epimedin-a and icariin

Topics: alpha-Glucosidases; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Ferric Compounds; Flavonoids; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; Humans; Ligands; Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

In this study, epimedins A-, B-, and C-, and icariin-rich extracts were simultaneously isolated from Epimedium brevicornu Maxim. through a convenient four-stage process consisting of solvent extraction, macroporous resin column pre-concentration, extraction fractionation, and reversed-phase (RP) silica gel column chromatography. Single factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to optimize the preparation conditions. In the final products, the purities of epimedins A - C and icariin were 23.04%, 64.50%, 54.92%, and 77.54%, respectively, which will lay a foundation for the further purification of epimedin monomers and full utilization of Epimedium resources. Meanwhile, the osteogenic effects of epimedins A - C were investigated for the first time and compared with that of icariin, which will provide guidance for the clinical applications of Epimedium in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Mice; Molecular Conformation; Osteogenesis; Plant Extracts; Structure-Activity Relationship

The therapeutic properties of

Topics: alpha-Glucosidases; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Enzyme Inhibitors; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; Hypoglycemic Agents; Molecular Docking Simulation; Plant Extracts; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1

In this work, near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was used in combination with chemometrics to determine the epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin, and moisture contents of Herba Epimedii. The variable selection method genetic algorithm (GA) and regression tool support vector machine (SVM) were used to improve the model performance. Four different calibration models, namely Full-PLS, GA-PLS, Full-SVM, and GA-SVM, were established, and their performances in terms of prediction accuracy and model robustness were systemically studied and compared. In conclusion, the performances of the models based on the efficient variables selected through GA were better than those based on full spectra, and the nonlinear models were superior over the linear models. In addition, the GA-SVM model demonstrated the optimal performance in predicting five quality parameters (viz. epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin, and moisture). For GA-SVM, the determination coefficient (R

Topics: Calibration; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flavonoids; Humidity; Least-Squares Analysis; Multivariate Analysis; Nonlinear Dynamics; Reference Standards; Solutions; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared

To study pharmacokinetic characteristics of epimedin A, B, C and icariin after intermuscular administration of Chuankezhi injection to rat. The established RRLC-MS/MS method was applied for simultaneous determination of four analytes in rat plasma and calculating their pharmacokinetic parameters. As a result, each analyte showed a good linear relationship in the concentration range of 1-1 000 μg•L⁻¹.The intra-day precise was 96.9%-107.5% with RSD<5.99%, inter-day precise was 92.3%-105.0% with RSD<10.16%. The relative recovery of four analytes was 88.1%-101.1% with RSD<7.9% and their absolute recovery was 72.0%-86.6% with RSD<6.3%. After intermuscular administration of Chuankezhi injection, the plasma concentration of four flavonoid glycosides rapidly arose to peaks at about 10 min, and then quickly declined in rat. Tmax of epimedin A, B, C and icariin was 0.21, 0.19, 0.16 and 0.49 h, respectively, and their mean elimination half-life(t1/2z) was 0.60, 0.62, 0.47 and 0.49 h. The established method was validated to be sensitive, rapid and specific for determination of the four analytes. Serum concentration of 4 species of epimedium flavonoids in Chuankezhi injection was low, and their absorption and elimination seem quickly, displaying similar pharmacokinetic characteristics in this study.

Topics: Animals; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Injections; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A quantitative method for epimedin A, B, C and icariin in rat plasma was established using LC-MS/MS after intermuscular administration of Chuankezhi injection to rat. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Agilent Eclipse XDB-C(18) column (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 5.0 μm) at 40 ℃. Mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid in water（35∶65）, and the flow rate was 0.22 m L·min(-1). The LC effluent was detected and analyzed using an ESI-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer under the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in the negative ion mode. The plasma samples were treated with solid phase extraction prior to LC-MS/MS analysis. As a result, all of the four analytes displayed a good linearity over the concentration of 1-1 000 ng·mL(-1). The RSDs of intra-day and inter-day assays were less than 5.99% and 10.16%, respectively. The relative recovery of each analyte was between 88.1%-101.1% with RSD < 7.9% and the absolute recovery was between 72.0%-86.6%（RSD < 6.3%）. In conclusion, the established method shows good specificity, sensitivity and efficiency for quantifying the four flavonoid glycosides contained in rat plasma.

