Icariin, a natural flavonol glycoside, extends healthspan in mice.

A major goal of aging research now is to find pharmacological manipulations in healthspan extension. Icariin is a flavonol isolated from medicinal herbal tonics. We have previously reported that icariin extended the healthspan of invertebrate models.

Shen-Jing as a Chinese Medicine Concept Might Be a Counterpart of Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine.

As the epitome of the modern regenerative medicine, stem cells were proposed in the basic sense no more than 200 years ago. However, the concept of "stem cells" existed long before the modern medical description. The hypothesis that all things, including our sentient body, were generated from a small origin was shared between Western and Chinese people.

[Effect of compound bushen recipe on chronic fatigue syndrome in C. elegans: an experimental study].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of compound bushen recipe (CBR) in improving the survival state of stress and the overall life span in C. elegans by simulating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) under various stress states.

Methods: The tolerance and the average survival time of adult larvae against heat stress (35 degrees C), oxidative stress (250 microg/mL juglone), and in vivo Abeta protein toxicity (Abeta(1-42) transgenic mutant CL4176) under the intervention of the high (500 mg/L), middle (250 mg/L), and low (100 mg/L) dose CBR were observed.

Icariin promotes self-renewal of neural stem cells: an involvement of extracellular regulated kinase signaling pathway.

Objective: To investigate the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of icariin (ICA) on self-renewal and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs).

Methods: NSCs were derived from forebrains of mice embryos by mechanical dissociation into single cell suspension. The self-renewal of NSCs was measured by neurosphere formation assay.

[From "different patterns in the same disease" to "analogous patterns in the same disease"].

The relationship between disease in Western medicine (WM) and pattern in Chinese medicine (CM) is a key scientific issue in integrative medicine (IM). The theory of "different patterns in the same disease" has greatly promoted the development of IM and the modernization of CM. However, this concept is frequently misinterpreted in the clinical practice.

Mechanisms Underlying the Antiproliferative and Prodifferentiative Effects of Psoralen on Adult Neural Stem Cells via DNA Microarray.

Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) persist throughout life to replace mature cells that are lost during turnover, disease, or injury. The investigation of NSC creates novel treatments for central nervous system (CNS) injuries and neurodegenerative disorders. The plasticity and reparative potential of NSC are regulated by different factors, which are critical for neurological regenerative medicine research.

[Analysis of the osteogenetic effects exerted on mesenchymal stem cell strain C3H10T1/2 by icariin via MAPK signaling pathway in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effects of icariin, an effective extract from traditional Chinese medicine Epimedium pubescens with the function of tonifying kidney, in promoting osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cell line C3H10T1/2, and to explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods: After culture with icariin (0, 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5), and 10(-4) mol/L) and osteogenic supplement for 26 d in vitro, osteogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells was detected by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay. The RNA was extracted from cells cultured with 10(-5) mol/L icariin for 2, 8, 24 and 48 hours, and mRNA expressions of p38, p42 and p44 were measured using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

The osteoprotective effect of psoralen in ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic rats via stimulating the osteoblastic differentiation from bone mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective: Psoralea corylifolia extract has been reported to promote bone formation in osteoporotic animals. Psoralen (PSO), a flavonoid glycoside, as the active component of P corylifolia L, is effective in increasing new bone-forming osteoblasts in parietal bone defects. However, the effect and molecular mechanisms of PSO on bone mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) in the osteoporotic state are widely unknown.

Icariin and its derivative icariside II extend healthspan via insulin/IGF-1 pathway in C. elegans.

Compounds that delay aging might also postpone age-related diseases and extend healthspan in humans. Icariin is a flavonol extracted from several plant species of the Epimedium family. The icariin and its metabolic derivatives have been shown to exert wide protective effects in age-related diseases.

Different molecular targets of Icariin on bMSCs in CORT and OVX -rats.

Icariin (ICA) is an active component of Herba Epimedium effective in preventing osteoporosis. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) are an important target by which ICA promotes osteogenesis. However, its molecular mechanisms are poorly defined.

[Immunoregulatory mechanisms of an optimal Chinese herbal monomer compound in mice with allergic rhinitis].

Objective: To study the immunoregulatory effect of an optimal Chinese herbal monomer compound, which consists of three monomers, namely, icariin, baicalin and Astragalus saponin I, in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis.

Methods: A mouse model of allergic rhinitis was established by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide gel suspension. The splenic lymphocytes of the mice were separated, cultured in 96-well plates and divided into three groups: control group, concanavalin A group and compound group.

[Icariin and its pharmaceutical efficacy: research progress of molecular mechanism].

Icariin is one of the key active components of Epimedium species, which is most widely applied to supplement the kidney in traditional Chinese medicine. Scientific research has found that icariin possesses extensive therapeutic effects such as protecting neurons from injury, promoting growth of neuronal synapse, improving sexual dysfunction and bone morphogenesis, as well as anti-inflammation, anti-tumor and anti-depression functions. Considering that molecular mechanism is the fundamental basis for pharmaceutical efficacy of icariin, in this article, the authors retrospectively retrieved 122 scientific papers recorded in the PubMed database with "icariin" in the title from January 1, 1995 to January 5, 2011.

Oleanolic acid exerts an osteoprotective effect in ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic rats and stimulates the osteoblastic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.

