval for human therapeutic use and are not covered by any other section. WADA has not said whether it considers 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin to fall under S0. Anti-doping researchers in Dresden described it in 2025 as not prohibited by WADA, because evidence of performance-enhancing effects or health risks was lacking (Derwand et al., Drug Test Anal 2025).
For athletes, the bigger documented risk is what else is in the capsule. Products sold as laxogenin have contained arimistane and 7-keto-DHEA (see below), both of which are on the 2026 Prohibited List: arimistane under S4.1 aromatase inhibitors and 7-keto-DHEA under S1.1 anabolic androgenic steroids.
What the research shows
Human studies
We found no published human trial of 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin or laxogenin for muscle mass, strength, body composition or any other outcome. Cohen and colleagues described it in 2020 as an ingredient with purported anabolic effects in rats that, to their knowledge, had not been studied in humans (Cohen et al., JAMA Netw Open 2020). Anabolic claims on product labels are therefore not backed by human evidence.
Androgen receptor activity in cells
A 2022 study from the Institute of Doping Analysis and Sports Biochemistry Dresden was the first to test whether the compound acts like an androgen (Beer and Keiler, Arch Toxicol 2022):
- Yeast androgen screen: no activity at any concentration tested (0.01–100 µg/mL).
- Human prostate cells (PC3 cells carrying the androgen receptor): a two-phase response. Lower concentrations (0.01–1 µg/mL) blocked the receptor, and higher concentrations activated it. The androgen-receptor blocker bicalutamide cancelled the activation.
The authors concluded that the compound can bind and activate the human androgen receptor in cells at high concentrations, and called for studies of its safety and possible anabolic effects. A later computer docking study supported binding to the receptor (Derwand et al., Drug Test Anal 2025).
Castrated rat study: no anabolic effect
The same group then tested the compound in a modified Hershberger assay, the standard screen for androgenic and anabolic activity in castrated male rats (Derwand et al., Drug Test Anal 2025). Rats received daily injections under the skin for 2 weeks of vehicle (n = 8), testosterone 1 mg/kg (n = 8), or 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin at 1 mg/kg (n = 8), 12 mg/kg (n = 9) or 36 mg/kg (n = 9). The authors chose the doses to match intakes recommended by supplement sellers.
Tissue weights relative to body weight, in rats:
| Tissue | Castrated control | Testosterone 1 mg/kg | 5α-OH-laxogenin 36 mg/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prostate (g/kg) | 0.482 | 1.499 (significantly higher) | 0.509 (no change) |
| Levator ani muscle (mg/kg) | 668.5 | 2471.8 (significantly higher) | 535.5 (significantly lower) |
| Gastrocnemius muscle (g/kg) | 4.817 | 5.263 | 3.266 (significantly lower) |
| Soleus muscle (mg/kg) | 282.7 | 305.2 | 193.3 (significantly lower) |
| Penis (g/kg) | 0.412 | 0.656 (significantly higher) | 0.298 (significantly lower) |
| Liver (g/kg) | 35.18 | 38.77 | 36.79 (no change) |
At the two lower doses, 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin had no significant effect on androgen-dependent organs. At 36 mg/kg, the two leg muscles weighed only 68% of control values. The compound also raised androgen-receptor gene expression in muscle in a dose-dependent way, which the authors interpreted as a sign of anti-androgenic rather than androgenic action. They concluded that it showed neither androgenic nor anabolic effects in castrated rats.
Cell-culture and cultured-meat research
A 2025 study screened laxogenin and 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin by computer against myostatin, a protein that limits muscle growth. In muscle stem cells from cattle, pigs and chickens and in a mouse muscle cell line, both compounds at 10 nM lowered myostatin and promoted the formation of muscle fibers in the dish (Lim et al., Int J Mol Sci 2025). The study’s aim was better growth media for lab-grown meat. Effects in a culture dish do not show that the compound builds muscle when taken by mouth, and the rat study above found the opposite at the highest dose.
Quality and contamination
Two independent analyses of products sold as 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin found that labels were unreliable.
Avula et al. 2019: 12 products
Researchers analyzed 12 supplements labeled as containing 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin, or laxogenin presented as 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin (Avula et al., J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019):
- 5 of 12 contained no 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin at all.
- The other 7 contained undeclared spirostane-type compounds alongside it.
- Diosgenin, a plant sapogenin used as a starting material for making steroid drugs, was found unlabeled, and several synthetic diosgenin derivatives were found in 8 products.
- One product contained undeclared arimistane, a designer steroid that acts as an aromatase inhibitor.
- Laxogenin itself was not found in any product.
The authors concluded that the spirostanes in these products are synthetic and reflect a lack of quality control.
Cohen et al. 2020: products in the NIH label database
Cohen and colleagues bought every available supplement categorized as containing 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Four of the six listed products could be purchased in November 2018 (Cohen et al., JAMA Netw Open 2020).
| Finding | Result |
|---|---|
| Products accurately labeled | 0 of 4 |
| Products containing any 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin | 1 of 4 (25%); it held 50.5 mg against 105 mg declared |
| Declared ingredients not detected | 6 of 16 (38%) |
| Ingredients present in the stated amount (within 20%) | 4 of 14 with a stated quantity (29%) |
| Measured amounts vs label | Under 5% to 109% of the declared amount |
| Undeclared ingredient | Diosgenin in 2 products (81.1 mg and 118 mg per maximum daily serving) |
Other declared ingredients that the products did contain included phenibut, an unapproved drug with abuse potential; arimistane; 7-keto-DHEA; and ecdysterone. The authors noted that none of these has an FDA-approved indication. They concluded that consumers and clinicians cannot rely on the NIH database for accurate information about novel supplement ingredients.
