title: Pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetic properties of icariin, the major bioactive component in Herba Epimedii.
abstract: Herba Epimedii is an important medicinal plant which has been used in various traditional Chinese formulations for thousands of years as well as in modern proprietary traditional Chinese medicine products. It has extensive clinical indications, especially for the treatment of sexual dysfunction and osteoporosis. There have been more than 260 chemical moieties identified in the genus Epimedium most of which belong to flavonoids. Icariin is the most abundant constituent in Herba Epimedii. Icariin is pharmacologically bioactive and demonstrates extensive therapeutic capacities such as osteoprotective effect, neuroprotective effect, cardiovascular protective effect, anti-cancer effect, anti-inflammation effect, immunoprotective effect and reproductive function. Particularly, the significant osteogenic effect of icariin made it a promising drug candidate in bone tissue engineering. The current review paper aims to summarize the literatures reporting the pharmacological effects of icariin. The pharmacokinetic properties of bioactive ingredients in Herba Epimedii have also been discussed.
authors: Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences & Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Chenrui
authors: C
authors: Li
authors: Department of Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences & Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Qibing
authors: Q
authors: Mei
authors: Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences & Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: lichenrui525@nwpu.edu.cn.
authors: Tingli
authors: T
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; C056599:icariin
keywords: Herba Epimedii; Icariin; Icaritin; Pharmacokinetic; Pharmacological effects