The genus Epimedium: An ethnopharmacological and phytochemical review

Icariin from Epimedium brevicornum Maxim promotes the biosynthesis of estrogen by aromatase (CYP19)

“…Epidemiological studies have suggested the involvement of estrogen insufficiency in cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory diseases (Deroo and Korach, 2006). Epimedium brevicornum and icariin have been reported to protect against heart failure, reduce the inflammatory response, and improve learning and memory, but the mechanisms for these effects are still unknown (Ma et al, 2011;Wu et al, 2012). The estrogenic activity of Epimedium brevicornum supplemented with 10 nM testosterone for a further 24 h and the 17b-estradiol concentration in the culture medium was quantified.…”

“…Epimedium brevicornum, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in China for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, infertility, impotence, amnesia, lumbago, arthritis, and numbness and weakness of the limbs for thousands of years (Ma et al, 2011). Icariin is the main flavonoid present in Epimedium brevicornum, used for herbal quality control (Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2010), and is considered the major bioactive component of this plant (Meng et al, 2005;Ma et al, 2011).…”

“…Epimedium brevicornum, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in China for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, infertility, impotence, amnesia, lumbago, arthritis, and numbness and weakness of the limbs for thousands of years (Ma et al, 2011). Icariin is the main flavonoid present in Epimedium brevicornum, used for herbal quality control (Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2010), and is considered the major bioactive component of this plant (Meng et al, 2005;Ma et al, 2011). Several studies have shown that both Epimedium brevicornum and icariin have antiosteoporotic effects in vitro and in vivo by stimulating osteoblast proliferation and function; these findings support the wide use of Epimedium brevicornum in many Chinese formulas for treating osteoporosis (Zhang et al, 2007Qin et al, 2008;Nian et al, 2009;Hsieh et al, 2010).…”

Chinese single herbs and active ingredients for postmenopausal osteoporosis: From preclinical evidence to action mechanism

“…Derived from the dried leaf of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim, Herba Epimedium (known as YinYangHuo in Chinese) is a popular Chinese traditional herb with a broad range of indications, especially for fatigue, sexual dysfunction, rheumatic diseases, and osteoporosis. To date, over 260 individual constituents have been derived from plants of the Epimedium genus, including icariin, icaritin, anhydroicaritin, epimedin, and so on (10). According to TCM theory, Herba Epimedium could tonify the kidney and expel dampness, which contributes to strengthening tendons and bones.…”

Anti-Androgenic Activity of Icarisid II from Epimedium Herb in Prostate Cancer LNCaP Cells

“…As a subsequent study, we focused on Epimedium Herb (EH), which is a popular folk medicine traditionally used as a tonic and analgesic (7). There is also a growing interest in the food application of EH, which is commonly known as Horny Goat Weed.…”