Icariin

DESCRIPTION

The cyclic nucleotide second messenger guanosine 3’5’-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) is an important mediator of signal transduction and hence a wide range of cellular processes. It is generated by soluble- and particulate-type guanylyl cyclase and degraded via members of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) protein family. Icariin, the active component of the Chinese medicinal plant E. brevicornum, is an inhibitor of human recombinant PDE5 with an IC50 value of 5.9 µM.1 It is a prenylated flavonol that has been used to treat erectile dysfunction and has been shown to have anti-cancer and antioxidant activity.2 At a concentration of 1 x 107 mol/L, icariin induces differentiation of cardiomyocytes and upregulates the expression of cardiac genes.3 At 20 µg/ml, icariin increases the proliferation and differentiation of cultured human osteoblasts, which appears to be mediated in part by upregulating bone morphogenetic protein 2 mRNA.4

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Formal Name

3-[(6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl)oxy]-7-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-(3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one

CAS Number

489-32-7

Molecular Formula

C33H40O15

Formula Weight

676.6

Purity

≥97%

Formulation

A crystalline solid

SHIPPING & STORAGE

-20°C

Shipping

Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere

Stability

≥ 2 years