Osteoarthritis(OA)is the most prevalent joint disease and icariin is a promising drug for its treatment.However,the clinical use of icariin is hindered by poor water solubility,low bioavailability,and nonspecific rele...Osteoarthritis(OA)is the most prevalent joint disease and icariin is a promising drug for its treatment.However,the clinical use of icariin is hindered by poor water solubility,low bioavailability,and nonspecific release and biological distribution.Herein,sulfonated azocalix[4]arene(SAC4A)with enhanced water solubility,recognition capacity,and designed responsiveness was used to improve the efficiency of icariin for OA therapy.SAC4A,a macrocycle with well-defined molecular weight and structure,could encapsulate and enhance water solubility of various drugs.In addition,SAC4A enables hypoxia-responsive release of loaded drug.Compared with icariin treatment,supramolecular complex icariin@SAC4A significantly relieved OA symptoms of rats,including more regular bone morphology and structure,and lower degree of cartilage damage.Moreover,the supramolecular formulation demonstrated various advantages,including easy preparation,hypoxia-triggered release,and small size that conducive to drug penetration.展开更多
Ovarian aging is characterized by a progressive decline in oocyte quality and quantity with age.Icariin(ICA),a flavonoid compound derived from Epimedium species,has demonstrated potential as an agent for ovarian resto...Ovarian aging is characterized by a progressive decline in oocyte quality and quantity with age.Icariin(ICA),a flavonoid compound derived from Epimedium species,has demonstrated potential as an agent for ovarian restoration.In this study,a subcutaneous implantation system using gelatin methacryloyl(GelMA)hydrogel embedded with ICA was developed to restore ovarian function in aged female mice.Mice were assigned to receive subcutaneous implantation of GelMA alone(GelMA group),GelMA containing ICA(GelMA/ICA group),or a sham operation.Ovarian morphology,serum hormone levels,follicle counts across developmental stages,and reproductive outcomes were evaluated.In vitro fertilization(IVF)and embryo culture assays were performed to assess oocyte developmental potential,while a 10 day natural mating trial was conducted to determine fertility restoration.RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)and RT-qPCR were performed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.Results showed that GelMA/ICA treatment significantly increased ovarian index(0.19±0.01 vs.0.13±0.01,P<0.0001)and follicle numbers at all developmental stages,including primordial(383.33±151.65 vs.107.14±32.26,P<0.0001),primary(203.33±83.22 vs.91.43±27.04,P=0.003),and secondary follicles(154.17±52.00 vs.59.28±20.50,P=0.029)compared to the sham controls.Hormonal analyses revealed a significant reduction in serum follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH,11.97±3.53 vs.53.10±17.89 ng/mL,P=0.0008),accompanied by elevated anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH,22.97±2.26 vs.5.54±1.56 ng/mL,P<0.0001)and estradiol(E2,315.30±37.62 vs.168.5±14.78 pg/mL,P<0.0001).Oocyte yield and developmental potential improved significantly,as reflected by the increased number of superovulated MII oocytes(17.83±5.15 vs.4.83±4.79,P=0.0002),and higher proportions of two-cell(85.90%±6.16%vs.50.00%±10.00%,P=0.0009),four-cell(81.67%±9.76%vs.50.00%±10.00%,P=0.0061),and blastocyst stage embryos(64.25%±10.55%vs.23.33%±15.28%,P=0.0067).Live birth numbers were significantly increased following GelMA/ICA treatment(6.90±3.21 vs.1.72±2.05,P=0.0001).Transcriptomic analysis revealed up-regulation of genes associated with cytoskeletal organization(Vil1,Tubb3),lipid storage(Soat2,Plin4),oocyte maturation(Oosp2),and cytokine secretion(Cxcl12).Collectively,these findings suggest that GelMA/ICA hydrogels effectively reverse key hallmarks of ovarian aging and restore reproductive function in aged mice,offering a promising platform for fertility preservation and a novel therapeutic for future investigations into ovarian aging.展开更多
Icariin is a pure compound derived from Epimedium brevicornu Maxim,and it helps the regulation of male reproduction.Nevertheless,the role and underlying mechanisms of Icariin in mediating male germ cell development re...Icariin is a pure compound derived from Epimedium brevicornu Maxim,and it helps the regulation of male reproduction.Nevertheless,the role and underlying mechanisms of Icariin in mediating male germ cell development remain to be clarified.Here,we have demonstrated that Icariin promoted proliferation and DNA synthesis of mouse spermatogonial stem cells(SSCs).Furthermore,surface plasmon resonance iron(SPRi)and molecular docking(MOE)assays revealed that phosphodiesterase 5A(PDE5A)was an important target of Icariin in mouse SSCs.Mechanically,Icariin decreased the expression level of PDE5A.Interestingly,hydrogen peroxides(H2O2)enhanced the expression level of phosphorylation H2A.X(p-H2A.X),whereas Icariin diminished the expression level of p-H2A.X and DNA damage caused by H2O2 in mouse SSCs.Finally,our in vivo animal study indicated that Icariin protected male reproduction.Collectively,these results implicate that Icariin targets PDE5A to regulate mouse SSC viability and DNA damage and improves male reproductive capacity.This study thus sheds new insights into molecular mechanisms underlying the fate decisions of mammalian SSCs and offers a scientific basis for the clinical application of Icariin in male reproduction.展开更多
Alzheimer's disease(AD),a progressive dementia,is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases.Clinical trial results of amyloid-β(Aβ)and tau regulators based on the pretext of straightforward amyloid and t...Alzheimer's disease(AD),a progressive dementia,is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases.Clinical trial results of amyloid-β(Aβ)and tau regulators based on the pretext of straightforward amyloid and tau immunotherapy were disappointing.There are currently no effective strategies for slowing the progression of AD.Herein,we spotlight the dysregulation of lipid metabolism,particularly the elevation of ceramides(Cers),as a critical yet underexplored facet of AD pathogenesis.Our study delineates the role of Cers in promoting microglial pyroptosis,a form of programmed cell death distinct from apoptosis and necroptosis,characterized by cellular swelling,and membrane rupture mediated by the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.Utilizing both in vivo experiments with amyloid precursor protein(APP)/presenilin 1(PS1)transgenic mice and in vitro assays with BV-2 microglial cells,we investigate the activation of microglial pyroptosis by Cers and its inhibition by icariin(ICA),a flavonoid with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.Our findings reveal a significant increase in Cers levels and pyroptosis markers(NOD-like receptor family,pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain,caspase-1,gasdermin D(GSDMD),and interleukin-18(IL-18))in the brains of AD model mice,indicating a direct involvement of Cers in AD pathology through the induction of microglial pyroptosis.Conversely,ICA treatment effectively reduces these pyroptotic markers and Cer levels,thereby attenuating microglial pyroptosis and suggesting a novel therapeutic mechanism of action against AD.This study not only advances our understanding of the pathogenic role of Cers in AD but also introduces ICA as a promising candidate for AD therapy,capable of mitigating neuroinflammation and pyroptosis through the cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)-NLRP3 inflammasome-gasdermin D(GSDMD)axis.Our results pave the way for further exploration of Cer metabolism disorders in neurodegenerative diseases and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting microglial pyroptosis in AD.展开更多
Herein,porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)microspheres were prepared to load icariin andmiR-23b for the treatment of metastatic lung cancer.The microspheres exhibited desirable aerodynamic diameter,high drug lo...Herein,porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)microspheres were prepared to load icariin andmiR-23b for the treatment of metastatic lung cancer.The microspheres exhibited desirable aerodynamic diameter,high drug loading and encapsulation efficiency,as well as a favorable drug release profile,which was beneficial for the deposition and exposure of drugs in the lung tissues.The release solution from microspheres exhibited a favorable anti-proliferative effect by inducting cell apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle at G1 phase,and meanwhile inhibited the migration and invasion of cancer cells.More importantly,the microspheres could be effectively inhaled and accumulated in the lung tissues to trigger the in situ apoptosis of tumor cells and suppress metastasis,using mice bearing melanoma-metastatic lung cancer as a model.Furthermore,inhalation of themicrospheres showed favorable biocompatibility,barely causing tissue damage.Overall,porous PLGA microspheres provide a promising platform for the inhalable co-delivery of drugs and genes to obtain ideal therapeutic efficacy in lung cancer and other pulmonary diseases.展开更多
