Icariin can increase cardiovascular blood flow, promote hematopoiesis, immune function and bone metabolism, and has the effects of tonifying kidney and strengthening yang, anti-aging and anti-tumor.
Epimedium extract is a product made from the dried stems and leaves of Epimedium brevicornum and other plants. There are many specifications of commercial extracts, and icariin or total flavonoids are usually used as standardized indicators. There are about 30 species of Epimedium brevicornum in the Berberidaceae family in the world, and 20 species in my country. Except for Epimedium koreana, which is distributed in northern Korea, the others are endemic to my country. There are many places where Epimedium is produced in my country, mainly in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Gansu, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei and other places.
Epimedium, also known as three-branch nine-leaf grass, fairy spleen, thousand liang gold, dry chicken tendons, etc., was first recorded in Shennong's Herbal Classic. It is one of the most widely used and oldest Chinese herbal medicines in my country. Its main effects are to tonify kidney yang, strengthen tendons and bones, and eliminate rheumatism. Modern phytochemical research shows that the main active ingredient of epimedium is icariin, a derivative of flavonoids with isopentenyl substituted at the C8 position. A large number of studies have shown that icariin can prevent bone loss in postmenopausal rats and has clinical application potential for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. However, the mechanism of action of icariin is still unclear. The traditional view is that this natural product is a phytoestrogen that plays a role similar to estrogen receptor modulators with weak estrogen-like activity, but more and more evidence shows that icariin may have other mechanisms of action.
The Funtion of Icariin
1. Effect on sexual function Epimedium extract has a certain effect on promoting gonadal function. Flavonoid components such as icariin have the effect of tonifying the kidney and strengthening yang. 30-1000μg/l can promote the secretion of estradiol by follicular granulosa cells, and 1000μg/l can promote the secretion of corticosterone by adrenal cortical cells. At the same time, EPS can increase the level of gonadal hormones, mainly the level of FSH.
2. Improve the body's immune function. 50% methanol extract of Epimedium pubescens can inhibit lymphocyte transformation. Total flavonoids of Epimedium can make "Yang deficiency" mice form cell function and antibodies, and significantly enhance the human T cell immune function. Both EPS and EI have immunomodulatory effects.
3. Antioxidant EPS and EI have antioxidant activity, which can enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduce the effect of free radical products.
4. Anti-aging effect. Epimedium extract can resist aging and prolong life by affecting cell passage, prolonging the growth period, regulating the immune and secretory systems, and improving the body's metabolism and organ functions.
5. Cardiovascular effect. The non-amino acid part of the alcohol extract of Epimedium can significantly increase the coronary flow of isolated rabbit hearts. Decoctions and alcohol extracts have a blood pressure-lowering effect. Icariin can directly relax vascular smooth muscle and dilate coronary arteries, femoral arteries and cerebral arteries. The mechanism of action is to inhibit the influx of extracellular calcium ions in vascular smooth muscle cells.
The COA of Icariin
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