• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.55-68
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the different administration duration of Epimedium Herb extract solution on the spermatogenic abilities such as concentration, motility and morphological normality of sperm from the testis and the activities of sperm hyaluronidase. Methods : We used the 2-month-old mice and administered the extract solution of Epimedium Herb 0.3 ml/g/day for 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. The control group was administered the normal saline as the same way. We examined the number of total, motile and normal sperm from the cauda epididymis, the activities of sperm hyaluronidase. Also we observed changes of isolated testis before and after administration of Epimedium Herb extract solutions in the mice. And we compared the testicular tissue especially seminiferous tubules with the control and treated group by histochemical methods. Results : The significant differences were observed in the concentration of total sperm and normality of spermatozoa of the Epimedium Herb extract solution administered groups compared to the control group in 60, 90 and 120 days groups. The significant differences were observed the motility of the Epimedium Herb extract solution administered groups compared to the control group in 60 days group. In the histological analysis of the testicular tissues, the enlargement of testicular lobe diameter and apparent vasculogenesis between testicular lobes were observed in the Epimedium Herb extract solution administered groups compared to the control group, respectively. And the activity of hyaluronidase was significantly increased in the Epimedium Herb extract solution administered groups compared to the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that Epimedium Herb has the beneficial effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm, the testicular tissues and the activities of sperm hyaluronidse in 60 days administration group. We can suggest that Epimedium Herb extract solution be useful for the treatment of male sexual dysfunction and infertility.

• 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.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2002

As inhibitors of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes can prevent hyperglycemia that is known to cause many macrovascular complications, they may prove a useful adjunct to hypocaloric diets in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Inhibitory activities of two hundred and fifteen kinds of medicinal herb extracts against $\alpha$-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) and $\alpha$-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) have been investigated in vitro. Adenophora triphylla, Aneilema keisak, and Morus bombysis significantly suppressed rat intestinal $\alpha$-glucosidase activity iu vitro. Porcine pancreatic amylase was efficiently inhibited by methanol extracts of Epimedium koreanum, Campsis grandiflora and Salvia plebeia. Methanol extract of Epimedium koreanum among the medicinal herbs tested showed the strongest inhibitory activity against porcine pancreatic $\alpha$-amylase with 0.1 mg/ML of $IC_{50}$/. The herb extract also improved glucose tolerance in ICR mice when loaded with 0.9 g soluble starch per kg body weight. Taken together, Epimedium koreanum merits further evaluation as a therapeutic measure.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.143-151
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• 1999

To evaluate the neurotoxic effect of oxygen radicals in cultured mouse spinal dorsal root ganglion(DRG) neurons, cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay after cultured DRG neurons were grown in the media containing various concentrations of glucose oxidase(GO). In addition, neuroprotective effect of herb extract, Epimedium Koreanum Nakai was examined by MTT assay in cultured DRG neurons. Cell viability of cultured DRG neurons was remarkably decreased by GO in dose- and time-dependent manner, and Epimedium Koreanum Nakai protected remarkably GO-induced neurotoxicity in these cultures. From the above results, it is suggested that oxygen radicals is toxic in cultured mouse DRG neurons, and herb extracts such as Epimedium Koreanum Nakai are effective in prevention of the neurotoxicity induced by oxygen radicals in cultured mouse DRG neurons.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.163-168
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• 2017

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease that is characterized by low bone mass resulting from an increase in bone resorption relative to bone formation. The most current therapies for osteoporosis have focused on inhibiting bone resorption by osteoclasts. The purpose of this study is to develop new anabolic agents for treatment of osteoporosis that have fewer risks compared to conventional therapies. We searched the natural products that were derived from the traditional Asian medicines which have been used for treatment of bone related diseases. Icaritin is a flavonoid glycoside derived from the herb Epimedium which has beneficial effects on bone formation. To determine the effect of icaritin on bone formation, we examined the effect of icaritin on MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and differentiation. For determining the effects of icaritin on proliferation, we performed the MTT assay using MC3T3-E1 cells. To evaluate whether icaritin could promote the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mRNA expressions of Runx2, osteocalcin (OCN), RANKL, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were determined. Icaritin increased MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation. Icaritin increased the ALP activity of MC3T3-E1 cells on 72 hour culture in osteogenic media. mRNA expression of Runx2 was increased after 24 hour culture with icaritin. mRNA expression of osteocalcin was increased after 72 hour culture with icaritin. In addition, icaritin increased the mRNA expressions of OPG and RANKL. However, icaritin increased the mRNA expression of OPG much more than that of RANKL, and then, it increased the OPG/RANKL ratio. These results suggest that icaritin promotes osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts and decreases osteoclast formation regulated by osteoblasts.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.112-117
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• 2009