BACKGROUND Icariin(ICA),a natural flavonoid compound monomer,has multiple pharmacological activities.However,its effect on bone defect in the context of type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)has not yet been examined.AIM To e...BACKGROUND Icariin(ICA),a natural flavonoid compound monomer,has multiple pharmacological activities.However,its effect on bone defect in the context of type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)has not yet been examined.AIM To explore the role and potential mechanism of ICA on bone defect in the context of T1DM.METHODS The effects of ICA on osteogenesis and angiogenesis were evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining,alizarin red S staining,quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,Western blot,and immunofluorescence.Angiogenesis-related assays were conducted to investigate the relationship between osteogenesis and angiogenesis.A bone defect model was established in T1DM rats.The model rats were then treated with ICA or placebo and micron-scale computed tomography,histomorphometry,histology,and sequential fluorescent labeling were used to evaluate the effect of ICA on bone formation in the defect area.RESULTS ICA promoted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC)proliferation and osteogenic differentiation.The ICA treated-BMSCs showed higher expression levels of osteogenesis-related markers(alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin)and angiogenesis-related markers(vascular endothelial growth factor A and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1)compared to the untreated group.ICA was also found to induce osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling of BMSCs.In the bone defect model T1DM rats,ICA facilitated bone formation and CD31hiEMCNhi type H-positive capillary formation.Lastly,ICA effectively accelerated the rate of bone formation in the defect area.CONCLUSION ICA was able to accelerate bone regeneration in a T1DM rat model by inducing osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling of BMSCs.展开更多
Icariin, a flavonoid glycoside, is extracted from Epimedium. This study aimed to investigate the vascular protective effects of icariin in type 1 diabetic rats by inhibiting high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)-related i...Icariin, a flavonoid glycoside, is extracted from Epimedium. This study aimed to investigate the vascular protective effects of icariin in type 1 diabetic rats by inhibiting high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)-related inflammation and exploring its potential mechanisms. The impact of icariin on vascular dysfunction was assessed in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats through vascular reactivity studies. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays were performed to measure the expressions of target proteins. The release of HMGB1 and pro-inflammation cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results revealed that icariin administration enhanced acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in the aortas of diabetic rats. It also notably reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in diabetic rats and high glucose (HG)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The results also unveiled that the pro-inflammatory cytokines in the culture medium of HUVECs could be increased by rHMGB1. The increased release of HMGB1 and upregulated expressions of HMGB1-related inflammatory factors, including advanced glycation end products (RAGE), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and phosphorylated p65 (p-p65) in diabetic rats and HG-induced HUVECs, were remarkably suppressed by icariin. Notably, HMGB1 translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in HUVECs under HG was inhibited by icariin. Meanwhile, icariin could activate G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) and sirt1. To explore the role of GPER and Sirt1 in the inhibitory effect of icariin on HMGB1 release and HMGB-induced inflammation, GPER inhibitor and Sirt1 inhibitor were used in this study. These inhibitors diminished the effects of icariin on HMGB1 release and HMGB1-induced inflammation. Specifically, the GPER inhibitor also negated the activation of Sirt1 by icariin. These findings suggest that icariin activates GPER and increases the expression of Sirt1, which in turn reduces HMGB1 translocation and release, thereby improving vascular endothelial function in type 1 diabetic rats by inhibiting inflammation.展开更多
Objective Icariin(ICA)has a good neuroprotective effect and can upregulate neuronal basal autophagy in naturally aging rats.Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with brain aging-related neurodegenerative diseases.A...Objective Icariin(ICA)has a good neuroprotective effect and can upregulate neuronal basal autophagy in naturally aging rats.Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with brain aging-related neurodegenerative diseases.Abnormal opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore(mPTP)is a crucial factor in mitochondrial dysfunction and is associated with excessive autophagy.This study aimed to explore that ICA protects against neuronal injury by blocking the mPTP opening and down-regulating autophagy levels in a D-galactose(D-gal)-induced cell injury model.Methods A cell model of neuronal injury was established in rat pheochromocytoma cells(PC12 cells)treated with 200 mmol/L D-gal for 48 h.In this cell model,PC12 cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of ICA for 24 h.MTT was used to detect cell viability.Senescence associatedβ-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)staining was used to observe cell senescence.Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of a senescence-related protein(p21),autophagy markers(LC3B,p62,Atg7,Atg5 and Beclin 1),mitochondrial fission and fusion-related proteins(Drp1,Mfn2 and Opa1),and mitophagy markers(Pink1 and Parkin).The changes of autophagic flow were detected by using mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus.The intracellular ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy.Immunofluorescence was used to detect mPTP,mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(mtROS)and ROS levels.ROS and apoptosis levels were detected by flow cytometry.Results D-gal treatment significantly decreased the viability of PC12 cells,and markedly increased the SA-β-Gal positive cells as compared to the control group.With the D-gal stimulation,the expression of p21 was significantly up-regulated.Furthermore,D-gal stimulation resulted in an elevated LC3B II/I ratio and decreased p62 expression.Meanwhile,autophagosomes and autolysosomes were significantly increased,indicating abnormal activation of autophagy levels.In addition,in this D-gal-induced model of cell injury,the mPTP was abnormally open,the ROS generation was continuously increased,the MMP was gradually decreased,and the apoptosis was increased.ICA effectively improved mitochondrial dysfunction to protect against D-gal-induced cell injury and apoptosis.It strongly inhibited excessive autophagy by blocking the opening of the mPTP.Cotreatment with ICA and an mPTP inhibitor(cyclosporin A)did not ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunction.However,the protective effects were attenuated by cotreatment with ICA and an mPTP activator(lonidamine).Conclusion ICA inhibits the activation of excessive autophagy and thus improves mitochondrial dysfunction by blocking the mPTP opening.展开更多
Objective:To examine the effect of icariin plus curcumol on prostate cancer cells PC3 and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.Methods:We employed the Cell Counting Kit 8 assay and colony formation assay to assess cell...Objective:To examine the effect of icariin plus curcumol on prostate cancer cells PC3 and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.Methods:We employed the Cell Counting Kit 8 assay and colony formation assay to assess cell viability and proliferation.Autophagy expression was analyzed using monodansylcadaverine staining.Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses were used to evaluate protein expressions related to autophagy,pyroptosis,and the mTOR pathway.Cellular damage was examined using the lactate dehydrogenase assay.Moreover,cathepsin B and NLRP3 were detected by co-immunoprecipitation.Results:Icariin plus curcumol led to a decrease in PC3 cell proliferation and an enhancement of autophagy.The levels of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰand beclin-1 were increased,while the levels of p62 and mTOR were decreased after treatment with icariin plus curcumol.These changes were reversed upon overexpression of mTOR.Furthermore,3-methyladenine resulted in a decrease in inflammatory cytokines,pyroptosis-related protein levels,and lactate dehydrogenase concentration,compared to the icariin plus curcumol group.Inhibiting cathepsin B reversed the regulatory effects of icariin plus curcumol.Conclusions:Icariin plus curcumol demonstrates great potential as a therapeutic agent for castration-resistant prostate cancer by enhancing autophagy via the mTOR pathway and promoting pyroptosis mediated by cathepsin B.These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of icariin and curcumol for prostate cancer treatment.展开更多
Objective:To explore the mechanism by which icariin alleviates viral myocarditis.Methods:CVB3-induced cardiomyocytes were used as an in vitro model of viral myocarditis to assess the effects of icariin treatment on ce...Objective:To explore the mechanism by which icariin alleviates viral myocarditis.Methods:CVB3-induced cardiomyocytes were used as an in vitro model of viral myocarditis to assess the effects of icariin treatment on cell viability,inflammation,and apoptosis.Moreover,the effects of icariin on ferroptosis and TLR4 signaling were assessed.After AC16 cells were transfected with TLR4 overexpression plasmids,the role of TLR4 in mediating the regulatory effect of icariin in viral myocarditis was investigated.Results:Icariin significantly elevated cell viability and reduced inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,and IL-18.Flow cytometry revealed that icariin decreased apoptosis rate,and the protein expression of Bax and cleaved caspase 3 and 9 in CVB3-induced cardiomyocytes.Additionally,it suppressed ferroptosis including lipid peroxidation and ferrous ion,as well as the TLR4 signaling.However,TLR4 overexpression abrogated the modulatory effects of icariin.Conclusions:Icariin mitigates CVB3-induced myocardial injury by inhibiting TLR4-mediated ferroptosis.Further animal study is needed to verify its efficacy.展开更多
