Description and references

Chinese herbal medicine made from the dried aerial parts of Epimedium sp. (Berberidaceae). Used as a tonic and in the treatment of rheumatic disease and hypertension. Principal constituents are prenylflavone glycosides such as icariin, epimedosides, sagittatosides, and baohuosides. Isoln of icariin from E. macranthum: S. Akai, J. Pharm. Soc. Jpn. 55, 537 (1935), C.A. 29, 5850 (1935). Revised structure: Y. Tokuoka et al., Yakugaku Zasshi 95, 825 (1975), C.A. 83, 111172r (1975). HPLC determn of constituents: M. Mizuno et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull. 36, 3487 (1988); Y. Ito et al., J. Chromatogr. 456, 392 (1988). Immunoregulatory effects of icariin in vitro: W. He et al., Arzneim.-Forsch. 45, 910 (1995). Review: W. Tang, G. Eisenbrand in Chinese Drugs of Plant Origin (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1992) pp 491-498.

Derivative