This study were conducted to investigate the effects of several additives in experimental diets on the growth, feed utilization and body composition of juvenile and grower rockfish. Three replicates of juveniles (3.6 g/fish) and two replicates growers (166 g/fish) were fed the experimental diets containing herb medicines mixture, Artemisia asiatica and Epimedium koreanum for 8 weeks. Dietary supplementation with herb medicines mixture had no beneficial effects on growth and feed utilization of juvenile fish. Weight gain, daily feed intake, condition factor and hepatosomatic index of grower fish fed the diet were not affected by dietary additive (P>0.05). Peed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of grower fish fed the diet containing herb medicines mixture were significantly higher than those of fish fed the control diet (P<0.05), but not significantly different from fish fed the diet containing A. asiatica and E. koreanum (P>0.05). Proximate analysis of whole body, muscle, viscera and liver in the juvenile and grower were not affected by dietary additives (P>0.05). The results of this study suggest that feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of grower rockfish may improved by herb medicines mixture supplementation in the diet.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.131-141
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• 1999

In order to eludidate the mechanism of oxidative stress in cultured spinal motor neurons damaged by oxygen free radicals, cytoxicity was assesed by MTT assay and NR assay after spinal motor neurons from mouse were cultured in media containing various concentrations of xanthine oxidase(XO) and hypoxanthine(HX) for 3 hours. In addition, neuroprotective effects of several herb extracts on oxidant-induced neurotoxicity were examined in these cultures, compared with nerve growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF). XO/HX decreased cell viability in dose- and time dependent manners on cultured mouse spinal motor neurons, and MTT50 and NR50 values were measured at 20mU/ml XO and 0.1mM HX for 3 hours in these cultures. bFGF significantlt increased cell viability. In neuroprotective of herb extracts, Epimedium Koreanum Nakai(EK) and Alpinia oxphylla Mig(IJI) was very effective in the prevention of the neurotoxicity induced by XO/HX in cultured mouse spinal motor neurons. From the above results, it is suggested that XO/HX shows toxic effect in cultured mouse spinal motor neurons and selective herb extracts such as Epimedium Koreanum Nakai(EK) and Alpinia oxphylla Mig(IJI) were very effective in the increase of cell viability against the neurotoxicity induced by oxygen radicals in these cultures.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.260-266
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• 2012

Because the embryological features of Jeffersonia dubia are poorly understood, we conducted the first embryological study comparing it to other related genera of Berberidaceae. Important embryological features of J. dubia are as follows: the anther is tetrasporangiate, anther wall formation confirms basic type, glandular tapetum cells are two nucleate, the epidermis persistent, and the endothecium develops fibrous thickenings, anther dehiscence by two valves, meiosis in a microspore mother cell is accompanied by simultaneous cytokinesis, microspore tetrads are usually tetrahedral, pollen grains two cells at the time of anthesis. The ovule is bitegmic, anatropous and crassinucellate, archesporium single celled, development of the embryo sac Polygonum type, a mature embryo sac is ellipsoidal in shape. Endosperm formation is of Nuclear type and embryogeny Onagrad type. Seeds are arillate and seed coat exotestal type. Embryological comparisons showed that Jeffersonia resemble to Epimedium and Vancouveria rather than Berberis and Mahonia in some features, like as number of tapetal cells, cytokinesis in meiosis, and thickness of exotesta. It also resembles to Gymnospermium in mode of anther wall formation, number of tapetal cells, formation of nucellar cap, and nature of antipodal cells. Nevertheless, Jeffersonia and Gymnospermium differ from several other embryological features and molecular data too. Therefore, embryological evidences support that Jeffersonia is closely related with Epimedium and Vancouveria.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 1982

Thirtyfour species of Korean medicinal plants which have been frequently used in oriental herb prescriptions were evaluated on their cytotoxicity and potential antitumor activities against AC glioma(9 ASK) in vitro. Dose of $100{\mu}g/ml$ of plant extracts appeared to exhibit slight cytotoxicity. Seven plant extracts, Aralia continentalis(Araliaceae), Lycium chinensis(Solanaceae), Epimedium koreanum(Berberidaceae), Platyodon grandiflorium(Campanulaceae), Pleuropterus multiflorus(Polygonaceae), Rheum undulatun(Polygonaceae) and Scutellaria baicalensis(Laminaceae), exhibited significant reversal$(51{\sim}90%)$ of astrocyte formation into original neuroglial cells' morphology through the prescreen tests.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2018

Mass production of forest medicinal plants is related to quality control of raw medicinal materials. Plant tissue culture is an important technology to produce high-quality plant materials. Numerous factors are reported to influence the success of in vitro regeneration of medicinal plants. Embryogenesis is known to be the most effective techniques and it has developed in some medicinal plant species. Various in vitro cultural condition for direct and/or indirect somatic embryogenesis systems have developed in Epimedium koreaum, Bupleurum falcatum, Paeonia lactiflora, Chrysanthemum zawadskii, Houttuynia cordata etc. In this study, we provide the present statue and information of in vitro propagation techniques that is able to apply as an efficient system for rootstock propagation system of forest medicinal plants.