Icariin is the most prevalent component of the medicinal herb Herba Epimedii.Icariin exhibits many medicinal properties,including anti-cancer impact and osteoprotective and neuroprotective effects.The goal of this stu...Icariin is the most prevalent component of the medicinal herb Herba Epimedii.Icariin exhibits many medicinal properties,including anti-cancer impact and osteoprotective and neuroprotective effects.The goal of this study was to use bibliometric analysis to find and describe the top 100 papers about Icariin that had received the most citations.The Science Citation Index-Expanded(SCI-E)of the Web of Science Core Collection was used to find publications on Icariin(WoSCC).Descriptive analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software.There were 1473 articles about Icariin in all.The top 100 papers were published between 1996 and 2024 and received citations in the range of 55 to 390.The country that has contributed the most to Icariin research is China(84).The most productive institution was Fudan University.The most published journal was Phytomedicine.The research hotspots of Icariin mainly focus on the following aspects:research on Icariin treatment of sex hormone-related osteoporosis and erectile function;The effect of Icariin on cells by regulating oxidative stress,apoptosis,and proliferation;the mechanism of Icariin in the treatment of cancer;the neuroprotective effect of Icariin in central nervous diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,and depression.Future research should focus on further elucidating Icariin's anti-tumor effects,its application in cartilage tissue engineering and orthopedic biomaterials,and developing novel drug delivery systems to enhance its bioavailability.This research contributed essential knowledge to the study of Icariin.These results may be used in new study areas and to direct drug development.展开更多
This article summarized the research progress on the antidepressant mechanism of icariin II,mainly elaborating on its mechanism from five aspects:GABAergic nervous system,inflammatory response,oxidative stress,neurotr...This article summarized the research progress on the antidepressant mechanism of icariin II,mainly elaborating on its mechanism from five aspects:GABAergic nervous system,inflammatory response,oxidative stress,neurotrophic factors,and neurotransmitters in the brain.Its clinical application value was further explored to provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of icariin II in treating depression.展开更多
To investigate the effects of icariin （ICA） on angiotensin Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）-induced injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells line （ECV-304）. The ECV-304 cells were cultured in vitro. After 24 h incubating with...To investigate the effects of icariin （ICA） on angiotensin Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）-induced injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells line （ECV-304）. The ECV-304 cells were cultured in vitro. After 24 h incubating with icariin, the model of AngⅡ-induced injury in ECV-304 was established. The cell viability （MTT method）, Lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） release and Nitric oxide （NO） production in the medium, the capacity of scavenging superoxide anion radicals （O2^-） and hydroxyl radicals （.OH） were measured. The activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, total nitric oxide synthase （T-NOS）, inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and constitutive nitric oxide synthase （cNOS） in the cells were determined. Compared with the Ang Ⅱ-treated group, ICA can significantly raise the viability of EC, increase the activities of SOD, T-NOS and cNOS, increase the production of NO, enhance the capacity of scavenging superoxide anion radicals （ O2^- ） and hydroxyl radicals（.OH）, and lower LDH leakage and iNOS activity. The results suggest that ICA can protect endothelial cells （ECV-304） from Ang II-induced injury.展开更多
A composite material was fabricated by applying a biodegradable drug delivery coating,consisting of poly（3-hydroxyburyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate）（PHBV） and icariin,to an anodic oxidized titanium plate.The coating w...A composite material was fabricated by applying a biodegradable drug delivery coating,consisting of poly（3-hydroxyburyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate）（PHBV） and icariin,to an anodic oxidized titanium plate.The coating was prepared by evaporating chloroform solution containing PHBV and icariin on the titanium plate under vacuum condition.Icariin/PHBV coated titanium plates significantly enhance the proliferation of MG-63 cells compared with the PHBV coated and anodic oxidized ones.Increased icariin contained in the coating displays an elevated influence on cell proliferation.The results show that icariin gradually releases from the coating to cells mainly through the phospholipid-based cellular membrane instead of the culture medium.The overall results suggest that the novel icariin/PHBV coating can be used to enhance the bioactivity of titanium based orthopedic implants.展开更多
The aim of the present study was to optimize the supercritical CO_2 extraction conditions of icariin from Herba Epimedii by response surface method(RSM) and central composite design(CCD).A 3-factor,5-level CCD was use...The aim of the present study was to optimize the supercritical CO_2 extraction conditions of icariin from Herba Epimedii by response surface method(RSM) and central composite design(CCD).A 3-factor,5-level CCD was used for the optimization.Independent variables were extraction temperature,extraction pressure and entrainer flow rate.Dependent variable was yield ratio of icariin from Herba Epimedii.A two-order polynomial equation was fitted to the data.The results showed that the optimum extraction conditions were as follows:extraction temperature 46.5℃,extraction pressure 30.6 MPa,entrainer flow rate 3.3 mL/min.CCD/ RSM is convenient and highly predictive for optimizing the extraction process of icariin from Herba Epimedii.展开更多
Epimedium Brevicornum is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant possessing properties of sweet, warm, tonifying kidney, strong bones and rheumatism. Icariin, a flavonoid compound, is one of the main active ingredients ...Epimedium Brevicornum is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant possessing properties of sweet, warm, tonifying kidney, strong bones and rheumatism. Icariin, a flavonoid compound, is one of the main active ingredients of Epimedium. Icariinriside(ICS) is the main metabolite of icariin. Icariinand ICS have multiple pharmacological effects such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidative stress, improvement of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, and regulation of endocrine. We have conducted a series of studies on the neuroprotection and mechanisms of action of icariin and ICS for many years. The main findings are reported as follows.(1) Effect on Alzheimer disease(AD) model animals: Icariin significantly attenuated learning and memory loss, hippocampal neuron loss and senile plaque formation in APP/PS1 transgenic AD model mice, which may be related to inhibition of Aβ production and reduction of PDE5(phosphodiesterase 5).In addition, icariin significantly attenuated Aβ25-35-induced learning and memory decline and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in rats, which may be related to lowering PDE5 content and up-regulating BDNF/Trkb/CREB signaling pathway, inhibiting MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, and increasing expression of acetylcholinesterase(ACHE) and choline acetyltransferase(CHAT) in the hippocampus. At the same time, icariin can significantly improve the learning and memory dysfunction induced by amanita proline in rats, which may be related to the inhibition of hippocampal neuronal apoptosis, antiexcitatory amino acid toxicity and regulation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.(2) Effects on Parkinson disease(PD) model animals: The study found that in LPS-induced dopaminergic neuron injury animal models and cell models, icariin can inhibit microglia by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1β, NO and COX-2. Activation of glial cells increases the expression of neurotrophic factors such as BDNF and GDNF, increases the content of dopamine(DA) and its metabolites 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid(DOPAC) and homovanillic acid(HVA), inhibits MAPK and the NF-κB signaling pathway, protecting dopaminergic neurons. In addition, icariin significantly attenuated6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic neuronal damage. In Nrf2 knockout mice, the neuroprotective effect of icariin disappeared, suggesting that Nrf2 may be one of the targets of icariin to play neuroprotective effects.(3) Effects on vascular dementia(VD) model animals: Icarin can improve the learning and memory ability and memory function of chronic hypoperfusion rats, and its mechanism may be related to increase the level of VEGF/VEGFR2 protein in the brain and activate multiple downstream signaling pathways to promote angiogenesis to play an indirect protective effect on neurons;The level of BDNF/Trk B protein in the brain increases the phosphorylation level of CREB and exerts direct neuroprotective effects.(4)Effect on cerebral ischemia: In a model of ischemic brain injury, icariin acts to up-regulate Sirt1 by activating p38, thereby exerting an anti-ischemic injury and protecting neuronal cells. In addition, icariin has neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, which may increase GSH-Px,SOD activity, decrease MDA content, inhibit free radical damage, reduce NO content, NOS activity,and inhibit neurotoxic damage. Reduction of MPO activity, TNF-α, IL-1β content is associated with inhibition of inflammatory response.(5) Cell protection: Icariin has a protective effect on 6-OHDA-induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells, which may be related to inhibition of apoptosis and regulation of Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway, while ICS can attenuate oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced cellular damage in PC12 cells. The mechanism of cellular oxidative damage may be related to inhibition of apoptosis and regulation of Nrf2/SIRT3 signaling pathway.Icariin and ICS have good preventive and therapeutic effects on central nervous system diseases such as AD, PD, VD, etc. However, due to the complexity of the molecular mechanisms of icariin and ICS, the molecular mechanisms of the central nervous system are still worthy of further study.展开更多
