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The herb Epimedium has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat bone fracture and prevent osteoporosis. Researchers believe that the flavonoids contained in the herb are the effective component for this activity. However, no single flavonoid has been studied for its effect on bone-related cells. In the present study, icariin, one of the major flavonoids of the herb, supplemented the primary culture medium of rat bone marrow stromal cells (rMSCs) at 0.1 microM , 1 microM and 10 microM respectively. It was found that icariin stimulated the proliferation of rMSCs and increased the number of CFU-F stained positive for alkaline phosphatase in a dose-dependent manner. Icariin also dose-dependently increased the alkaline phosphatase activity, osteoalcin secretion and calcium deposition level of rMSCs during osteogenic induction. The addition of 10 microM icariin caused four times more mineralized bone nodules to be formed by rMSCs than in the control. The results demonstrated that icariin should be an effective component for bone-strengthening activity, and one of the mechanisms is to stimulate the proliferation and enhance the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.

In the present paper, the inhibitory effect of Epimedium extract on the activity of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (AdoHcy) Hydrolase was studied. The results showed that Epimedium extract inhibited the activity of recombinant human AdoHcy hydrolase in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect was also observed in hepatic cell line 7701 and hepatoma HepG2, however, the effect in 7701 cells was more potent than in HepG2 cells. The extract could significantly reduce AdoMet/AdoHcy ratio in 7701 cells in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting reduced biomethylation level in 7701 cells. In contrast, it resulted in elevated AdoMet/AdoHcy ratio in the HepG2 cells. The result of MALDI-MS assay indicated that epimedin A and ikarisoside F from the extract could bind to AdoHcy hydrolase. The present data suggested that Epimedium extract could inhibit the activity of AdoHcy hydrolase, thus regulating the cellular biomethylation as well as reducing cellular Hcy level. These results will provide new clues to the mechanisms of Epimedium in curing of cardiovascular disease and regulating tumor cell growth.

Objective: To provide a modern method for extraction and separation total flavonoids in Epimedium koreanum., Method: Using high pressure technology extracts total flavonoids in E. koreanum, and comparing with counter-current extraction with reflux. The total flavonoids contents is determined by UV-VIS., Result: The extraction efficiency is 9.67% and taking 5 min by high pressure method, using reflux, is 6.14% and 4 h respectively., Conclusion: The method of high pressure is high efficiency and saving time, which have extensive application in the extraction of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the determination of epimedin C in rat plasma and applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats after administration of Herba Epimedii extract. After addition of carbamazepine as an internal standard plasma samples were extracted with ethyl acetate. HPLC analysis of the extracts was performed on a Hypersil ODS2 analytical column using acetonitrile -0.4% acetic acid (25:75, v/v) as the mobile phase. The UV detector was set at 260 nm. The standard curve was linear over the range 0.05-4.0 microg/mL. The lower limit of quantification was 0.05 microg/mL. The HPLC method developed could be easily applied to the determination and pharmacokinetic study of epimedin C in rat plasma after giving the animals Herba Epimedii extract.

Objective: To explain functions, differences and coordination of three divided combinations of the "Erxian decoction", the famous traditional Chinese formula, on the effective sites of gonad gland at the cell level., Method: The effects of Erxian decoction and its main disassembled prescriptions, "Kidney Warming", "Yin Nourishing" and "Chong-ren Adjusting", on the level of testosterone (T) progesterone (P) estradiol (E2), respectively secreted by the primary culture Leydig cell, luteal cell and granulosa cell, were measured by radioimmunoassay., Result: (1) Erxian decoction could stimulate the T secretion while its three main disassembled prescriptions would seem no individual promoting effect on the secretion of T. (2) Erxian decoction and the "Kidney Warming" had the stimulating effect on P secretion, and the action of the whole formula being better than that of the "Kidney Warming". (3) Erxian decoction and its main disassembled prescriptions had the stimulating effect on E2 secretion, especially the whole formula., Conclusion: Erxian decoction can stimulate the secretion of T of the Leydig cell, P of luteal cell and E2 of granulosa cell. It can be seen that the effect of the whole formula is better than that of its main disassembled prescriptions.

