Introduction of Epimedium Extract
1.Epimedium is a genus of twenty-one related plant species. The Chinese refer to epimedium as licentious goat plant. This may explain why US supplement companies call it "Horny Goat Weed".Epimedium is grown as an ornamental herb in Asia and the Mediterranean.
2. Traditional Use
In Asia, leaves have been used on treating fatigue and boosting sex drive for a long history since the 16th century. Nowadays, the plant is a traditional Chinese medicine while it is widely used as dietary supplement in western countries.
3.Active Constituents
Epimedium contains at least 15 kinds of active elements, including icariin, epinedoside A, TFE, noricarliin, icariresinol, EPS, etc. It is considered at present that the elements with most powerful pharmacological activities are Icariin, TFE and EPS.
In a research on mice, it was found that icariin improved the growth of epididymis and seminal vesicle glands, and improved rats' interstitial cells in vitro for better basic excretion of testosterone and better production of cAMP, suggesting the androgen-like effect of Epimedium.
4.The certificate of Analysis is as follows
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ITEM
|
SPECIFICATION
|
RESULTS
|
|
Description:
Appearance
Odor
Particle size
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Brown-yellow fine powder
Characteristic
100% pass 80 mesh sieve
|
Complies
Complies
Complies
|
|
Assay:
Icariin
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by HPLC
10% min
|
10.12%
|
|
Physical:
Loss on Drying (5h at 105°C)
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5.0 % max
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3.90%
|
|
Chemical:
Heavy Metals (as Pb)
Arsenic (as As2O3)
Residual Solvents
Residual Pesticide
|
10 ppm max
2 ppm max
0.05% max
Negative
|
Complies
Complies
Complies
Complies
|
|
Microbial:
Total microbacterial Count
Yeast & Mould
E.Coli
Salmonella
|
1000cfu/g max
100cfu/g max
Negative
Negative
|
Complies
Complies
Complies
Complies
|
Pharma Sources Insight January 2025