Aim: To clarify the mechanism of the therapeutic action of icariin on erectlile dysfunction (ED). Methods: PDE5 was isolated from the human platelet and PDE4 from the rat liver tissue using the FPLC system (Pharmacia,...Aim: To clarify the mechanism of the therapeutic action of icariin on erectlile dysfunction (ED). Methods: PDE5 was isolated from the human platelet and PDE4 from the rat liver tissue using the FPLC system (Pharmacia, Milton Keynes, UK) and the Mono Q column. The inhibitory effects of icariin on PDE5 and PDE4 activities were investigated by the two-step radioisotope procedure with [3H]-cGMP/[3H]-cAMP. Papaverine served as the control drug. Results: Icariin and papaverine showed dose-dependent inhibitory effects on PDE5 and PDE4 activities. The IC50 of Icariin and papaverine on PDE5 were 0.432 μmol/L and 0.680μmol/L, respectively and those on PDE4, 73.50 μmol/L and 3.07μmol/L, respectively. The potencies of selectivity of icariin and papaverine on PDE5 (PDE4/PDE5 of IC50) were 167.67 times and 4.54 times, respectively. Conclusion: Icariin is a cGMP-specific PDE5 inhibitor that may be developed into an oral effective agent for the treatment of ED.展开更多
Aim： To investigate the effect of icariin on erectile function and the expression of nitric oxide synthase （NOS） isoforms in castrated rats. Methods： Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into on...Aim： To investigate the effect of icariin on erectile function and the expression of nitric oxide synthase （NOS） isoforms in castrated rats. Methods： Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into one shamoperated group （A） and three castrated groups （B, C and D）. One week after surgery, rats were treated with normal saline （groups A and B） or oral icariin （1 mg/[kg·day] for group C and 5 mg/[kg·day] for group D） for 4 weeks. One week after treatment, the erectile function of the rats was assessed by measuring intracavernosal pressure （ICP） during electrostimulation of the cavernosal nerve. The serum testosterone （ST） levels, the percent of smooth muscle （PSM） in trabecular tissue, and the expression of mRNA and proteins of neuronal nitric oxide synthase （nNOS）, inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）, endothelial nitric oxide synthase （eNOS） and phosphodiesterase V （PDES） in corpus cavernosum （CC） were also evaluated. Results： ICP, PSM, ST and the expression of nNOS, iNOS, eNOS and PDE5 were significantly decreased in group B compared with those in group A （P 〈 0.01）. However, ICE PSM and the expression of nNOS and iNOS were increased in groups C and D compared with those in group B （P 〈 0.05）. Changes in ST and the expression of eNOS and PDE5 were not significant （P 〉 0.05） in groups C and D compared with those in group B. Conclusion： Oral treatment with icariin （〉 98.6 % purity） for 4 weeks potentially improves erectile function. This effect is correlated with an increase in PSM and the expression of certain NOS in the CC of castrated rats. These results suggest that icariin may have a therapeutic effect on erectile dysfunction.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanism(s) of icariin(ICA) in preventing hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2)-induced vascular endothelial cell injury via endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS).Method...Objective: To investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanism(s) of icariin(ICA) in preventing hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2)-induced vascular endothelial cell injury via endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS).Methods: To study the effects of ICA on H_2O_2-induced damage, we used the cell counting kit-8 assay to detect cell viability and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay to determine cell adhesion and apoptosis, respectively. Spectrophotometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to measure the expression levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px). Subsequently, glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78), activating transcription factor-4(ATF4) and eukaryotic initiation factor-2 a(eIF2 a) were detected using Western blotting.Results: In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, different concentrations of ICA exhibited multiple effects, including reduced H_2O_2 damage, improved cell viability and adhesion, reduced cell apoptosis and increased SOD and GSH-Px activity. Among the ICA concentrations used, only the H_2O_2+ 100 lmol/L ICA group had significant differences compared to the H_2O_2 group. ERS activators H_2O_2 and DL-dithiothreitol(DTT) significantly increased GRP78, ATF4 and eIF2 a expressions, decreased cell activity and reduced SOD and GSH-Px activity. In contrast, the H_2O_2+ 100 lmol/L ICA and H_2O_2+ 100 lmol/L ICA + DTT groups had significant inhibitory effects on the expressions of GRP78,ATF4 and eIF2 a proteins, showing enhanced cell viability and SOD and GSH-Px activity.Conclusion: The results showed the dose-dependent effects of ICA against H_2O_2-induced injury in vascular endothelial cells. The inhibition of GRP78, ATF4 and eIF2 a protein expressions in the ERS, and the subsequent alleviation of oxidative stress damage, might be the molecular mechanism.展开更多
Increasing evidence indicates that disruption of normal iron homeostasis may contribute to pathological development of Alzheimer＇s disease.Icariin,astragalus,and puerarin have been shown to suppress iron overload in ...Increasing evidence indicates that disruption of normal iron homeostasis may contribute to pathological development of Alzheimer＇s disease.Icariin,astragalus,and puerarin have been shown to suppress iron overload in the cerebral cortex and improve spatial learning and memory disorders in Alzheimer＇s disease mice,although the underlying mechanism remains unclear.In the present study,APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice were administered icariin,astragalus,and puerarin（120,80,and 80 mg/kg,respectively,once a day,for 3 months）.Iron levels were detected by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy.Interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were measured in the cerebral cortex by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde content were determined by colorimetry.Our results demonstrate that after treatment,iron levels and malondialdehyde content are decreased,while glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities are increased.Further,interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were reduced.These results confirm that compounds of icariin,astragalus,and puerarin may alleviate iron overload by reducing oxidative stress and the inflammatory response.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82374489,U20A20259 and 22201299)the Scientific Research Program of the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission(No.2021ZD013)。
文摘Osteoarthritis(OA)is the most prevalent joint disease and icariin is a promising drug for its treatment.However,the clinical use of icariin is hindered by poor water solubility,low bioavailability,and nonspecific release and biological distribution.Herein,sulfonated azocalix[4]arene(SAC4A)with enhanced water solubility,recognition capacity,and designed responsiveness was used to improve the efficiency of icariin for OA therapy.SAC4A,a macrocycle with well-defined molecular weight and structure,could encapsulate and enhance water solubility of various drugs.In addition,SAC4A enables hypoxia-responsive release of loaded drug.Compared with icariin treatment,supramolecular complex icariin@SAC4A significantly relieved OA symptoms of rats,including more regular bone morphology and structure,and lower degree of cartilage damage.Moreover,the supramolecular formulation demonstrated various advantages,including easy preparation,hypoxia-triggered release,and small size that conducive to drug penetration.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82271671)Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Academic Innovation Peak Fund(2024-DF-02)+4 种基金Clinical Trials from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital(2023-LCYJ-MS-05)Nanjing International Science and Technology Cooperation Program(202201027)to L.D.Research Project of State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health(SKLRM-2022D2)Changzhou Medical Center of Nanjing Medical University(CMCM202203)Clinical Trials from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital(2022-LCYJ-ZD-02)to H.S.
