The Epimedium - also called Horny Goat Weed (dry goat weed) - is a "medicinal herb that has been used for centuries by traditional Chinese medicine to support reproductive capabilities and the functions of the musculoskeletal system.
In recent years, the Epimedium has reached the headlines for its marked tonic activities, allowing different research groups to characterize its chemical composition and identify the main elements with therapeutic activity.Careful chemical-analytical studies have therefore made it possible to identify:
- Flavonoids;
- Polysaccharides with biological activity;
- C vitamin;
- Icariin, the active principle which at the moment seems to be the main responsible for the invigorating action of Epimedium.
Flavonoids in Epimedium
The total amount of flavonoids present in the Epidemium seems to be mainly responsible for the antioxidant and cardioprotective activity attributed to this plant.
Numerous studies conducted on experimental models have in fact shown how flavonoids cause a reduction in edema associated with inflammation, oxidized LDL, concentrations of Prostaglandin E and oxidation markers, including malonyldialdehyde.
Also interesting are the data from other studies, which identify the cardioprotective potential of Epimedium, highlighting the ability of its flavonoids to control the cytological damage induced by reactive oxygen species or by hypoxia affecting myocardiocytes.
Very recent studies, dated at the latest 2012, however always conducted on experimental models, also demonstrate how these flavonoids can counteract the side effects of numerous drugs, such as glucorticoids; moreover, through intracellular molecular mechanisms, they can activate the osteogenic component, controlling the osteo-absorbent action of the osteoclasts and thus significantly improving the conditions of bone health.
Polysaccharides in Epimedium
Accurate chemical-physical studies have shown that the amount of polysaccharides present in Epimedium is between 19% and 31%, with a prevalence of monosaccharides such as mannose, glucose, 6 deoxymannose, galactose, arabinose and "galacturonic acid.
In addition to the obviously energetic role, different studies have attributed to this fraction:
- antimicrobial and immunoprotective properties, probably induced by the ability to activate the immune system of the mucous membranes, in particular that associated with the gastrointestinal tract;
- indirect antioxidant properties, as demonstrated by the increase in the concentrations of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, protagonists of the antioxidant response;
- direct antioxidant properties, as observed on the cellular quality of myocardiocytes subjected to oxidative stress.
This was observed in various experimental models consisting of cellular elements and guinea pigs from laboratories such as mice, rats and chickens.
Vitamin C in Epimedium
Although the Vitamin C content varies considerably from plant to plant, depending on the cultivation, extraction and processing methods, the share still seems effective both in assisting the antioxidant function of plavonoids and polysaccharides, and in contributing to the typical ergogenic and metabolic capacities. of ascorbic acid.
Studies show how the association of vitamin C and flavonoids present in Epimedium can cause a lowering of serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, a reduction in endothelial damage, and a greater protective contribution against the damage induced by reactive oxygen species.
Icariina
Analytical chemistry studies define the maximum icariin content of around 2.7%, on average equal to 14.24 mg / g of product.
Given its chemical nature, it is easy to attribute a predominantly antioxidant role to Icariin; in line with the main experimental evidence, the aforementioned active principle can be attributed a role:
- antioxidant, protecting cells of different tissues, in particular of the myocardium, from damage induced by hypoxia and by reactive oxygen species;
- neuroprotective, as demonstrated against peripheral nerves of rats subjected to injury and chemical-physical stress, and in experimental models of Alzheimer's, in which the amount of Beta Amyloid exerted a "particularly damaging action on the Central Nervous System;
- osteoprotective, inhibiting the activation of the NfKB partway responsible for bone resorption mediated by osteoclasts;
- cardioprotective, protecting myocardiocytes from the harmful action of reactive oxygen species.
Epimedium and erectile dysfunction
Although the use of Epimedium has always been associated with its invigorating and aphrodisiac properties, modern scientific literature resizes these activities, obviously linking them to the antioxidant properties of the plant, useful for protecting the endothelium from the damaging action of ROS, with improvement of peripheral blood flow.
In reality, Icariin has been tested in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, proving, among other things, promising, especially following intracavernous administration of the same.
This activity has generally been attributed to two different mechanisms, one of the nervous type - for which Icariin could improve the properties of peripheral nerve conduction, structurally reinvigorating these nerves and protecting them from the oxidizing action of various chemical species - and one of the hemodynamic, which attributes to this active principle the ability to increase the local production of Nitric Oxide, thus increasing the local vascular flow.
Reflections and side effects
In the face of the many experimental evidences, which attribute to this plant preventive and therapeutic properties potentially very useful for maintaining the cardiac and neurological state of health, the statistically significant clinical trials carried out so far are scarce. This prevents a clear and definitive assessment of the biological capacities of the Epimedium from being made.
At the moment, the antioxidant and osteoprotective actions seem to be the most characterized from a clinical point of view, albeit decidedly modest with respect to the wide spectrum of potentialities stated for commercial purposes.
Furthermore, the modest number of studies makes it impossible to fully define the safety of use of this plant, although its use, for limited periods of time and under the supervision of your doctor, appears to be generally safe.
Vomiting, dry mouth, breathing difficulties, and very rarely cardiac conduction disturbances, seem to be the side effects classically linked to the inappropriate use of this plant.
Little is known about the potential effects of Epimedium in pregnancy and breastfeeding; therefore, as a precaution, its use in similar situations is contraindicated.
Currently, Epimedium grandiflorum is included in the list of plant extracts NOT allowed in food supplements, according to the Italian Ministry of Health. However, the plant is the subject of intense commercial propaganda that makes it almost omnipresent in the so-called "natural Viagra", dietary supplements that promise to reinvigorate the desire and sexual potency of man.
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