Objective: Oleanolic acid (OA) and its glycosides have been reported to prevent bone loss by inhibiting the formation of osteoclasts. However, because bone formation and resorption are balanced processes in bone metabolism, no studies have described the effect of OA on osteogenesis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the osteoprotective effect of OA in rats with ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis and to search for the molecular targets of OA in bone mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs).

Characteristics of lymphocyte nuclear factor-κB signal transduction kinase expression in aging process and regulatory effect of epimedium flavonoids.

Objective: To study the characteristics of lymphocyte nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signal transduction kinase-related molecular mRNA differential expressions at various month age segments in aging process and the intervening effect of Epimedium flavonoids (EF) on it.

Methods: Sixty SD rats were divided into six groups, according to animals' age, i.e.

[A logical framework derived from philosophy of language for analysis of the terms of traditional Chinese medicine and an example for analysis of "kidney essence"].

The true meanings of the terms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) need to be analyzed on a logical basis. It is not suitable to use a new term to interpret an old term of TCM, or arbitrarily specify the special term of TCM corresponding to some substances of modern medicine. In philosophy of language, language has a logical structure, which reflects the structure of the world, that is to say, language is the picture of the world in a logical sense.

[Effects of active ingredients in three kidney-tonifying Chinese herbal drugs on gene expression profile of bone marrow stromal cells from a rat model of corticosterone-induced osteoporosis].

Objective: To observe the effects of icariin, psoralen and oleanolic acid, the three active ingredients of Yinyanghuo (Herba Epimedii Brevicornus), Buguzhi (Fructus Psoraleae) and Nuzhenzi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi), respectively, on gene expression profile of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from rats with corticosterone-induced osteoporosis.

Methods: Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, untreated group, icariin group, psoralen group and oleanolic acid group (the last three groups are called treatment groups). Rats in untreated group and treatment groups were subcutaneously injected with corticosterone once a day for 14 d while rats in normal control group were injected isodose of olive oil.

[Optimal combination of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I from a Chinese herbal compound Biminne].

Objective: To study the optimal combined ratio of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I from a Chinese herbal compound Biminne.

Methods: Firstly, a mouse model of allergic rhinitis was established by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide gel suspension, and the effective dose range of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I was detected by 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide inner salt method. Secondly, 10 groups of combinations of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I assembled by U(10)(10(8)) form were employed to determine the optimal combination by means of analyzing of the inhibitory effect on the splenocyte proliferation.

[Transition of studying on Shen deficiency syndrome and aging from holistic concept to systematic biologic viewpoint].

Holistic concept is a characteristic contribution of Chinese medicine to medical science. Based on holistic concept, we investigated the correlation of Shenyang deficiency syndrome with the hypothalamus-pituitary-target gland axis; and revealed by gene chip technique the molecular network regulatory rule of intervention with Chinese drugs on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-thymus axis in aged rats as a model for Shen deficiency syndrome; also the two major gene regulation pathways, namely, the neuro-endocrine-immune pathway and the neuro-endocrine-bone metabolic pathway, in hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, lymphocytes, kidney, liver, bone of aged rats, so as to advance the holistic research on Chinese medicine syndromes. Recently, based on the dynamic, intervention and multi-layer integration requirement of systematic biology, the common rule of aging was found at three different levels, the whole genomic transcription level, the metabolic level and the single ageing signaling pathway level.

[Activating effect and mechanism of epimedium on endogenous stem cells].

Stem cells are the cells with capacities of self-renovation, multiplication and differentiation. By activating endogenous stem cells to promote regeneration response has provided a new thinking for the treatment of degenerative diseases. The authors found that epimedium flavonoids (EF) can promote the proliferation and migration of adrenocortical stem cells in corticosterone-treated rats (as a model of Shen-yang deficiency); and through gene-chip test it was showed that EF could significantly up-regulate the growth hormone (GH), growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and other growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the model rats.

Effects of Chinese herbal formula Biminne in regulating endocrine-immune function in mice with airway allergy.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Biminne, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, in regulating the endocrine-immune function in mice with airway allergy.

Methods: Forty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group, untreated group, Biminne group, and dexamethasone (Dex) group. The murine model of airway allergy was established by intraperitoneal injection sensitization and intranasal challenge with ovalbumin (OVA).

[Effect and mechanism of Epimedium flavanoids for aging retardation from viewpoint of transcriptomics and metabonomics].

Objective: To investigate the effect and its mechanism of Epimedium flavanoids (EF) in retarding aging with different systematic viewpoints.

Methods: Hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal and lymphocytes taken from 4-, 10-, 18-, 24-month old rats and from EF treated 24-month old rats were used to measure whole genome mRNA expression by gene array. Serum samples were used for metabonomic assay with high performance liquid chromatography.

[Establishment of a quantitative mathematical model of Shen-deficiency syndrome based on whole-genome transcriptional profiles].

Objective: To establish a quantitative mathematical model of Shen-deficiency syndrome of TCM by utilizing whole-genome transcriptional profiles.

Methods: The 4, 10, 18, 24 months old SD rats were used, 24-months aged rats intervened by Epimedium Flavonoids (EF) were adopted in the experiment. Rats' hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, lymphocytes, bone, liver, and kidney, and spleen were taken for determining whole-genome mRNA expression with gene chip, and a quantitative nerve network model was established by utilizing the gene expression profile of different aged rats, then the model was used to evaluate the effects of EF on Shen-deficiency syndrome.