文摘Ovarian aging is characterized by a progressive decline in oocyte quality and quantity with age.Icariin(ICA),a flavonoid compound derived from Epimedium species,has demonstrated potential as an agent for ovarian restoration.In this study,a subcutaneous implantation system using gelatin methacryloyl(GelMA)hydrogel embedded with ICA was developed to restore ovarian function in aged female mice.Mice were assigned to receive subcutaneous implantation of GelMA alone(GelMA group),GelMA containing ICA(GelMA/ICA group),or a sham operation.Ovarian morphology,serum hormone levels,follicle counts across developmental stages,and reproductive outcomes were evaluated.In vitro fertilization(IVF)and embryo culture assays were performed to assess oocyte developmental potential,while a 10 day natural mating trial was conducted to determine fertility restoration.RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)and RT-qPCR were performed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.Results showed that GelMA/ICA treatment significantly increased ovarian index(0.19±0.01 vs.0.13±0.01,P<0.0001)and follicle numbers at all developmental stages,including primordial(383.33±151.65 vs.107.14±32.26,P<0.0001),primary(203.33±83.22 vs.91.43±27.04,P=0.003),and secondary follicles(154.17±52.00 vs.59.28±20.50,P=0.029)compared to the sham controls.Hormonal analyses revealed a significant reduction in serum follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH,11.97±3.53 vs.53.10±17.89 ng/mL,P=0.0008),accompanied by elevated anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH,22.97±2.26 vs.5.54±1.56 ng/mL,P<0.0001)and estradiol(E2,315.30±37.62 vs.168.5±14.78 pg/mL,P<0.0001).Oocyte yield and developmental potential improved significantly,as reflected by the increased number of superovulated MII oocytes(17.83±5.15 vs.4.83±4.79,P=0.0002),and higher proportions of two-cell(85.90%±6.16%vs.50.00%±10.00%,P=0.0009),four-cell(81.67%±9.76%vs.50.00%±10.00%,P=0.0061),and blastocyst stage embryos(64.25%±10.55%vs.23.33%±15.28%,P=0.0067).Live birth numbers were significantly increased following GelMA/ICA treatment(6.90±3.21 vs.1.72±2.05,P=0.0001).Transcriptomic analysis revealed up-regulation of genes associated with cytoskeletal organization(Vil1,Tubb3),lipid storage(Soat2,Plin4),oocyte maturation(Oosp2),and cytokine secretion(Cxcl12).Collectively,these findings suggest that GelMA/ICA hydrogels effectively reverse key hallmarks of ovarian aging and restore reproductive function in aged mice,offering a promising platform for fertility preservation and a novel therapeutic for future investigations into ovarian aging.
基金supported by the grants from the National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.32170862)Developmental Biology and Breeding(No.2022XKQ0205)+2 种基金the Research Team for Reproduction Health and Translational Medicine of Hunan Normal University(No.2023JC101)Graduate Scientific Research Innovation Project of Hunan Province(No.CX2022520)Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine(2022SKLRM01).
文摘Icariin is a pure compound derived from Epimedium brevicornu Maxim,and it helps the regulation of male reproduction.Nevertheless,the role and underlying mechanisms of Icariin in mediating male germ cell development remain to be clarified.Here,we have demonstrated that Icariin promoted proliferation and DNA synthesis of mouse spermatogonial stem cells(SSCs).Furthermore,surface plasmon resonance iron(SPRi)and molecular docking(MOE)assays revealed that phosphodiesterase 5A(PDE5A)was an important target of Icariin in mouse SSCs.Mechanically,Icariin decreased the expression level of PDE5A.Interestingly,hydrogen peroxides(H2O2)enhanced the expression level of phosphorylation H2A.X(p-H2A.X),whereas Icariin diminished the expression level of p-H2A.X and DNA damage caused by H2O2 in mouse SSCs.Finally,our in vivo animal study indicated that Icariin protected male reproduction.Collectively,these results implicate that Icariin targets PDE5A to regulate mouse SSC viability and DNA damage and improves male reproductive capacity.This study thus sheds new insights into molecular mechanisms underlying the fate decisions of mammalian SSCs and offers a scientific basis for the clinical application of Icariin in male reproduction.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.:82374552)Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China for Distinguished Young Scholars(Grant No.:2024JJ2086)+1 种基金the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province,China(Grant No.:2022RC1220)Support Plan for High-level Health and Medical Talents in Hunan Province,China.
文摘Alzheimer's disease(AD),a progressive dementia,is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases.Clinical trial results of amyloid-β(Aβ)and tau regulators based on the pretext of straightforward amyloid and tau immunotherapy were disappointing.There are currently no effective strategies for slowing the progression of AD.Herein,we spotlight the dysregulation of lipid metabolism,particularly the elevation of ceramides(Cers),as a critical yet underexplored facet of AD pathogenesis.Our study delineates the role of Cers in promoting microglial pyroptosis,a form of programmed cell death distinct from apoptosis and necroptosis,characterized by cellular swelling,and membrane rupture mediated by the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.Utilizing both in vivo experiments with amyloid precursor protein(APP)/presenilin 1(PS1)transgenic mice and in vitro assays with BV-2 microglial cells,we investigate the activation of microglial pyroptosis by Cers and its inhibition by icariin(ICA),a flavonoid with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.Our findings reveal a significant increase in Cers levels and pyroptosis markers(NOD-like receptor family,pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain,caspase-1,gasdermin D(GSDMD),and interleukin-18(IL-18))in the brains of AD model mice,indicating a direct involvement of Cers in AD pathology through the induction of microglial pyroptosis.Conversely,ICA treatment effectively reduces these pyroptotic markers and Cer levels,thereby attenuating microglial pyroptosis and suggesting a novel therapeutic mechanism of action against AD.This study not only advances our understanding of the pathogenic role of Cers in AD but also introduces ICA as a promising candidate for AD therapy,capable of mitigating neuroinflammation and pyroptosis through the cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)-NLRP3 inflammasome-gasdermin D(GSDMD)axis.Our results pave the way for further exploration of Cer metabolism disorders in neurodegenerative diseases and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting microglial pyroptosis in AD.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32271319 and 32071267)the Science and Technology Department of Jilin Province(YDZJ202301ZYTS537 and 20240402035GH)+1 种基金the Development and Reform Commission of Jilin Province(2023C015)the“Medicine+X”cross-innovation team of Bethune Medical Department of Jilin University“Leading the Charge with Open Competition”construction project(2022JBGS04).