Topics: Animals; Chromatography, Liquid; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flavonoids; Glycosides; Injections; Rats; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Solid Phase Extraction; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

The genus Epimedium is rich in terms of flavonoids, of which icariin, epimedin A, epimedin B and epimedin C are known especially to be biologically active. Therefore, it is important to quantify these compounds. In this study, a HPLC method coupled with DAD detection was developed and validated for the determination of icariin, epimedin A, epimedin B and epimedin C in Epimedium species growing in Turkey. The chromatographic separation was performed using a gradient system with a mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B) applied at a flow rate of 1 mL/min using.a diode array detector. The highest values were, respectively, icariin 0.65%, epimedin A 0.13%, epimedin B 0.11%, epimedin C 0.06%. The highest values were obtained from the materials collected in Uzungol (Trabzon-Turkey).

Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Turkey

An efficient, feasible enrichment and separation method of epimedins A, B, C and icariin from Herba Epimedii was developed by the combination of microwave-assisted extraction, macroporous resins and preparative HPLC. WDX-5 macroporous resin shows better recoveries at 96.2%, 97.0%, 98.2% and 97.1% for epimedins A, B, C and icariin than other macroporous resins used in the experiments. As a result, epimedins A (5.1 mg), B (15.3 mg), C (7.6 mg) and icariin (14.3 mg) were obtained from 6.0 g crude Herba Epimedii with the recoveries at 70.8%, 68.9%, 66.7% and 95.3%, respectively. The method developed in this study may provide scientific references for the enrichment and separation of flavonoids from Herba Epimedii.

Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Molecular Structure

Different geographical plant populations within a single species can exhibit variation, in the production of secondary metabolites. Genetic and environmental variations both contribute to differences between populations; however, the relative importance of these factors is unclear. Here, the extent of variation in the production of four flavonoid glycosides (epimedin A, B, C and icariin) were investigated in eleven wild populations of Epimedium sagittatum used in traditional Chinese medicine. Secondary metabolite profiles were classified into five chemotypes. A common garden experiment indicated this chemotype variation has a significant genetic basis. Extensive genetic variation among intraspecific populations was shown using a retrotransposon-based molecular marker system. These results will assist in development of strategies for conservation, utilization and domestication of E. sagittatum.

Topics: China; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Genetic Variation; Glycosides; Plants, Medicinal

The concentration variations of main flavonoids, epimedins A-C and icariin, among ten representative populations of Epimedium brevicornu Maxim. were assessed by HPLC. The populations were collected during the flowering stage and included 419 individual samples. Remarkable variations within and among populations were detected. SXXA Population (see Fig. 1) was an outlier due to its significant low concentrations (<1.00-4.46 mg/g). But even without SXXA, significant concentration differences among populations were still observed in epimedin A (2.31-8.42 mg/g), epimedin B (6.67-55.7 mg/g), epimedin C (5.39-23.0 mg/g), icariin (8.50-39.9 mg/g), and their total (29.1-123 mg/g). All populations except SXXA showed much higher concentrations than the recommended standards (i.e. 5 mg/g for icariin and 13 mg/g for the total). A high-concentration-population structure, estimated both by principal component analysis (PCA) and unweighted pair group method with averaging (UPGMA) cluster analysis, based on Euclidean distances, was observed. Both methods allowed separation of the populations in four groups defined by the concentrations of four main flavonoids. The populations (SXLC and SXQS) located in north of Yellow River were clustered together and characterized by highest concentrations of epimedin B, icariin, and their total. Considering of the high concentrations of main flavonoids and abundant resources, E. brevicornu could be exploited as a good medical resource for Herba Epimedii and would offer a tremendous potential for commercial development, but SXXA population should be paid special attention, and further study is needed.

Topics: China; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cluster Analysis; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Phylogeny; Principal Component Analysis

This study characterizes the correlation between the chemical fingerprint and estrogenic activity of an Epimedium koreanum extract. The estrogenic activity of 31 E. koreanum extract samples was evaluated by a luciferase reporter gene assay, and the samples were classified into 3 groups based on their bioactivity. A chemical fingerprint analysis was performed on each sample by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and 44 common peaks were selected from the chromatogram and used as a dataset for a pattern recognition analysis. A canonical discriminant analysis performed on this dataset determined a distinct distribution of the samples according to their estrogenic activity on the scoring plot. The classification results showed that 90.3% of the original grouped cases had been correctly classified. The total content of the 4 major extract compounds, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, and icariin, exhibited good correlation (r=0.784) with the estrogenic activities of the respective extracts. This chromatographic fingerprint-chemometric analysis system could be useful for predicting the E. koreanum pharmacological activity and consequent biological activity-relevant quality control assessment.