Objective: To prepare OANO-1 microspheres and test their release in vitro., Method: OANO-1 microspheres were made by W/O/W-liquid drying process. The surface morphology of the microspheres was observed by SEM. The mean diameter and the size distribution of microspheres, the drug loading and the incorporation efficiency were examined. The release of OANO-1 microspheres in vitro was examined by small cup method. The accumulated release percent of OANO-1 microspheres was examined., Result: The OANO-1 microspheres were regular in their morphology. The average particle size was 8.59 microm with over 90% of the microspheres being in the range of 1-12 microm. The drug loading and the incorporation efficiency were 48.39% and 19.32% respectively. The accumulated release percent of OANO-1 microspheres was 78.4% after 108 h. The release half-life t1/2 was 40.8 h and Higuchi equation was Y = 0.1326 X - 0.4782, r = 0.9951., Conclusion: The preparation of OANO-1 microspheres was well. The release in vitro of OANO-1 microspheres showed significant sustained release.

Objective: To introduce species and geographic distribution of large-flowered taxa of Epimedium L. in China., Methods: Resources investigation and taxonomy study., Results: There are 27 species large-flowered taxa of Epimedium in China., Conclusion: 13 species in Sichuan, 9 species in Hubei, 8 species in Guizhou, 4 species in Hunan, 3 species in Guangxi, 2 species in Chongqing, 2 species in Yunnan, 1 species in Jiangxi, 1 species in Shanxi, 1 species in Jilin, 1 species in Liaoning and 1 species in Heilongjiang.

Aim: To investigate the possible inducible effects of icariin, icaritin, and desmethylicaritin on the directional differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into cardiomyocytes in vitro., Methods: ES cells were cultivated as embryoid bodies (EBs) in hanging drops with icariin, icaritin, or desmethylicaritin. ES cells treated with retinoic acid and with solvent were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The cardiomyocytes derived from the ES cells were verified using immunocytochemistry. The expression of cardiac developmental-dependent genes was detected using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry to determine the partly inducible effect mechanisms involved., Results: The total percentage of beating EBs treated with 10(-7) mol/L icariin, icaritin, or desmethylicaritin was 87% (P<0.01), 59% (P<0.01), and 49%, respectively. All the beating cardiomyocytes derived from the ES cells expressed cardiac-specific proteins for a-actinin and troponin T. Among them, 10(-7) mol/L icariin treatment resulted in a significantly advanced and increased mRNA level of a-cardiac major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and myosin light chain 2v (MLC-2v) in EBs in the early cardiac developmental stage. Before shifting to the cardiomyocyte phenotype, icariin could evoke the accumulation of ES cells in G0/G1 and accelerate apoptosis of the cell population (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Icariin facilitated the directional differentiation of ES cells into cardiomyocytes at a concentration of 10(-7) mol/L. The promoting effect of icariin on cardiac differentiation was related to increasing and accelerating gene expression of a-cardiac MHC and MLC-2v, as well as regulating the cell cycles and inducing apoptosis.

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents of Epimedium brevicornum., Method: The chemical constituents were isolated by using silica gel column chromatography and preparative TLC. The structures were identified on the basis of physical-chemical constants and spectral data., Result: Five compounds were isolated and identified as hyperoside, icariin, epimedin B, epimedin C, inositol., Conclusion: Compound I and III - V were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Objective: To study the effects of epimedium pubescens icariine on the proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts., Method: Human osteoblasts were obtained by inducting human marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) directionally. MTT was used to observe the proliferation and activity of ALP was assayed to observe the differentiation of the third passage human osteoblasts cultured in vitro. The expression of BMP-2 mRNA was checked by RT-PCR., Result: Epimedium pubescens icariine at the dose of 20 microg x mL(-1) increased greatly the proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts and promoted the expression of BMP-2 mRNA., Conclusion: Epimedium pubescens icariine enhances significantly the proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts, which may be mediated by increasing the expression of BMP-2 mRNA.

A preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method for isolation and purification of flavonoids from the Chinese medicinal plant Epimedium koreamum Nakai was successfully established by using chloroform-methanol-water (4:3.5:2, v/v) as the two-phase solvent system. The method yielded 11.4 mg of epimedokoreanoside I, 46.5 mg of icariin and 17.7 mg of icariside II from 200 mg of the crude sample in one-step separation with the purity of 98.2%, 99.7% and 98.5%, respectively, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The structures of the flavonoids were identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR.

Objective: To study, the high polar media-water extraction process of Herba epimedii with the microwave technology., Method: The single parameters of extraction process was investigated with dry extract yield and extraction efficiency of icariin as content index., Result: Through studying the single parameter, the optimal conditions are as follows: 70% ethanol as wetting solvent, volume of solvent to weight of material equal to 6:1 in wetting, 30 min wetting time, 2.5 min microwave irradiation time, volume of solvent to weight of material equal to 50:1 in extraction process, 10 min microwave-assisted extraction time., Conclusion: Compared with conventional methods, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) after Microwave Pretreament (MP) of raw material was higher extraction efficiency and time-saving.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of senescence delay of human diploid fibroblast (2BS) and protecting telomere length by epimedium flavonoids (EF)., Methods: The drug sera of EF were used to treat the 2BS. The population doublings of 2BS cells were observed, the mRNA expression of p16 gene were determined by fluorescence real-time quantitative RT-PCR, the telomerase activation of 2BS cells were determined by TRAP-Hyb, the total retinoblastoma (Rb) and phosphorated Rb protein content were detected by ELISA, the telomere length of 2BS cells were determined by telomere restriction fragment (TRF) Southern blot assay., Results: EF could significantly extend the population doublings of 2BS cells, the expression of p16 mRNA was decreased and the content of phosphorated Rb protein were increased by EF. The telomere lengthening of 2BS cells were improved by EF, but the telomerase was not activated., Conclusion: In senescence human fibroblasts 2BS cells, p16 gene mRNA expression increased, content of phosphorated Rb protein decreased and the telomere length of 2BS shortened, EF might delay the aging of cells through inhibiting the p16 gene expression, promoting the production of phosphorated Rb protein and to protect the length of telomere, but not activating the telomerase.

Objective: To study pharmacological effects of PEC (the oral liquid which consists of Panax quinquefolium, Epimedium brevicornum, Schisandra chinensis Bail and Cervus eplaphus) on mice., Method: Experiments were carried out through swimming test, step-through, spontaneous activity and sleeping time., Result: When 5-10 mL x kg(-1) of PEC was given orally for 7 days, it could prolong swimming duration of mice in water tank, and increase the tolerant ability against oxygen-deficiency. PEC could also improve cognitive-deficiency induced by taking off sleep with force in mice after given orally for 7 days. The PEC could increase the spontaneous activity in mice, antagonize the inhabitation induced by Valium, and shorten the sleeping time caused by sodium pentobarbital., Conclusion: PEC has strong potential neuro-pharmacological activities such as anti-fatigue, improving cognitive-deficiency in mice.

