Bone tissue engineering technique is a promising strategy to repair large-volume bone defects. In this study, we developed a 3-dimensional construct by combining icariin (a small-molecule Chinese medicine), allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and a siliceous mesostructured cellular foams-poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (SMC-PHBHHx) composite scaffold. We...

OBJECTIVE This study was performed to investigate bone deteriorations and calcium homeostasis of GIOP mice in response to the treatment of icariin. METHODS The biomarkers in serum and urine were measured, tibias were taken for the measurement on bone calcium, gene expression, histomorphology and micro-CT. RESULTS Glucocorticoid-treated facilitated to induce hypocalcemia and hypercalciuria i...

Icariin, a pharmacologically active component isolated from the Chinese herb Epimedium, has been shown to improve spatial learning and memory abilities in Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats through inhibition of Aβ production and tau protein hyperphosphorylation. However, the potential mechanism of icariin-induced protective effects against mitochondrial dysfunctions in AD still remains unclear. In ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Mechanical loading plays an important role in the regulation of bone mass. However, bone cells are not always under physiological stress. In some cases, bone tissue is subjected to an overloaded mechanical environment. For example, a person who is weight training and a stevedore often experience bone pain, inflammation and other bone fatigue damage symptoms. Icariin is the major...

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of icariin, a major constituent of flavonoids isolated from the herb Epimedium, on cigarette smoke (CS) induced inflammatory responses in vivo and in vitro. METHODS In vivo, BALB/c mice were exposed to smoke of 15 cigarettes for 1 h/day, 6 days/week for 3 months and dosed with icariin (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (1 mg/kg). In vitro, A549 cells we...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) has been shown to be responsible for senile plaque formation and cell damage in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study was aimed to explore the role of natural compound icariin on the aggregation and the cytotoxicity of Aβ in vitro. METHODS Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging were done to determi...

Fat infiltration within the bone marrow is easily observed in some postmenopausal women. Those fats are mainly derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs). The increment of adipocytes derived from BMMSCs leads to decreased osteoblasts derived from BMMSCs, so the bidirectional differentiation of BMMSCs significantly contributes to osteoporosis. Icariin is the main extractive of Herb...

Effects of Epimedium extract and its constituent icariin on peripheral nerve repair were investigated in a crush injury rat model. Animals were divided into four groups: sham, control, Epimedium extract, and icariin groups. At postoperative weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8, nerve regeneration and functional recovery were evaluated by sciatic functional index (SFI), nerve electrophysiology, nerve pinch test...

Icariin is a major bioactive pharmaceutical constituent isolated from Chinese medicine Horny Goat Weed (Ying Yang Huo) with potent cardiovascular protective functions. Emerging evidence in the past decade has shown that Icariin possesses multiple atheroprotective functions, through multiple mechanisms, including attenuating DNA damage, correcting endothelial dysfunction, inhibiting the prolifer...

Several biological properties of icariin have been identified, including its anticancer effect. However, the potential mechanisms underlying the effect of icariin on HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of icariin on the proliferation and cytoskeleton of HepG2 cells. A 3‑(4,5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)‑2,5 diphenyltetra...