• Plant Resources
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.221-226
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• 2003

To improve industrial scale extraction method for extraction of icariin from Epimedium koreanum Nakai, the yields under different extracting conditions such as solvent, temperature, duration and solvent to plant material weight ratio were compared. Regarding extracting solution, highest extracts and icariin yield could be achieved when 10% EtOH was used. In case of plant material to extracting solvent ratio, no significant differences could be observed from 1/10 to 1/50, indicating 1/10 was the most efficient. Extracting temperature significantly affected extracts and icariin yields in that 9$0^{\circ}C$ increased the collected extracts and icariin contents up to 29.6% and 0.76%, respectively, compared to 27.2%, 0.33% at 7$0^{\circ}C$. The yield of extracts was less dependent upon extracting temperature compared to icariin yield. Regarding extraction time, 4 hr and 6 hr resulted in high extracts and icariin yield, respectively. We found extracting Epimedium koreanum Nakai in 10 times volume of 10% EtOH for 4 and 6 hr at 9$0^{\circ}C$ seem to be relatively efficient methods for extracts and icariin, respectively.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2020

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the effects of major constituents of Epimedium koreanum Nakai (Icariin, epimedium A, epimedium B, and epimedium C) on melanin synthesis. Methods : We measured melanin contents, tyrosinase activity, and expression of Rab27a in B16F10 cells cultured with Epimedium koreanum Nakai ethanol extract (EKN) and their major constituents. After treatment with H89 and dibutyryl cAMP, which inhibit or promote the activation of PKA, we observed changes in melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity stimulated by EKN. Results : Among them, EKN and icariin enhanced tyrosinase activity and melanin contents. We confirmed that EKN augmented melanin synthesis via cAMP/PKA pathway. Icariin-induced tyrosinase activity and melanin content were attenuated by PKA inhibitor H89, while melanogenic effect of icariin was further augmented by cAMP analog, dbc AMP. However, icariin did not affect the expression of small GTPase Rab27a involved in melanosome transport. Conclusions : These results suggest that icariin promotes melanogenesis through cAMP/PKA pathway but does not affect small GTPase Rab27a.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2017

This study was designed to investigate the contents of icariin during ripening of Epimedium koreanum with sugar and Soju (25, 30, and 35% alcohol contents) using a homemade method. Contents of icariin of Epimedium wine were examined using high performance liquid chromatography. Icariin levels in Epimedium wine increased during the first 3 days of storage; after 6 days, icariin contents decreased gradually until 30 days. Contents of icariin in Epimedium wine by storage temperature (5 and $20^{\circ}C$) were not different during storage. After 30 days, icaiin was not detected in all tested Epimedium wines. Epimedium wines were assessed for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and (ABTS) radical scavenging activity. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities increased in early storage periods, however, after 6 or 9 days, activities decreased gradually.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.86-94
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• 2018

This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant activities and protective effects on PC12 cells of the extract of Epimedium koreanum and its main constituents icariin and icariside I. After screening the seven identified flavonoid glycosides from E. koreanum through DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) assay, E. koreanum, Icariin and Icariside I exhibited significant effect on radical scavenging activity. E. koreanum, icariin and icariside I were examined using DPPH, ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) and FRAP (ferric reducing ability power) assay. In all antioxidant assays, E. koreanum, icariin and icariside I showed high radical scavenging activities in a dose-dependent manner. Protective effects against $H_2O_2-induced$ PC12 cells were assessed with MTT assay. The results indicated that cell viability and protection on PC12 cells of icariside I and icariin increased dose dependently. These study results suggest that E. koreanum, icariin and icariside showed high antioxidant capacities and cell protective effects. Icariside I, one of the metabolites of icariin, may be a new and effective flavonoid compound as a functional component.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.1 s.124
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• pp.43-48
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• 2001

Epimedii Herba has been used for tonic, cardiotonic, impotency, amnestic and diuretic. Icariin, a main component was isolated from the Epimedii Herba and identified by the spectroscopic methods. In order to evaluate the quality of Epimedii Herba purchased from various regions of Korea, quantitative determination of icariin in Epimedii Herba using HPLC method has been conducted. Quantitative analysis showed the average amount of icariin in commercial 42 samples was 0.34% on the dry weight basis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.437-446
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• 2022

In this study, to obtain icaritin with high pharmacological activities from icariin, which has a content ratio of over 58% in the total flavonoids of Epimedium herb, a special Epimedium flavonoid-glycosidase was produced, purified and characterized from Aspergillus sp.y848 strain. The optimal enzyme production was gained in a medium containing 5% (w/v) wheat bran extract and 0.7% (w/v) Epimedium leaf powder as the enzyme inducer, and strain culture at 30℃ for 6-7 days. The molecular weight of the enzyme was approximately 73.2 kDa; the optimal pH and temperature were 5.0 and 40℃. The enzyme Km and Vmax values for icariin were 15.63 mM and 55.56 mM/h. Moreover, the enzyme hydrolyzed the 7-O-glucosides of icariin into icariside II, and finally hydrolyzed 3-Orhamnoside of icariside II into icaritin. The enzyme also hydrolyzed 7-O-glucosides of epimedin B to sagittatoside B, and then further hydrolyzed terminal 3-O-xyloside of sagittatoside B to icarisiede II, before finally hydrolyzing 3-O-rhamnoside of icarisiede II into icaritin. The enzyme only hydrolyzed 7-O-glucoside of epimedin A or epimedin C into sagittatoside A or sagittatoside C. It is possible to prepare icaritin from the high-content icariin in Epimedium herb using this enzyme. When 2.5% icariin was reacted at 40℃ for 18-20 h by the low-cost crude enzyme, 5.04 g icaritin with 98% purity was obtained from 10 g icariin. Also, the icaritin molar yield was 92.5%. Our results showed icaritin was successfully produced via cost-effective and relatively simple methods from icariin by crude enzyme. Our results should be very useful for the development of medicines from Epimedium herb.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.21-24
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• 1989