Side effects and risks
No human safety data
Because no human studies exist, there are no data on side effects, safe intake, effects on hormone levels, liver or lipids, or interactions with medicines. The FDA’s position is that the compound is not generally recognized as safe for use in supplements (FDA warning letter, May 2022).
Hormonal effects in lab studies
The lab data point in different directions. In human prostate cells, the compound blocked the androgen receptor at low concentrations and activated it at high concentrations. In castrated rats, the highest dose shrank muscle and the penis rather than growing them, which the authors read as a possible anti-androgenic or anti-anabolic effect. Whether either finding applies to people taking oral products is unknown.
Risks from what the product actually contains
The best-documented risk is mislabeling. Analyses have found products with none of the labeled compound and with undeclared or unapproved substances, including diosgenin derivatives, arimistane and phenibut. Arimistane and 7-keto-DHEA are prohibited in sport, so an athlete could fail a drug test from a product sold as a “natural” laxogenin supplement.
Key takeaways
- A synthetic compound sold as a plant extract. 5α-Hydroxy-laxogenin has not been found in any plant. Analyses indicate the material in supplements is synthetic.
- No human evidence. No trial has tested it for muscle, strength or body composition, and nothing is known about its human pharmacokinetics or safety.
- The animal test failed. In castrated rats, two weeks of injections produced no anabolic or androgenic effect, and the highest dose reduced muscle weight.
- Labels are unreliable. In two product analyses, 5 of 12 and 3 of 4 products contained none of the labeled compound, and several held undeclared steroids or unapproved drugs.
- The FDA says it is not a lawful supplement ingredient. It has been on the FDA’s advisory list since 2019, and the agency issued warning letters in 2022.
- Not named by WADA, but still a doping risk. It is not on the 2026 Prohibited List, yet laxogenin products have contained prohibited substances such as arimistane and 7-keto-DHEA.
Sources
- Akahori A, Yasuda F. [Laxogenin, a new steroidal sapogenin isolated from Smilax sieboldi Miq]. Yakugaku Zasshi. 1963;83:557–558. PubMed.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary: 25R,5alpha-Spirostan-3beta,5-diol-6-one (CID 69906537) and Laxogenin (CID 10950057). PubChem; PubChem.
- Avula B, Chittiboyina AG, Bae JY, et al. The power of hyphenated chromatography-Time of flight mass spectrometry for unequivocal identification of spirostanes in bodybuilding dietary supplements. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2019;167:74–82. PubMed.
- Cohen PA, Sharfstein J, Kamugisha A, Vanhee C. Analysis of Ingredients of Supplements in the National Institutes of Health Supplement Database Marketed as Containing a Novel Alternative to Anabolic Steroids. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(4):e202818. PubMed.
- Beer C, Keiler AM. Androgenic properties of the dietary supplement 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin. Arch Toxicol. 2022;96(7):2139–2142. PubMed.
- Derwand D, Zierau O, Wolf CA, Wolber G, Keiler AM. Effects of the Dietary Supplement 5α-Hydroxy-Laxogenin in the Orchiectomized Rat Model. Drug Test Anal. 2025;17(9):1743–1749. PubMed.
- Derwand D, Zierau O, Thieme D, Keiler AM. Identification of Metabolites of the Dietary Supplement Ingredient 5α-Hydroxy-Laxogenin. Drug Test Anal. 2026;18(4):483–489. PubMed.
- Lim JH, Ahmad SS, Hwang YC, et al. The Effects of Laxogenin and 5-Alpha-hydroxy-laxogenin on Myotube Formation and Maturation During Cultured Meat Production. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(1):345. PubMed.
- Wang Q, Xu J, Liu X, Gong W, Zhang C. Synthesis of brassinosteroids analogues from laxogenin and their plant growth promotion. Nat Prod Res. 2015;29(2):149–157. PubMed.
- Deng Y, Wang J, Zhang A, et al. Metabolomics Mechanism and Lignin Response to Laxogenin C, a Natural Regulator of Plants Growth. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(6):2990. PubMed.
- Esposito D, Komarnytsky S, Shapses S, Raskin I. Anabolic effect of plant brassinosteroid. FASEB J. 2011;25(10):3708–3719. PubMed.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Information on Select Dietary Supplement Ingredients and Other Substances (Dietary Supplement Ingredient Directory). Accessed October 2026. FDA.
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Sends Warning Letters to Multiple Companies for Illegally Selling Adulterated Dietary Supplements. Constituent update, May 2022. FDA.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Warning letter to Advanced Nutritional Supplements LLC, MARCS-CMS 622055. May 4, 2022. FDA.
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List. In effect from January 1, 2026. WADA.
- Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 1308.13, Schedule III. eCFR.