文摘Herein,porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)microspheres were prepared to load icariin andmiR-23b for the treatment of metastatic lung cancer.The microspheres exhibited desirable aerodynamic diameter,high drug loading and encapsulation efficiency,as well as a favorable drug release profile,which was beneficial for the deposition and exposure of drugs in the lung tissues.The release solution from microspheres exhibited a favorable anti-proliferative effect by inducting cell apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle at G1 phase,and meanwhile inhibited the migration and invasion of cancer cells.More importantly,the microspheres could be effectively inhaled and accumulated in the lung tissues to trigger the in situ apoptosis of tumor cells and suppress metastasis,using mice bearing melanoma-metastatic lung cancer as a model.Furthermore,inhalation of themicrospheres showed favorable biocompatibility,barely causing tissue damage.Overall,porous PLGA microspheres provide a promising platform for the inhalable co-delivery of drugs and genes to obtain ideal therapeutic efficacy in lung cancer and other pulmonary diseases.
基金Supported by the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.GZC20231088President Foundation of The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University,China,No.YP202210.
文摘BACKGROUND Icariin(ICA),a natural flavonoid compound monomer,has multiple pharmacological activities.However,its effect on bone defect in the context of type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)has not yet been examined.AIM To explore the role and potential mechanism of ICA on bone defect in the context of T1DM.METHODS The effects of ICA on osteogenesis and angiogenesis were evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining,alizarin red S staining,quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,Western blot,and immunofluorescence.Angiogenesis-related assays were conducted to investigate the relationship between osteogenesis and angiogenesis.A bone defect model was established in T1DM rats.The model rats were then treated with ICA or placebo and micron-scale computed tomography,histomorphometry,histology,and sequential fluorescent labeling were used to evaluate the effect of ICA on bone formation in the defect area.RESULTS ICA promoted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC)proliferation and osteogenic differentiation.The ICA treated-BMSCs showed higher expression levels of osteogenesis-related markers(alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin)and angiogenesis-related markers(vascular endothelial growth factor A and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1)compared to the untreated group.ICA was also found to induce osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling of BMSCs.In the bone defect model T1DM rats,ICA facilitated bone formation and CD31hiEMCNhi type H-positive capillary formation.Lastly,ICA effectively accelerated the rate of bone formation in the defect area.CONCLUSION ICA was able to accelerate bone regeneration in a T1DM rat model by inducing osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling of BMSCs.
基金supported by the National New Drug Innovation Program of China(No.2017ZX09301004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81873131)。
文摘Icariin, a flavonoid glycoside, is extracted from Epimedium. This study aimed to investigate the vascular protective effects of icariin in type 1 diabetic rats by inhibiting high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)-related inflammation and exploring its potential mechanisms. The impact of icariin on vascular dysfunction was assessed in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats through vascular reactivity studies. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays were performed to measure the expressions of target proteins. The release of HMGB1 and pro-inflammation cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results revealed that icariin administration enhanced acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in the aortas of diabetic rats. It also notably reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in diabetic rats and high glucose (HG)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The results also unveiled that the pro-inflammatory cytokines in the culture medium of HUVECs could be increased by rHMGB1. The increased release of HMGB1 and upregulated expressions of HMGB1-related inflammatory factors, including advanced glycation end products (RAGE), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and phosphorylated p65 (p-p65) in diabetic rats and HG-induced HUVECs, were remarkably suppressed by icariin. Notably, HMGB1 translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in HUVECs under HG was inhibited by icariin. Meanwhile, icariin could activate G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) and sirt1. To explore the role of GPER and Sirt1 in the inhibitory effect of icariin on HMGB1 release and HMGB-induced inflammation, GPER inhibitor and Sirt1 inhibitor were used in this study. These inhibitors diminished the effects of icariin on HMGB1 release and HMGB1-induced inflammation. Specifically, the GPER inhibitor also negated the activation of Sirt1 by icariin. These findings suggest that icariin activates GPER and increases the expression of Sirt1, which in turn reduces HMGB1 translocation and release, thereby improving vascular endothelial function in type 1 diabetic rats by inhibiting inflammation.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Yichang City of China(No.A23-1-075).
文摘Objective Icariin(ICA)has a good neuroprotective effect and can upregulate neuronal basal autophagy in naturally aging rats.Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with brain aging-related neurodegenerative diseases.Abnormal opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore(mPTP)is a crucial factor in mitochondrial dysfunction and is associated with excessive autophagy.This study aimed to explore that ICA protects against neuronal injury by blocking the mPTP opening and down-regulating autophagy levels in a D-galactose(D-gal)-induced cell injury model.Methods A cell model of neuronal injury was established in rat pheochromocytoma cells(PC12 cells)treated with 200 mmol/L D-gal for 48 h.In this cell model,PC12 cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of ICA for 24 h.MTT was used to detect cell viability.Senescence associatedβ-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)staining was used to observe cell senescence.Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of a senescence-related protein(p21),autophagy markers(LC3B,p62,Atg7,Atg5 and Beclin 1),mitochondrial fission and fusion-related proteins(Drp1,Mfn2 and Opa1),and mitophagy markers(Pink1 and Parkin).The changes of autophagic flow were detected by using mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus.The intracellular ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy.Immunofluorescence was used to detect mPTP,mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(mtROS)and ROS levels.ROS and apoptosis levels were detected by flow cytometry.Results D-gal treatment significantly decreased the viability of PC12 cells,and markedly increased the SA-β-Gal positive cells as compared to the control group.With the D-gal stimulation,the expression of p21 was significantly up-regulated.Furthermore,D-gal stimulation resulted in an elevated LC3B II/I ratio and decreased p62 expression.Meanwhile,autophagosomes and autolysosomes were significantly increased,indicating abnormal activation of autophagy levels.In addition,in this D-gal-induced model of cell injury,the mPTP was abnormally open,the ROS generation was continuously increased,the MMP was gradually decreased,and the apoptosis was increased.ICA effectively improved mitochondrial dysfunction to protect against D-gal-induced cell injury and apoptosis.It strongly inhibited excessive autophagy by blocking the opening of the mPTP.Cotreatment with ICA and an mPTP inhibitor(cyclosporin A)did not ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunction.However,the protective effects were attenuated by cotreatment with ICA and an mPTP activator(lonidamine).Conclusion ICA inhibits the activation of excessive autophagy and thus improves mitochondrial dysfunction by blocking the mPTP opening.
基金supported by Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(No.2023JJ40511)Excellent Youth Project of Scientific Research Program of Hunan Education Department(No.22B0370)+2 种基金Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration of Hunan Province(No.B2023034)Science and Technology Development Foundation of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University(No.LYYB202214)Hunan Provincial Hygiene and Health Commission Health Research Project(No.W20243165).
