5-alpha hydroxy laxogenin is a plant-derived polyhydroxylated derivative of 5a-cholestane, similar to anabolic steroids in mammals or insect ecdysteroids. 5-alpha-hydroxy-laxogenin is derived from a synthetic version of laxogenin. Laxogenin itself belongs to a family of compounds that are more commonly referred to as brassinosteroids. Furthermore, laxogenin has been found in plants and drives growth throughout the plant itself.
In a study conducted by Esposito et. Al, rodents were given a similar compound, 28-Homobrassinolide (HB) to see what effects it would have on lean body mass. Rodents were given either 20 mg or 60 mg of HB over a 24 day period. The study concluded that the 20 mg group had a 7% increase in lean muscle and a 3.9% reduction in body fat while the 60 mg group had a 14.2% increase in lean muscle and a 4.9% reduction in body fat. These results were found through the use of a DEXA scan (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3177571/).
Additionally, HB use was also associated with an increase in strength without additional training, as the rats exhibited a 6.7 percent increase in grip strength of the lower extremities.