Molecules 2010, 15(11), 7861-7870; doi:10.3390/molecules15117861
Review

Herba Epimedii: Anti-Oxidative Properties and Its Medical Implications

Stephen Cho Wing Sze 1 email, Yao Tong 1,* email, Tzi Bun Ng 2 email, Chris Lok Yin Cheng 1  and Ho Pan Cheung 1
1 School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 10 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China 2 School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 11 August 2010 / Accepted: 2 November 2010 / Published: 3 November 2010
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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.
Keywords: Herba Epimedii; icarrin; anti-oxidant; flavonoids; polysaccharides; vitamin C

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Sze, S.C.W.; Tong, Y.; Ng, T.B.; Cheng, C.L.Y.; Cheung, H.P. Herba Epimedii: Anti-Oxidative Properties and Its Medical Implications. Molecules 2010, 15, 7861-7870.

AMA Style

Sze SCW, Tong Y, Ng TB, Cheng CLY, Cheung HP. Herba Epimedii: Anti-Oxidative Properties and Its Medical Implications. Molecules. 2010; 15(11):7861-7870.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sze, Stephen Cho Wing; Tong, Yao; Ng, Tzi Bun; Cheng, Chris Lok Yin; Cheung, Ho Pan. 2010. "Herba Epimedii: Anti-Oxidative Properties and Its Medical Implications." Molecules 15, no. 11: 7861-7870.

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