文摘Objective:To examine the effect of icariin plus curcumol on prostate cancer cells PC3 and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.Methods:We employed the Cell Counting Kit 8 assay and colony formation assay to assess cell viability and proliferation.Autophagy expression was analyzed using monodansylcadaverine staining.Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses were used to evaluate protein expressions related to autophagy,pyroptosis,and the mTOR pathway.Cellular damage was examined using the lactate dehydrogenase assay.Moreover,cathepsin B and NLRP3 were detected by co-immunoprecipitation.Results:Icariin plus curcumol led to a decrease in PC3 cell proliferation and an enhancement of autophagy.The levels of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰand beclin-1 were increased,while the levels of p62 and mTOR were decreased after treatment with icariin plus curcumol.These changes were reversed upon overexpression of mTOR.Furthermore,3-methyladenine resulted in a decrease in inflammatory cytokines,pyroptosis-related protein levels,and lactate dehydrogenase concentration,compared to the icariin plus curcumol group.Inhibiting cathepsin B reversed the regulatory effects of icariin plus curcumol.Conclusions:Icariin plus curcumol demonstrates great potential as a therapeutic agent for castration-resistant prostate cancer by enhancing autophagy via the mTOR pathway and promoting pyroptosis mediated by cathepsin B.These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of icariin and curcumol for prostate cancer treatment.
基金supported by Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities(No.Y20212615).
文摘Objective:To explore the mechanism by which icariin alleviates viral myocarditis.Methods:CVB3-induced cardiomyocytes were used as an in vitro model of viral myocarditis to assess the effects of icariin treatment on cell viability,inflammation,and apoptosis.Moreover,the effects of icariin on ferroptosis and TLR4 signaling were assessed.After AC16 cells were transfected with TLR4 overexpression plasmids,the role of TLR4 in mediating the regulatory effect of icariin in viral myocarditis was investigated.Results:Icariin significantly elevated cell viability and reduced inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,and IL-18.Flow cytometry revealed that icariin decreased apoptosis rate,and the protein expression of Bax and cleaved caspase 3 and 9 in CVB3-induced cardiomyocytes.Additionally,it suppressed ferroptosis including lipid peroxidation and ferrous ion,as well as the TLR4 signaling.However,TLR4 overexpression abrogated the modulatory effects of icariin.Conclusions:Icariin mitigates CVB3-induced myocardial injury by inhibiting TLR4-mediated ferroptosis.Further animal study is needed to verify its efficacy.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(2023NSFSC1799)the Science and Technology Development Fund of the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(21ZS05,23YY07).
文摘Icariin is the most prevalent component of the medicinal herb Herba Epimedii.Icariin exhibits many medicinal properties,including anti-cancer impact and osteoprotective and neuroprotective effects.The goal of this study was to use bibliometric analysis to find and describe the top 100 papers about Icariin that had received the most citations.The Science Citation Index-Expanded(SCI-E)of the Web of Science Core Collection was used to find publications on Icariin(WoSCC).Descriptive analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software.There were 1473 articles about Icariin in all.The top 100 papers were published between 1996 and 2024 and received citations in the range of 55 to 390.The country that has contributed the most to Icariin research is China(84).The most productive institution was Fudan University.The most published journal was Phytomedicine.The research hotspots of Icariin mainly focus on the following aspects:research on Icariin treatment of sex hormone-related osteoporosis and erectile function;The effect of Icariin on cells by regulating oxidative stress,apoptosis,and proliferation;the mechanism of Icariin in the treatment of cancer;the neuroprotective effect of Icariin in central nervous diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,and depression.Future research should focus on further elucidating Icariin's anti-tumor effects,its application in cartilage tissue engineering and orthopedic biomaterials,and developing novel drug delivery systems to enhance its bioavailability.This research contributed essential knowledge to the study of Icariin.These results may be used in new study areas and to direct drug development.
文摘This article summarized the research progress on the antidepressant mechanism of icariin II,mainly elaborating on its mechanism from five aspects:GABAergic nervous system,inflammatory response,oxidative stress,neurotrophic factors,and neurotransmitters in the brain.Its clinical application value was further explored to provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of icariin II in treating depression.
基金National "Ninth five-year" Key Technology R&D Programme of China (Grant No.99-929-01-31)
文摘To investigate the effects of icariin （ICA） on angiotensin Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）-induced injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells line （ECV-304）. The ECV-304 cells were cultured in vitro. After 24 h incubating with icariin, the model of AngⅡ-induced injury in ECV-304 was established. The cell viability （MTT method）, Lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） release and Nitric oxide （NO） production in the medium, the capacity of scavenging superoxide anion radicals （O2^-） and hydroxyl radicals （.OH） were measured. The activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, total nitric oxide synthase （T-NOS）, inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and constitutive nitric oxide synthase （cNOS） in the cells were determined. Compared with the Ang Ⅱ-treated group, ICA can significantly raise the viability of EC, increase the activities of SOD, T-NOS and cNOS, increase the production of NO, enhance the capacity of scavenging superoxide anion radicals （ O2^- ） and hydroxyl radicals（.OH）, and lower LDH leakage and iNOS activity. The results suggest that ICA can protect endothelial cells （ECV-304） from Ang II-induced injury.
基金Project (2010DFA32270) supported by International Science & Technology Cooperation Program of ChinaProject (2010) supported by Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Oversea Scholars of Ministry of Education of China
文摘A composite material was fabricated by applying a biodegradable drug delivery coating,consisting of poly（3-hydroxyburyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate）（PHBV） and icariin,to an anodic oxidized titanium plate.The coating was prepared by evaporating chloroform solution containing PHBV and icariin on the titanium plate under vacuum condition.Icariin/PHBV coated titanium plates significantly enhance the proliferation of MG-63 cells compared with the PHBV coated and anodic oxidized ones.Increased icariin contained in the coating displays an elevated influence on cell proliferation.The results show that icariin gradually releases from the coating to cells mainly through the phospholipid-based cellular membrane instead of the culture medium.The overall results suggest that the novel icariin/PHBV coating can be used to enhance the bioactivity of titanium based orthopedic implants.
文摘The aim of the present study was to optimize the supercritical CO_2 extraction conditions of icariin from Herba Epimedii by response surface method(RSM) and central composite design(CCD).A 3-factor,5-level CCD was used for the optimization.Independent variables were extraction temperature,extraction pressure and entrainer flow rate.Dependent variable was yield ratio of icariin from Herba Epimedii.A two-order polynomial equation was fitted to the data.The results showed that the optimum extraction conditions were as follows:extraction temperature 46.5℃,extraction pressure 30.6 MPa,entrainer flow rate 3.3 mL/min.CCD/ RSM is convenient and highly predictive for optimizing the extraction process of icariin from Herba Epimedii.