1. The present study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of Coptis chinensis and Epimedium sagittatum extracts and their major constituents on hepatoma and leukaemia cells in vitro. 2. Four human liver cancer cell lines, namely HepG2, Hep3B, SK-Hep1 and PLC/PRF/5, and four leukaemia cell lines, namely K562, U937, P3H1 and Raji, were used in the present study. 3. Of the two crude drugs, C. chinensis exhibited the strongest activity against SK-Hep1 (IC50 = 7 microg/mL) and Raji (IC50 = 4 microg/mL) cell lines. The IC50 values for C. chinensis on HepG2, Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5 cell lines were 20, 55 and 35 microg/mL, respectively. The IC50 values for C. chinensis on K562, U937 and P3H1 cell lines were 29, 29 and 31 microg/mL, respectively. 4. With the exception of HepG2 and Hep3B, the E. sagittatum extract inhibited the proliferation of all cell lines (SK-Hep1, PLC/PRF/5, K562, U937, P3H1 and Raji), with IC50 values of 15, 57, 74, 221, 40 and 80 microg/mL, respectively. 5. Interestingly, the two major compounds of C. chinensis, berberine and coptisine, showed a strong inhibition on the proliferation of both hepatoma and leukaemia cell lines, with IC50 values varying from 1.4 to 15.2 microg/mL and from 0.6 to 14.1 microg/mL, respectively. However, icariin (the major compound of E. sagittatum) showed no inhibition of either the hepatoma or leukaemia cell lines. 6. The results of the present study suggest that the C. chinensis extract and its major constituents berberine and coptisine possess active antihepatoma and antileukaemia activities.

Objective: To elucidate the gene regulatory pattern of Epimedium flavonoids (EF) in immune homeostasis remodeling in the aged rats., Methods: (1) To quantitatively analyse the apoptosis percentage of lymphocyte in spleen of aged, young and EF treated rats using flow cytometry. (2) To analyse the lymphocyte gene expression profiles of different groups using gene chips (Rat Genome U34A)., Results: (1) Detection of lymphocyte apoptosis percentage showed that there was significant difference in comparing between aged group and young group, between EF treated group and aged group (P < 0.01). (2) As compared with that in the young group, in the aged group, 116 genes were up-regulated and 215 down-regulated. As compared with that in the old group, in the EF treated group, 447 genes were up-regulated and 456 down-regulated, which involved the aspects as cell apoptosis and cell proliferation regulation, etc., Conclusion: (1) The expression pattern characterized by up-regulation of apoptosis promoting genes expression and down-regulation of apoptosis inhibiting genes expression, is the important gene background of immuno-homeostasis imbalance in the aged. (2) The role of EF is to reverse the abnormal changes of gene expressions with opposite functions, i.e. the apoptosis promoting and inhibiting, proliferation enhancing and antagonizing genes, to reconstruct a beneficial equilibrium of gene expression and thus to further remodel the immuno-homeostasis in the aged.

The flavonoid extract from Epimedium sagittatum (FES) has been found by us to be effective in preventing osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy in rats. In the present study, the effect of FES on the development of rat calvarial osteoblast-like (ROB) cells was investigated. No appreciable effect was observed when ROB cells were exposed to FES in vitro. However, serum isolated from rats administered FES orally was able to significantly stimulate the proliferation as well as the osteoblastic differentiation of ROB cells compared to serum from control rats. The results indicate that the serum of rats administered FES contains active metabolites ofFES that enhance the development of osteoblasts, while the original form of FES itself is inactive.

Objective: To establish a RP-HPLC method for the determination of epimedin C and icariin in Herba Epimedii., Method: Chromatographic conditions: Hypersil BDS-C18 column, acetonitrice and water containing 0.05% phosphoric acid as gradient eluents, G1315A photodiode array detector at 272 nm., Result: The average recovery rate of epimedin C was 99.7%, RSD 1.5% (n = 9), icariin 102.5%, RSD 1.1% (n=9)., Conclusion: The method is reliable, stable and well repeatable. It provides the useful information for quality evaluation.

