Epimedium flavonoid: icariin
Icariin powder (heteronym Icariin) is the main active ingredient of Epimedium, which is 8-isopentenyl flavonoids compound extracted from the stems and leaves of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim, Epimedium sagittatum Maxim, Epimedium pubescens Maxim and Epimedium koreanum Nakai.
What is Epimedium?
Epimedium is a perennial plant. It belongs to the family Berberidaceae and blooms “spider-like” flowers in spring.
Epimedium leaves are famous in Traditional Chinese Medicine by several alternative names, including Xian LingPi, Horny Goat Weed, Barrenwort, and Epimedium Grandiflorum.
The Classic of Shennong Materia Medica claims its effects as tonifying kidney Yang, strengthening muscles and bones, and removing wind and dampness.
Epimedium grandiflorum active ingredients
Horny goat weed extract contains flavonoids, lignans, alkaloids, phytosterol, vitamin E, etc.
The aboveground part of the barrenwort plant mainly contains flavonoids, while the underground part mainly contains flavonoids and alkaloids.
Icariin specifications
Icariin 10%, 20%, 98%
Icariin benefits and action mechanisms
Anti-tumor
Icariin and its derivatives mainly inhibit the growth of tumors through the induction of apoptosis by targeting multiple signaling pathways. Cell cycle arrests also occur through the downregulation of the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins. Besides, there are anti-angiogenesis, anti-metastasis, and immunomodulation.
Bone resorption
Icariin promotes bone formation by stimulating the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs (bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells) while inhibiting osteoclastogenic differentiation and the bone resorption activity of osteoclasts. Furthermore, icariin is more potent than other flavonoid compounds in promoting osteogenic differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts.
PDE5 inhibitor
Several animal studies have found that icariin does inhibit PDE5, then allows the penis to fill with blood to form an erection. Another study found that the mechanism of icariin on penile erection was related to its ability to increase the concentration of CGMP in the smooth muscle of the penis and enhance the relaxation of the smooth muscle of the penis.
Anti-aging
Epimedium can improve the body’s immunity by influencing the secretion of mesophile cytokines in the body, promoting the proliferation of lymphocytes, improving the activity of cell regulation, activating the immune function of the thymus, and enhancing the ability of the thymus and spleen cells to produce interleukin.
Blood pressure
Epimedium can improve cardiovascular and cerebrovascular functions by dilating blood vessels and inhibiting the intracellular calcium flow of vascular smooth muscle, increasing coronary artery flow, protecting myocardial ischemia, inhibiting thrombus, promoting platelet generation, and enhancing platelet aggregation.
Female estrogen
Icariin can reduce the levels of FSH and luteinizing hormone, increase the level of estradiol, up-regulate the expression of anti-Mullerian hormone in the ovary, increase the ratio of Bcl-2 /Bax in ovarian tissue, improve the development of ovarian follicles in aging mice, inhibit follicular atresia, and improve their fertility.
Relief pain
Icarian inhibits NF-κB inhibitory protein α degradation and NF-κB, activation, up-regulates peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors (PPARs) α and γ protein levels and alleviates neuroinflammation.
Icariin VS other PDE5 inhibitors
Icariin vs. Viagra
Icariin has an IC50 for PDE5 of 5.9 micromolar, while sildenafil has an IC50 of 75 nanomolar. They are converting both to nanomolar (nM), 5900 nM for Icariin, to have the same effect as 75 nM sildenafil!
Icariin vs. Yohimbine
Yohimbine is one of the few agents that effectively support fat reduction, which is still in legal circulation. It also has an unexpected side effect of increasing libido and erectile strength. Yohimbine blocks presynaptic alpha-2 adrenergic receptors. It has a similar impact on peripheral blood vessels as reserpine but is weaker and lasts shorter.
Icariin vs. Tribulus
Tribulus Terrestris saponin is a testosterone stimulant derived from the fruit of Tribulus Terrestris. The function of Tribulus Tribulus in the human body analysis system is to stimulate the secretion of pituitary luteinizing hormone, which promotes testosterone secretion. Then the blood testosterone level in the human body is improved.
Horny Goat Weed(Icariin) Supplement stack
- Icariin and resveratrol
- Icariin and maca extract
- Icariin and L-arginine HCL
- Icariin and Tongkat Ali
- Icariin and Panax Ginseng Extract
- Icariin and Yohimbine
Bioavailability of oral icariin
We are still determining the actual bioavailability of oral icariin 98% now. But according to many brands’ tests and research, we got the recommended dosage:
Boosting testosterone, 100mg~400mg/day
Dietary supplement, 25mg~150mg/day
Epimedium 98% side effects
There is not enough research about the safety of Icariin 98% for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Don’t take it if you have any underlying medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders, hormone-sensitive conditions, or low blood pressure. Icariin is not for patients with Yin deficiency and fire exuberance and has symptoms such as fever of hands and feet and night sweats.
It may lead to precocious puberty in children.
Icariin 98% manufacturers
Are you looking for an icariin manufacturer? Cima Science is reliable for you. We have been supplying our customers worldwide with Epimedium extract for many years.
We operate throughout the entire supplement chain, delivering specialist expertise in scientific research, development, manufacturing, sales, and marketing for a wide range of chemical nutrition, herb extract, intermediate, and private label service for human and animal care to treat and prevent diseases across different therapeutic areas.
Please get in touch with us if you’d like to get any more information about icariin.
Reference
- Khezri, M. R., Nazari-Khanamiri, F., Mohammadi, T., Moloodsouri, D., & Ghasemnejad-Berenji, M. (2022). Potential effects of icariin, the Epimedium-derived bioactive compound in the treatment of COVID‐19: a hypothesis. In Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology (Vol. 395, Issue 9, pp. 1019–1027). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-022-02262-y
- Corazza, O., Martinotti, G., Santacroce, R., Chillemi, E., Di Giannantonio, M., Schifano, F., & Cellek, S. (2014). Sexual Enhancement Products for Sale Online: Raising Awareness of the Psychoactive Effects of Yohimbine, Maca, Horny Goat Weed, and Ginkgo biloba. In BioMed Research International (Vol. 2014, pp. 1–13). Hindawi Limited. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/841798
- Song, L., Chen, X., Mi, L., Liu, C., Zhu, S., Yang, T., Luo, X., Zhang, Q., Lu, H., & Liang, X. (2020). Icariin‐induced inhibition of SIRT6/NF‐κB triggers redox mediated apoptosis and enhances anti‐tumor immunity in triple‐negative breast cancer. In Cancer Science (Vol. 111, Issue 11, pp. 4242–4256). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1111/cas.14648
- Chau, Y., Li, F.-S., Levsh, O., & Weng, J.-K. (2019). Exploration of icariin analog structure space reveals key features driving potent inhibition of human phosphodiesterase-5. In P. B. Andrade (Ed.), PLOS ONE (Vol. 14, Issue 9, p. e0222803). Public Library of Science (PLoS). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222803
- Li, J., Luo, M., Wang, S., Jin, G., Han, Z., Ma, Y., Tang, G., & Guo, Z. (2020). Icariin Ameliorates Lower Back Pain in Rats via Suppressing the Secretion of Cytokine-Induced Neutrophil Chemoatractant-1. In BioMed Research International (Vol. 2020, pp. 1–7). Hindawi Limited. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/4670604
