Herba Epimedii: anti-oxidative properties and its medical implications.

Abstract

Herba Epimedii is a Chinese herbal medicine with proven efficacy in treating cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis, and in improving sexual and neurological functions. This efficacy is found to be related to the potent anti-oxidative ability of Herba Epimedii and its flavonoid components, with icarrin as the main effective constituent, along with polysaccharides and vitamin C. These ingredients have been proven to be effective against oxidative-stress related pathologies (cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease and inflammation) in animal rodent models and in vitro studies. Their anti-oxidative properties are found to be related to an inductive effect on endogenous free-radical scavenging enzymes such as catalase and glutathione peroxidase and the inherent electron-donating ability of flavonoids.

• Authors: Stephen Cho Wing Sze, Yao Tong, Tzi Bun Ng, Chris Lok Yin Cheng, Ho Pan Cheung
• Journal: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (Molecules) Vol. 15 Issue 11 Pg. 7861-70 (Nov 03 2010) ISSN: 1420-3049 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 21060294 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Flavonoids
• Polysaccharides
• Ascorbic Acid

Topics

• Antioxidants (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Ascorbic Acid (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Cells (drug effects)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology)
• Epimedium (chemistry)
• Flavonoids (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Polysaccharides (pharmacology)