ABSTRACT
Epimedii Herba is a commonly used traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Five Epimedium species are included in Chinese Pharmacopoeia and most species of Epimedium are used as Epimedii Herba in practical application. However, as the largest herbaceous genus of the Berberidaceae, Epimedium has many taxonomic controversies which hinder the effective use of Epimedii Herba. This paper reviewed the taxonomic research related to Epimedium, including taxonomic history, taxonomic values of morphological characters, species and distribution, infra-genera taxonomic system and the taxonomic research of Chinese Epimedium. For instance, we recognized Epimedium wushanense and clarified that the species, as described in Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae and Flora of China, actually includes four Epimedium species similar in leaflet shape. In general, it was recognized here that Epimedium comprises 62 species, of which 52 species are distributed in China. For Chinese Epimedium species with the most taxonomic problems, the taxonomic research on the taxa was reviewed and the newest species key was proposed along with proposals for those taxonomic problems needing further resolution. This review is of great implication for the identification, exploration and utilization of Epimedii Herba.
ABSTRACT
As the diversity center of Epimedium, China possesses about 50 species. Epimedium plants have been used as herb-medicine for more than 2000 years in China. In recent years, the price of herba epimedii has kept high with the increase in the kinds and quantity of medicine and health products made from herba epimedii. The herba epimedii mainly depends on wild resources, which has led to a sharp decrease in the wild resources due to excessive collection in the field. At present, the supply of the wild resources of Epimedium is far from meeting the demand of production. In this paper, the Global Medicinal Plant Information Geography System (GMPGIS) was used to predict the suitable regions for planting herba epimedii based on climate and soil data in the distribution region of the wild Epimedium. The wild germplasm resources of Chinese Epimedium and the existing three excellent cultivators (Zhongke Jianye 1, Zhongke Qianbei 1 and Zhongke Wushan 1) were also been reviewed and introduced. The pollution-free and precision cultivation system of the herba epimdii, including the selection of planting base, soil complex improvement, seedlings breeding, rational application of fertilizer, comprehensive control of disease and precise field management, were discussed, which would shed light in guiding the pollution- free planting of herba epimedii, and is of great implication for industrial development of herba epimedii.
ABSTRACT
Herba Epimedii is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine for "strengthening the kidney" and "reinforcing bone" for a long time in China and other Asian countries. In this study, based on the large number of domestic and international references and research results, the authors reviewed pharmacological effects and the clinical application of species in genus Epimedium L. Meanwhile, chemical conversion and biotransformation of the major active compounds during the processing of the plants in Epimedium L. and their metabolism in vivo were summarized. This provides a guidance for the application and development in clinical therapy in the future.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Icaritin is the main aglycone and also active intestinal metabolite of prenylflavonoids from the Chinese materia medica Epimedii Herba. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that icaritin has a wide range of biological activities. However, its metabolites and biotransformation pathways have not yet been comprehensively investigated. The present study aims to identify icaritin metabolites in rats by using a sensitive and effective LC-MS/MS method. Methods: The plasma and urine samples of rats were collected before (blank) and after oral administration of icaritin, and subjected to liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. The full-scan LC-MS chromatograms of the plasma and urine samples were compared with those of blank samples to detect the possible metabolites, which were later detected by their product ion spectra. Results: A total of 23 metabolites were identified, and conjugated icaritins produced by glucuronidation, glycosylation, and sulfation were its major metabolites. Minor demethylation, hydrogenation, and oxidation metabolites were also found. Conclusion: Phase II metabolism is the main metabolic pathway of icaritin.
ABSTRACT
Epimedii Folium, a famous Chinese materia medica, is botanically originated from Epimedium L. species. Here Epimedium L. species were reviewed in phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), and processing. They have been proven to possess the efficacy on anti-osteoporosis, antitumor, and treating sexual dysfunction in traditional Chinese medicines. More than 270 compounds have been isolated from the plants of Epimedium L., some of which could be metabolized into a series of metabolites after oral absorption by the active enzymes and intestinal microflora leading to various bioactivities. Polyglucosides (epimendins A-C) and the coresponding oligoglycosides (icariin and baohuoside I) play important roles in clinical application.