Objective: To comment on main resource species of Herba Epimedii., Method: Taxonomy, resource investigation and quality evaluation of flavonoid contents were made., Result: 7 species of Herba Epimedii having broad distribution were summarized. According the area of their distribution, they were named Epimedium sagittatum, E. brevicornu, E. acuminatum, E. koreanum, E. pubescens, E. leptorrhizum and E. wushanense. Each distribution in detail and icariin and likewise compounds contents of these 7 species were provided. Other 8 Epimedium species much used were proposed. Medicinal characters 15 species were provided in this paper., Conclusion: On the basis of distribution character, resource quantity and growing with other species mingled, it is suggested that 4 main production or purchasing districts in China be divided. The most important district is northeastern district, where only E. koreanum grows there, with the best guality. Northwestern and northern district is the second one, where E. brevicornu, mainly grows with much stable guality. Then it is eastern and southern district, where E. sagittatum grows with the largest quantity but unstable quality. Southwestern district is the last one, mingle species complex and identification important. In Sichuan province, E. acuminatum and E. pubescens are main species, with other 12 species growing there. In Guizhou province, E. acuminatum, E. leptorrhizum and E. wushanense are main species, other 7 species growing there and E. leptorrhizum with poor quality. It is suggested that E. acuminatum be recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Objective: To study the optimum extraction factors of Buxueyangyan Mixture., Method: The orthogonal design was used to select the optimum extraction factors of Cervi Pantotrichum etc. and water extraction rate was used to evaluate the factors. The orthogonal desingn was used to study three factors including crude particle size, extraction time and amount of water. Lcariine content was used as analytical parameter., Result: The optimum extraction factors for Cervi Pantotrichum etc. were: 3 a volume ofwith 10 times of water used for three extraction 2.5 h each time. The optimum extraction factors for others were: 1 cm or smaller the crude particle size, boiling 2 times: 2.5, 1.5 h respectively the amount of water used was 10. 8 times of the drug mixture respectively., Conclusion: According the optimum extraction factors, the active substance can be extracted efficiently.

Objective: To observe the influent of the different components of nourishing kidney herbs on the main items of bone metabolism in osteoporosis rats induced with Dexamethasona(DXM)., Method: Models of three-month old SD female rats with osteoporosis here made by being fed with low calcium diet (containing calcium 0.2%) and distilled water, and injected with DXM 0.1 mg/100 g weight intramuscularly, twice a week. Then the osteoporosis rats were treated with different components of nourishing kidney herbs, and the change of calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase(ALP), calcitonin(CT), PTH, CT/PTH, estrogen(E2), testosterone(T), T/E2 and bone section and bone quantitative morphology in these osteoporosis rats were observed., Result: The total components of nourishing kidney herbs could improve the general condition of osteoporosis rats, decrease PTH, increase CT, estrogen, testosterone, CT/PTH and T/E2. The total components of nourishing kidney herbs could improve osteoporotic state, promote bone formation, and inhibite bone resorption. But no effect of the A, B, C, D components of nourishing kidney herbs on the main items of bone metabolism in osteoporosis rats induced with DXM was found., Conclusion: It is possible that the purification and separation of these herbs weaken or destroy the integrative effect of nourishing kidney herbs or destroy effective components of nourishing kidney herbs during the process of purification and separation.

More than 130 different compounds have been identified from over 16 species of the Epimedium genus of the Berberidaceae family. Eight of these species have been used in the Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) over centuries to treate a wide range of diseases. From in vitro and in vivo experimental data, and preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of the androgenic/anti-estrogenic and anti-oxidant activities of the icariin series of flavonoids and glycosides, the results appear to be consistent with those of known anti-estrogenic flavonoids, such as luteolin. Further QSAR analysis of the different active ingredients is now in progress and will be reported elsewhere. Our survey suggests the possibility of multiple targets and multiple mechanisms of action by Epimedium preparations and their purified compounds. These may serve as leads for further new drug development.

Icariin was purified from the extract of Epimedium segittatum by high-speed counter-current chromatography with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-n-butanol-methanol-water (1:4:2:6, v/v). We used two multilayer coil planet centrifuges with different capacities. A 300 mg amount of the extract was separated using a semipreparative instrument equipped with a 230-ml capacity column to yield 103 mg of icariin at 86.2% purity. An 8 g amount of the extract was separated with a large preparative instrument equipped with a 2460-ml capacity column to produce 2.45 g of icariin at 85.7% purity. From these fractions over 98% pure icariin was obtained by recrystallization with water.