Topics: Cell Line, Tumor; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Discriminant Analysis; Epimedium; Estrogens; Flavonoids; Genes, Reporter; Humans; Luciferases; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves

This study was to comprehensively evaluate the chemical quality of main species of epimedium planted in China. The contents of 5 marker compounds, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin and baohuoside I, as well as total flavonoids of 22 samples of 8 officinal species of Epimedium were determined by HPLC and UV, separately. Some physical and chemical tests (H2O, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and EtOH extract) were also carried out to investigate their chemical qualities. There were significant differences in types and contents of prenyl-flavonoid glycosides such as epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin and baohuoside I in different species, meanwhile, the physical and chemical parameters results also showed that there were obvious differences in chemical quality among different species of epimedium herb. The results provide theoretical and experimental basis for the establishment of comprehensive quality assessment system of epimedium in China.

Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Plants, Medicinal; Quality Control; Species Specificity; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Herbal Epimedium species have been widely in Traditional Chinese Medicine for sexual enhancement, immunity improvement, anticancer and anti-aging treatment, with flavonoids and polysaccharides being the major active components. However, exhaustive depletion of wild sources warrants germplasm evaluation and quality resource exploration. A preliminarily analysis had previously indicated that a specific local geographic accession of Epimedium sagittatum found in Luotian (LT) county of Hubei Province (China) had a much higher content of total flavonoids and polysaccharides. In this study, we further investigated the medicinal component variation in the LT type under different light intensities and in different regions by the common-garden experiment. The results indicated a light intensity range of 40-160 μmol/m²/s was the most suitable for the synthesis and accumulation of total flavonoids, while polysaccharide accumulation was negatively correlated with the light intensity. Icariin was the component displaying the highest content among flavonoids, and the content of major flavonoid bioactive components was relatively stable in the third year after cultivation. There was significant correlation between the major flavonol glycoside constituents and the geographic location, and Central China followed by Northern China were the highly suitable regions for cultivation of LT type E. sagittatum. The results revealed that there was a functional balance between flavonoids and polysaccharides at different developmental stages, and the best harvesting stage should consider the primary contents of interest. This study provides important information on the exploration of quality resources, further breeding approaches and cultivation practices of E. sagittatum, and thus the important insights to enhance our understanding of quality control of traditional medicinal plants.

Topics: China; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Light; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Plants, Medicinal; Polysaccharides; Seasons

Icariin and epimedins A, B, C are a series of active flavonol glycoside in Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. A pilot-scale preparative high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to purify the four flavonol glycosides as reference standards from the crude extract of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. After the crude extract containing approximately 20% flavonols was enriched using macropore resin, the obtained target fractions were subjected to pilot-scale preparative HPLC purification. With the aid of a self-packed pilot-scale preparative column (220 mm x 77 mm, 10 microm), the 4 target compounds were separated well within 35 min in a single chromatographic run by the elution with acetonitrile-water (26:74 or 30:70, v/v). By repetitive injection of the enriched target fraction onto the preparative column, 33 g icariin as well as 4.6 g epimedin C, 3.7 g epimedin B, and 0.6 g epimedin A were obtained from 300 g crude extract. The purities of all products were greater than 98%. This pilot-scale preparative HPLC technique and the two step separation technology for 4 target compounds are quite useful for the production of the reference standard series with good purity like icariin, epimedins A, B, C standards due to its high performance, rapid separation and more amounts of products obtained.

Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Glycosides; Pilot Projects; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results

To establish a new method and validate its feasibilities for quality evaluation of Fructus Epimedii.. Four main effective flavones, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C and icariin were selected as analytes to evaluate the quality of Fructus Epimedii. The relative correction factors (RCF) of icariin to the other three flavones were calculated. The method was evaluated by comparison of the quantitative results between external standard method and QAMS method.. No significant differences were found in the quantitative results of three flavones by external standard method and QAMS method.. It is feasible and accurate to evaluate the quality of Fructus Epimedii.

Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flavonoids; Reproducibility of Results; Statistics as Topic; Time Factors

An ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) procedure of epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C and icariin from Herba Epimedii was developed. The effects of ethanol concentration, ratio of liquid to solid, UAE time, extraction temperature and number of extraction cycles on the extraction yields of the four flavonoids from Herba Epimedii were investigated. The optimal UAE condition was found using orthogonal test: 50% (v/v) ethanol solution, liquid:solid ratio of 30 ml/g, ultrasonication duration 30 min, extraction temperature 50 degrees C and three extraction cycles. The UAE method showed a high reproducibility. Epimedin A, B, C and icariin in the crude extract exhibited photodegradation under ultraviolet irradiation. This UAE method was shown to be highly efficient compared with the conventional Soxhlet extraction and boiling extraction. The effect of ultrasound on cell destruction was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The contents of epimedin A, B, C and icariin in the leaves of 20 Epimedium species were determined using high-performance liquid chromatographic method following UAE method.

Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Indicators and Reagents; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Photochemistry; Plant Extracts; Reproducibility of Results; Ultrasonics

The purpose is to determine absorption mechanism of five bioactive prenylated flavonoids (baohuoside I, icariin, epimedine A, B, and C) present in heat-processed Epimedium koreanum Nakai (Yin Yanghuo).. Transport of five prenylated flavonoids present in heat-processed herbs were studied in the human intestinal Caco-2 model and the perfused rat intestinal model.. In the perfused rat intestinal model, prenylated flavonoids with a monoglucosidic bond (e.g., icariin) was rapidly hydrolyzed into corresponding metabolites (e.g., baohuoside I). In the Caco-2 model, apical to basolateral permeability of a monoglycoside baohuoside I (1.46 x 10(-6) cm/sec) was more than 2 folds greater than four prenylated flavonoids with 2 or more sugar moieties (<0.6 x 10(-6) cm/sec). The slow apical to basolateral transport of baohuoside I was the result of efflux. This efflux was carrier-mediated and active since its transport was vectorial, concentration- and temperature-dependent with activation energies greater than 15 kcal/mol. Efflux of baohuoside I was significantly suppressed by inhibitors of BCRP and MRP2, whereas efflux of icariin was significantly inhibited only by p-glycoprotein inhibitor verapamil. Because YHH is often heat-processed for better efficacy, we determined and found the optimal condition for increasing contents of more bioavailable flavonoids (i.e., baohuoside I) to be 160-170 degrees C for 5-7 min.. Poor bioavailability of prenylated flavonoids results from their poor intrinsic permeation and transporter-mediated efflux. Heat processing parameters may be optimized to preserve the herb's bioavailable flavonoids, which help retain and improve its efficacy during processing.

Topics: Animals; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Biological Availability; Caco-2 Cells; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Hot Temperature; Humans; Hydrolysis; Intestinal Absorption; Intestine, Small; Male; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins; Neoplasm Proteins; Perfusion; Permeability; Prenylation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Time Factors

To investigate the chemical constituents of effective part of Epimedium brevicornum.. The sample was extracted with ethanol and purified by macroporous resin. The structures were identified by HPLC-MS3 experiments.. Nine compounds were identified from the effective part of E. brevicornum.. The method is simple and rapid for the identification of the flavonoids from E. brevicornum.

Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Molecular Structure; Plants, Medicinal; Reproducibility of Results

To achieve the quality control of Herba Epimedii, and to evaluate the quality of medical materials of the 8 official species including the 5 species recorded in 'Chinese Pharmacopoeia' including Epimedium brevicornum, E. sagittatum, E. pubescens, E. koreanum and E. wushanense, and the 3 other species (E. acuminatum, E. myrianthum, E. leptorrhizum) recorded in 'Guizhou Quality Criteria for Traditional Chinese Medical Material and Nationality Medical Material', and E. pseudowushanuse (new species) which is used as E. wushanense for a long time.. The contents of icariin and total flavonoids of 102 samples of 9 officinal species of Herba Epimedii were determined by HPLC and UV, respectively.. The contents of icariin in about 30% of the samples of the 5 species recorded in 'Chinese Pharmacopoeia' were lower than 0.5%, which is acceptable quality recorded in 'Chinese Pharmacopoeia'. Refering the literatures, we suggested the total contents of epimedin A, B, C and icariin (epi-medium multi-glycosides, ABCI) should be established as a new standard instead of the content of icariin. The content of total flavonoids, not less than 5.0%, and ABCI, not less than 1.3%, could be used to evaluate the quality of the above medical materials efficiently.

Topics: Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Epimedium; Flavonoids; Flavonols; Pharmacognosy; Plants, Medicinal; Quality Control; Reproducibility of Results; Seasons; Species Specificity