The neuroprotective effects of icariin on ageing, various neurological, neuropsychiatric disorders, and brain injury induced by radiation exposure

Abstract

Epimedium brevicornum Maxim, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used for the treatment of impotence, sinew and bone disorders, "painful impediment caused by wind-dampness," numbness, spasms, hypertension, coronary heart disease, menopausal syndrome, bronchitis, and neurasthenia for many years in China. Recent animal experimental studies indicate that icariin, a major bioactive component of epimedium may effectively treat Alzheimer's disease, cerebral ischemia, depression, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, as well as delay ageing. Our recent study also suggested that epimedium extract could exhibit radio-neuroprotective effects and prevent ionizing radiation-induced impairment of neurogenesis. This paper reviewed the pharmacodynamics of icariin in treating different neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, ageing, and radiation-induced brain damage. The relevant molecular mechanisms and its anti-neuroinflammatory, antiapoptotic, anti-oxidant, as well as pro-neurogenesis roles were also discussed.

Icariin ameliorates glycolytic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease models by activating the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway

“…We first demonstrated that ICA significantly improved cognitive function and autonomous behavior, reduced neuronal damage, and reversed the protein levels and activities of glycolytic key enzymes, and expression of protein molecules of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, in 3 9 Tg-AD mice back to wild-type levels. Next, we further found that ICA increased cell viability and effectively improved the dysfunctional glycolysis in HT22 cells injured by Ab [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] . However, when canonical Wnt signaling was inhibited by DKK1, the above effects of ICA on glycolysis were abolished.…”

“…For thousands of years, Epimedium has been employed as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine [28]. It possesses a host of pharmacological effects, including antitumor [29], anti-aging [30,31], anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory activities [32,33], and regulation of glucose metabolism [34]. Importantly, it is reported that ICA can cross the blood-brain barrier [35], and its protective effects in the neurons have been reported continuously in multiple models of AD [30,[36][37][38][39].…”

Prevention and treatment of natural products from Traditional Chinese Medicine in depression: Potential targets and mechanisms of action

“…Icariin (ICA) is the main active component of flavonoids in the Herba Epimedii that has a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory ( Luo et al, 2022 ), antioxidant ( Li et al, 2022 ), antidepressant ( Xu et al, 2020 ), etc. In addition, ICA was found to improve fur status and increase body weight, sucrose preference, and activity time in the forced swimming test in depressed rats induced by CUMS.…”

Research progress in traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

“…ICA can inhibit the hyperphosphorylation of tau by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt-dependent GSK-3β signaling pathway, thereby exerting neuroprotective effects on Aβ25-35-treated PC12 cells ( Zeng et al, 2010 ). The improvement effect of ICA on learning and memory was observed in a permanent bilateral common carotid artery ligation (2-VO) rat model, an aluminum-induced AD rat model, and an APP/PS1Tg mouse model ( Li L. R. et al, 2022 ).…”