Syringaresinol isolated from Epimedium koreanum NAKA1 and Magnolia officinalis REHD. et WILS. was subjected to optical resolution by chiral HPLC to give (+)- and (-)-enantiomers. The two syringaresinol enantiomers, as well as a mixture of their glucosides, showed dose-dependent neuritogenesis in a concentration range from 0.24 to 24 microM in PC12h cells.

Objective: To study the antiinflammatory effect of a compound TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) agent on animal models. The agent contains ant extractive and a blent of three herbal products, herba epimedii, fructus cnidii, and fructus lycii., Method: Three animal models to induce experimental inflammation in rats, including carrageenin--induced paw edema, cotton-ball granuloma and adjuvant induced arthritis, were chosen to study the antiinflammatory effect of the TCM agent., Result: The TCM agent showed a marked inhibitory effect on edema induced by all three types of inflammation in rats, the inhibitory rate of the TCM agent at the dose of 0.20, 0.40 and 0.80 g.kg-1 in granuloma model bing over 25% at 1 hour post oral administration, and being 23.8%, 22.7%, 39.7% at 6 hour. In addition, the TCM agent also showed a significant preventive as well as therapeutic effect on adjuvant induced arthritis in rats, and improved the pathological changes of the animal joints with the induced arthritis., Conclusion: TCM agent has significant antiinflammatory effects on the three above mentioned animal models.

Objective: To observe the effects of Epimedium total Flavonoids Phytosomes on preventing and treating bone-loss of the castrate osteoporosis rat model., Method: The osteoporosis model was established with 4-month-odl panther's rats, their ovaries on both sides castrated. Dual energy X-ray scanning was used to determine the bone density, and immunity and ELASA were used to assay concentration of estradiol and IL-6 in serum respectively, then determine their effect., Result: The BMP and E2 of high dosage group nilestriol group and normal group are higher than those of model group (P < 0.01), while their content of IL-6 is apparently lower than that of model group(P < 0.01)., Conclusion: The osteoporosis model was established successfully and the using of EFP can improve the bone density, enhance E2 level and decrease the IL-6 concentration in serum.

Objective: To review the progress in the research of the pharmacological activities of active ingredients and extracts of Epimedium., Method: Effects of Epimedium on cardiovascular system, circulatory system, immune system, genital system and bone marrow system, etc were reviewed, based on the recent 10 years pharmacological experimental studies., Conclusion: The results provided a rational foundation for the further development and utilization of Epimedium.

Objective: Determine and compare the contents of ten trace elements in crude E. acuminatum and its three different processed products., Method: Using flame atomic absorption spectrometry., Result: The ten trace elements were found in both the crude drug and its three processed products, and in terms of contents some of the trace elements in all the three processed products are higher than those in the crude drug., Conclusion: According to the trace element contents, the three processed products of E. acuminatum have their own advantages. It is thus suggested that thoroughgoing clinical and experimental researches be performed anew for the long-shelved processing methods.

Objective: To optimize preparation techniques for Herba Epimedii flavonoid phytosomes (EFP) and explore their suitable pharmaceutics., Methods: To optimize the preparation conditions by means of uniform design and step regression, prepare Herba Epimedii total flavonoid phytosomes by means of solvent evaporation and investigate the accumulative dissolution of different ratios of EFP-PVP precipitates by means of dissolution release., Result: The optimized preparation conditions are as follows: solvent-tetrahydrofuran, lecithin to PVP--2.5 times, temperature--40 degrees C and reaction--3 hours. Oil/water apparent partition coefficient of icariin was enhanced more than 4 times by phospholipid. The accumulative dissolution of Herba Epimedii flavonoids of EFP-PVP precipitate was significantly higher than that of its physical mixture and Herba Epimedii extract tablet., Conclusion: Phospholipid can effectively enhance the oil/water apparent partition coefficient of icariin, and PVP can improve the dissolution of Herba Epimedii phytocomes, but the pharmacokinetics needs further study.