A new method for quantitative determination of icariin in Epimedii Herba by high performance liquid chromatography was established. A reversed-phase system with $a\;{\mu}Bondapak\;C_{18}$ column using methanol in water(15% to 70%, gradient elution) as a mobile phase was developed. Icariin and spinosin as an internal reference were detected at 350 nm and the analysis was successfully carried out within 30 min.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.1397-1403
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• 2011

Epimedium koreanum Nakai is a wild medicinal plant commonly consumed in South Korea due to its health beneficial effects. In the present study, the antioxidative, antimutagenic and immunological activities of E. koreanum Nakai extracts were investigated for their use in food. The yields of icariin compounds from the ethanol extract as well as the ethyl acetate, butanol, hexane, water, and chloroform fractions of E. koreanum were 27.9, 2.5, 1.7, 1.4, and 1.3 ${\mu}g/g$, respectively. The icariin components (295.5 ${\mu}g/g$) were collected from the ethyl acetate fraction by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and analyzed via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activities of each fraction were as follows: ethyl acetate (49.0 ${\mu}g/mL$), butanol (59.2 ${\mu}g/mL$), hexane (119.8 ${\mu}g/mL$), water (122.0 ${\mu}g/mL$), and chloroform (138.5 ${\mu}g/mL$), based on $RC_{50}$ ${\mu}g/mL$. Icariin, isolated and identified as the main component, showed strong antioxidant activity with a $RC_{50}$ value of 15.3 ${\mu}g/mL$, which was higher than those of ascorbic acid (19.5 ${\mu}g/mL$) and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (18.2 ${\mu}g/mL$). In an Ames test, none of the fractions produced mutagenic effects on Salmonella Typhimurium TA98 and TA100. In an immunomodulating activity test, the effects of E. koreanum Nakai on B cells (Rhamos) and T cells (Jurkat) were investigated. These results show that the growth and viability of B and T cells were increased by isolated icariin components for 1.27 and 1.28 fold, respectively. These results also provide preliminary data for the development of E. koreanum Nakai as an edible food material.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.359-364
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• 2007

This study was conducted to determine the optimum condition of extraction and antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of Epimedium koreanum Nakai based on the icariin quantity. Also, further organic solvent fractions of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol were obtained from the ethanol extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai at different temperatures. Total ethanol extraction yield of wild grape seed ranged from 11.8% to 39.3% depending on the concentration of icariin as well as different ethanol concentration, extraction temperature and time condition. Among different extraction temperatures and time, the highest extraction yield of 39.3% was obtained at 70% ethanol for 3 hour at $50^{\circ}C$ in the sample containing the 0.596% icariin (KE9412). In the meantime, the strongest free radical scavenging effect $(RC_{50})$ with $18.9{\mu}g/mL$ in the KE9412 sample was observed in 70% ethanol extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai extracted for 7 hour at $70^{\circ}C$, while $RC_{50}$ with $35.2{\mu}g/mL$ was observed in the KE9405 (0.20% icariin content) sample at same condition. Also, antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of Epimedium koreanum Nakai increased as icariin concentration increased. Among each fraction obtained from organic solvents, butanol fraction was found to have the strongest $RC_{50}\;(39.2{\mu}g/mL)$ and followed by ethylacetate $(49.0{\mu}g/mL)$, water $(118.8{\mu}g/mL)$, ethylacetate $(119.8{\mu}g/mL)$, and chloroform fraction $(138.5{\mu}g/mL)$ respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.616-623
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• 1996

Eum Yang Kwak, the aerial part of Epimedium koreanum, is widely used as a folk medicine for stimulant in man, tonic, and hypotensive purpose. The plant contains icariin (a specific flavonoid), magnoflorine (an alkaloid) and tannin, but their contents are not known until now. In this paper, a quantitative analysis method for them was developed. Determination of icariin and magnoflorine was successfully achived by high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a UV detector in the ranges of $0.1{\sim}0.4\;mg$ and $0.002{\sim}0.1\;mg\;per\;ml$ sample, respectively. Extraction of the plant was carried out with water or 50% ethanol using different decocting temperatures and times. Icariin was well extracted either by water ($100^{\circ}C$, 3hr) or 50% ethanol ($85^{\circ}C$, 1hr), and its content in the plant was measured to be 0.94%. On the other hand, magnoflorine was fully extracted by 50% ethanol ($85^{\circ}C$, 1hr), and its content was determined to be 0.16%. Therefore, decoction of the medicinal plant with water at $100^{\circ}C$ for 3hr turned out to be recommendable for the best extraction.