Description
Icariin is a flavonol glycoside originally found in Epimedium that exhibits vasodilatory, antidepressant, neuroprotective, antioxidative, and anti-osteoporotic activities. Icariin inhibits phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), increasing cGMP and NO concentrations. Icariin inhibits AAPH-induced oxidative DNA damage in vitro. In animal models, icariin decreases immobility time in the forced swim and tail suspension tests and decreases stress-induced expression of monoamine oxidases (MAOs). In other animals, icariin improves searching time and distance in the Morris water maze; it also decreases levels of malondialdehyde and amyloid-β (Aβ) in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease. This compound also inhibits osteoclast growth and differentiation, potentially suppressing bone resorption.
References
Zhao F, Tang YZ, Liu ZQ. Protective effect of icariin on DNA against radical-induced oxidative damage. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2007 Dec;59(12):1729-32. PMID: 18053336.
Luo Y, Nie J, Gong QH, et al. Protective effects of icariin against learning and memory deficits induced by aluminium in rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2007 Aug;34(8):792-5. PMID: 17600559.
Chen KM, Ge BF, Liu XY, et al. Icariin inhibits the osteoclast formation induced by RANKL and macrophage-colony stimulating factor in mouse bone marrow culture. Pharmazie. 2007 May;62(5):388-91. PMID: 17557750.
Ning H, Xin ZC, Lin G, et al. Effects of icariin on phosphodiesterase-5 activity in vitro and cyclic guanosine monophosphate level in cavernous smooth muscle cells. Urology. 2006 Dec;68(6):1350-4. PMID: 17169663.
Pan Y, Kong L, Xia X, et al. Antidepressant-like effect of icariin and its possible mechanism in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2005 Dec;82(4):686-94. PMID: 16380159.