Knowledge of dissociation constants is important for prediction and understanding the migration behavior of analytes in capillary electrophoresis. Icariin is the active component of the Chinese herb medicine Epimedium grandiflorum Morr.. In order to determine the dissociation constant of icariin and to show many important pharmacology activities, a CZE method has been used to determine the ion mobility (mu A-) and the pKa value of icariin based on the non-linear relation between mu eff and [H+] and the linear relation between the reciprocal of effective mobility of the solute (1/mu eff) and the [H+] of the buffer solution. In addition, the change of pKa of icariin with the increase of ethanol concentration in the buffer was also investigated. Under the buffer condition of 24 mmol/L phosphate + 30% ethanol, the content of the active component icariin in Chinese herb Epimedium grandiflorum Morr. was quantitatively determined. The linear correlation equation was Y = 6.96 x 10(-3) + 17.0X, and the linear range is 0.032 g/L-0.354 g/L.

Objective: Determining and comparing the contents of general flavonoides in four kinds of differently-processed products of Epimedium acuminatum., Method: Determining the contents by ultraviolet spectrophotometry., Result: The contents were found in the following seguence: unprocessed product, clearly-fried product, alcohol-broiled product, salt-broiled product, sheep-fat-broiled product. The average recovery rate was 96.01%, with a 0.74% RSD(n = 5)., Conclusion: Heating causes the contents of general flavonoides in the processed products to decrease. These processed products are still often used in clinical treatment, for the reason that the adjuvant features certain coordinating and promoting functions. The study is to be pursued further.

In this study, flow cytometry (FCM) and fluorescent probe technique were used to explore the influence of icariin (ICA) on cell membrane of PG. The data suggested that ICA could inhance membrane fluidity of PG and increase the expression of membrane HLA-ABC antigen. This could be one of the anticancer mechanisms of ICA.

Three new compounds were isolated from the aerial part of Epimedium koreanum Nakai. On the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidences, they were elucidated as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-(4-acetyl) rhamnopyranoside-anhydroicaritin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 2-(p-hydroxyphenoxy)-5, 7-dihydroxy-6-prenylchromone, and 7-hydroxy-3, 4, 6-trimethoxy-9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Objective: To systematically develop Epimedium spp. and control their quality., Method: Using polyamide and macroporous adsorbent resins AB-8. The compounds were identified on the basis of spectrometric data and physical and chemical test., Result: Four flavones were isolated from the herb. They were identified as wushanicariin, baohuoside VI, kaempferol-3,7-O-alpha-L-dirhamnoside and hexandraside E., Conclusion: These flavones were isolated from the herb and identified for the first time.

Objective: To study the components of roots of Epimedium acuminatum., Method: Column chromatography was employed for the isolation. The isolated compounds were elucidated by UV, IR, FAB-MS, 1HNMR and 13CNMR analysis., Result: Four constituents were obtained and elucidated as epimedoside A(V), diphylloside B(VI), epimedin C(VII) and ikarisoside C(VIII)., Conclusion: Four constituents are all flavonol glycosides, of which VI, VII and VIII were separated from this plant for the first time.

An HPLC method for determination of icariin in epimedium koreanum nakai was investigated. The results showed that this method was simple, specific and accurate. The recovery was 97.6% and relative standard deviation was 1.2%. About 0.5 g of dried powdered crude drug was weighed accurately, placed in 25 mL of the mobile phase and refluxed on a water-bath for 30 min. After cooling, the solution was decanted. The residue was refluxed twice with 10 mL of the mobile phase. The extract were placed in a 50 mL volumetric flask and diluted to 50 mL with the mobile phase. A 3 microL of the solution was injected into the HPLC system. Linear calibration graphs for icariin were obtained for the concentration ranges of 0.08-0.4 microg. HPLC conditions were used was Shimadzu LC-6A with UV spectrometric detector SPD-6AV; at 270 nm and auto injector SIL-6A. Water-acetonitrile (70:30) as the mobile phase, Shim-pack CLC-ODS column (6.0 mm x 150 mm).