• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.404-408
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• 2007

In this study, we investigated the effects by age of long-tenn supplementation of Epimedium koreanum Nakai (EKN)-containing water on the in vivo antioxidant capacities of rats. All rats were reared in a conventional system, and none of the rats showed any signs of aversion to the EKN solution. Neither the mean nor maximum life spans of the rats were extended by long-tenn administration of the solution. The EKN extract caused decreases in the levels of serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the rats. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione (GSH) peroxidase within the liver cytosol decreased with age in both the control and EKN-supplemented groups. GSH peroxidase activity, however, was higher at old age in the EKN-supplemented group. The activities of GSH reductase and GSH-S-transferase, and the levels of free-sulfhydryl (SH) and total-SH group gradually decreased with age in both groups. However, there was some tendency for higher levels in the EKN supplemented group at a corresponding age. These results indicate that long-tenn supplementation of EKN water extracts alone does not exhibit discernible adverse effects in rats, and has some enhancing effects on the antioxidant capacities of the blood and liver, but it does not have life-prolonging effects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.226-232
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• 2017

In this study, ethanol extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai(EEKN) enhanced melanogenesis by inducing expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1). But EEKN did not increase the protein expression of tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2). Moreover, EEKN enhanced tyrosinase activity and melanin contents of B16F10 cells. EEKN raised the expression of CREB phosphorylation and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) as a key transcription factor for tyrosinase expression regulating melanogenesis. And PKC inhibitor H89 supressed that EEKN induced tyrosinase activity, melanin contents, and expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1. These results suggest that melanogenesis-promoting effect of EEKN was correlated with regulation of tyrosinase and TRP-1 protein through cAMP/PKC pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.188-193
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant activities of 70% ethanol extracts from different parts (root, stem, and leaf) of Epimedium koreanum Nakai. Ethanol extracts from the three parts of Epimedium koreanum Nakai were assessed for total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, myoglobin protective ratio, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Root part showed the highest total phenolic content ($2.468{\pm}0.017mg$ chlorogenic acid equivalent/g) and total flavonoid content ($2.071{\pm}0.002mg$ quercetin equivalent/g). Leaf part showed the strongest radical scavenging activities (DPPH radical; 80%, myoglobin protective ratio; 90% and FRAP; 98.7% at 20 mg/mL). Root part showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging at 1 mg/mL. Therefore, the results of the antioxidant activity test were correlated with total phenolic and flavonoid content values. Thus, Epimedium koreanum Nakai has great potential as a natural source for human health.

• Landscaping Tree
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• s.101
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• pp.27-30
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• 2007

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.183-193
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• 2018

Objectives : In Traditional Korean Medicine, Epimedium koreanum Nakai has diverse pharmacological activities to treat impotence, forgetfulness, cataract and exophthalmos. Present study investigated anti-fibrogenic effects of E. koreanum water extract (EKE) in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Methods : To study anti-fibrogenic effects of EKE, LX-2 cells, a human immortalized HSCs, were pre-treated with $3-300{\mu}g/mL$ of EKE, and then subsequently exposed to 5 ng/mL of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$). Expression level of ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin was determined by immunoblot analysis. Phosphorylation of Smad, transactivation of Smad, and expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were monitored to investigate the effect of EKE on $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ signaling pathway. Results : Up to $100{\mu}g/mL$, EKE did not show any cytotoxicity on LX-2 cells. Pre-treatment of EKE ($100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly inhibited ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin expression induced by $TGF-{\beta}1$. In addition, EKE significantly decreased Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylations, Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity and PAI-1 expression by $TGF-{\beta}1$. Of three flavonoid compounds found in EKE, only quercertin ($30{\mu}M$) attenuated $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ PAI-1 expression. Conclusion : These results suggest that EKE has an ability to suppress fibrogenic process in HSCs via inhibition of $TGF-{\beta}1/Smad$ signaling pathway.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.184-191
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to explore the potent phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE %) inhibitor from various herbal medicines for erectile dysfunctions. In this study, 61 herbal medicines, which were extracted with ethanol, have been investigated with PDE 5 assay using enzyme inhibitory activity on 22 species of herbal medicines. Of these, 5 species of herbal medicines, Cnidium monieri, Cuscuta chinensis, Epimedium koreanum, Morinda officinalis, and Tribulus terrestris were exhibited stronger inhibitory effect against phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE 5) among 61 species; Cnidium monieri ($IC_{50}=33.7{\mu}g/ml$), Cuscuta chinensis ($IC_{50}=65.7{\mu}g/ml$), Epimedium koreanum ($IC_{50}=90.3{\mu}g/ml$), Morinda officinalis ($IC_{50}=48.7{\mu}g/ml$) and Tribulus terrestris ($IC_{50}=32.5{\mu}g/ml$).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.120-120
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.41-41
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• 2003

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2011

To evaluate hepatoprotective effect of Epimedium Koreanum nakai (EKN) on liver-damaged animal model, rats were intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride (1 ml/kg) for 9 weeks orally. Liver-damaged rats were divided into 2 groups: liver-damaged control (LDC) group and EKN group were administered vehicle (saline), EKN extract per os for 4 weeks respectively. Normal control (NC) group was administered saline as the same process of LDC group. The weights of prostate (absolute), testis (relative), epididymis (relative) and packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of EKN group significantly (P < 0.05) increased compared with LDC group. But Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpusulcar hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) decreased. Fibrotic regions in hepatic parenchyma of EKN group significantly (P < 0.01) decreased compared with LDC group and mean diameters of hepatic lobules significantly (P < 0.01) increased. Percentages of degenerative kidney regions and number of degenerative kidney tubules, number of vasodilated atrophic glomerulus of EKN group was significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) decreased compared with LDC group. Number of atrophic seminiferous tubules and epididymal tubules showing oligospermatozoa of EKN group were significantly (P < 0.01) decreased compared with LDC group. In conclusion, EKN extract has a favorable effect on the $CCl_4$-induced liver damage.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2010

To evaluate of oral toxicity of Epimedium koreanum nakai (EKN) water extract, three doses of EKN water extract (10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg/day) were administered to healthy Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks. The results showed that there are no abnormal signs during the experimental period. The weights of testis and epididymis were increased dose-dependently, but seminal vesicle was decreased compared with control group. In hematology and serum chemistry, changes were observed within the normal ranges. In histological finding, slight to moderated changes were found but those were commonly or rarely encountered in the normal rats. These results suggest that no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of the oral application of EKN was considered to be more than 1000 mg/kg in SD rats under the conditions employed in this study.