文摘Epimedium Brevicornum is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant possessing properties of sweet, warm, tonifying kidney, strong bones and rheumatism. Icariin, a flavonoid compound, is one of the main active ingredients of Epimedium. Icariinriside(ICS) is the main metabolite of icariin. Icariinand ICS have multiple pharmacological effects such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidative stress, improvement of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, and regulation of endocrine. We have conducted a series of studies on the neuroprotection and mechanisms of action of icariin and ICS for many years. The main findings are reported as follows.(1) Effect on Alzheimer disease(AD) model animals: Icariin significantly attenuated learning and memory loss, hippocampal neuron loss and senile plaque formation in APP/PS1 transgenic AD model mice, which may be related to inhibition of Aβ production and reduction of PDE5(phosphodiesterase 5).In addition, icariin significantly attenuated Aβ25-35-induced learning and memory decline and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in rats, which may be related to lowering PDE5 content and up-regulating BDNF/Trkb/CREB signaling pathway, inhibiting MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, and increasing expression of acetylcholinesterase(ACHE) and choline acetyltransferase(CHAT) in the hippocampus. At the same time, icariin can significantly improve the learning and memory dysfunction induced by amanita proline in rats, which may be related to the inhibition of hippocampal neuronal apoptosis, antiexcitatory amino acid toxicity and regulation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.(2) Effects on Parkinson disease(PD) model animals: The study found that in LPS-induced dopaminergic neuron injury animal models and cell models, icariin can inhibit microglia by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1β, NO and COX-2. Activation of glial cells increases the expression of neurotrophic factors such as BDNF and GDNF, increases the content of dopamine(DA) and its metabolites 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid(DOPAC) and homovanillic acid(HVA), inhibits MAPK and the NF-κB signaling pathway, protecting dopaminergic neurons. In addition, icariin significantly attenuated6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic neuronal damage. In Nrf2 knockout mice, the neuroprotective effect of icariin disappeared, suggesting that Nrf2 may be one of the targets of icariin to play neuroprotective effects.(3) Effects on vascular dementia(VD) model animals: Icarin can improve the learning and memory ability and memory function of chronic hypoperfusion rats, and its mechanism may be related to increase the level of VEGF/VEGFR2 protein in the brain and activate multiple downstream signaling pathways to promote angiogenesis to play an indirect protective effect on neurons;The level of BDNF/Trk B protein in the brain increases the phosphorylation level of CREB and exerts direct neuroprotective effects.(4)Effect on cerebral ischemia: In a model of ischemic brain injury, icariin acts to up-regulate Sirt1 by activating p38, thereby exerting an anti-ischemic injury and protecting neuronal cells. In addition, icariin has neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, which may increase GSH-Px,SOD activity, decrease MDA content, inhibit free radical damage, reduce NO content, NOS activity,and inhibit neurotoxic damage. Reduction of MPO activity, TNF-α, IL-1β content is associated with inhibition of inflammatory response.(5) Cell protection: Icariin has a protective effect on 6-OHDA-induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells, which may be related to inhibition of apoptosis and regulation of Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway, while ICS can attenuate oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced cellular damage in PC12 cells. The mechanism of cellular oxidative damage may be related to inhibition of apoptosis and regulation of Nrf2/SIRT3 signaling pathway.Icariin and ICS have good preventive and therapeutic effects on central nervous system diseases such as AD, PD, VD, etc. However, due to the complexity of the molecular mechanisms of icariin and ICS, the molecular mechanisms of the central nervous system are still worthy of further study.
文摘Aim: To clarify the mechanism of the therapeutic action of icariin on erectlile dysfunction (ED). Methods: PDE5 was isolated from the human platelet and PDE4 from the rat liver tissue using the FPLC system (Pharmacia, Milton Keynes, UK) and the Mono Q column. The inhibitory effects of icariin on PDE5 and PDE4 activities were investigated by the two-step radioisotope procedure with [3H]-cGMP/[3H]-cAMP. Papaverine served as the control drug. Results: Icariin and papaverine showed dose-dependent inhibitory effects on PDE5 and PDE4 activities. The IC50 of Icariin and papaverine on PDE5 were 0.432 μmol/L and 0.680μmol/L, respectively and those on PDE4, 73.50 μmol/L and 3.07μmol/L, respectively. The potencies of selectivity of icariin and papaverine on PDE5 (PDE4/PDE5 of IC50) were 167.67 times and 4.54 times, respectively. Conclusion: Icariin is a cGMP-specific PDE5 inhibitor that may be developed into an oral effective agent for the treatment of ED.
基金The authors would like to acknowledge the National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.30070927)Beijing National Nature Science Foundation(No.7012023)for grants for this work.
文摘Aim： To investigate the effect of icariin on erectile function and the expression of nitric oxide synthase （NOS） isoforms in castrated rats. Methods： Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into one shamoperated group （A） and three castrated groups （B, C and D）. One week after surgery, rats were treated with normal saline （groups A and B） or oral icariin （1 mg/[kg·day] for group C and 5 mg/[kg·day] for group D） for 4 weeks. One week after treatment, the erectile function of the rats was assessed by measuring intracavernosal pressure （ICP） during electrostimulation of the cavernosal nerve. The serum testosterone （ST） levels, the percent of smooth muscle （PSM） in trabecular tissue, and the expression of mRNA and proteins of neuronal nitric oxide synthase （nNOS）, inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）, endothelial nitric oxide synthase （eNOS） and phosphodiesterase V （PDES） in corpus cavernosum （CC） were also evaluated. Results： ICP, PSM, ST and the expression of nNOS, iNOS, eNOS and PDE5 were significantly decreased in group B compared with those in group A （P 〈 0.01）. However, ICE PSM and the expression of nNOS and iNOS were increased in groups C and D compared with those in group B （P 〈 0.05）. Changes in ST and the expression of eNOS and PDE5 were not significant （P 〉 0.05） in groups C and D compared with those in group B. Conclusion： Oral treatment with icariin （〉 98.6 % purity） for 4 weeks potentially improves erectile function. This effect is correlated with an increase in PSM and the expression of certain NOS in the CC of castrated rats. These results suggest that icariin may have a therapeutic effect on erectile dysfunction.
基金funded by the following project:Innovation Plan of Chinese Medicine for Major Diseases of Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(2015-GXB-02)Sun Simiao Traditional Chinese Medicine Special Project(2016SKT-M001)
文摘Objective: To investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanism(s) of icariin(ICA) in preventing hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2)-induced vascular endothelial cell injury via endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS).Methods: To study the effects of ICA on H_2O_2-induced damage, we used the cell counting kit-8 assay to detect cell viability and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay to determine cell adhesion and apoptosis, respectively. Spectrophotometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to measure the expression levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px). Subsequently, glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78), activating transcription factor-4(ATF4) and eukaryotic initiation factor-2 a(eIF2 a) were detected using Western blotting.Results: In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, different concentrations of ICA exhibited multiple effects, including reduced H_2O_2 damage, improved cell viability and adhesion, reduced cell apoptosis and increased SOD and GSH-Px activity. Among the ICA concentrations used, only the H_2O_2+ 100 lmol/L ICA group had significant differences compared to the H_2O_2 group. ERS activators H_2O_2 and DL-dithiothreitol(DTT) significantly increased GRP78, ATF4 and eIF2 a expressions, decreased cell activity and reduced SOD and GSH-Px activity. In contrast, the H_2O_2+ 100 lmol/L ICA and H_2O_2+ 100 lmol/L ICA + DTT groups had significant inhibitory effects on the expressions of GRP78,ATF4 and eIF2 a proteins, showing enhanced cell viability and SOD and GSH-Px activity.Conclusion: The results showed the dose-dependent effects of ICA against H_2O_2-induced injury in vascular endothelial cells. The inhibition of GRP78, ATF4 and eIF2 a protein expressions in the ERS, and the subsequent alleviation of oxidative stress damage, might be the molecular mechanism.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81273983
文摘Increasing evidence indicates that disruption of normal iron homeostasis may contribute to pathological development of Alzheimer＇s disease.Icariin,astragalus,and puerarin have been shown to suppress iron overload in the cerebral cortex and improve spatial learning and memory disorders in Alzheimer＇s disease mice,although the underlying mechanism remains unclear.In the present study,APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice were administered icariin,astragalus,and puerarin（120,80,and 80 mg/kg,respectively,once a day,for 3 months）.Iron levels were detected by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy.Interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were measured in the cerebral cortex by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde content were determined by colorimetry.Our results demonstrate that after treatment,iron levels and malondialdehyde content are decreased,while glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities are increased.Further,interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were reduced.These results confirm that compounds of icariin,astragalus,and puerarin may alleviate iron overload by reducing oxidative stress and the inflammatory response.
