Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium) and Its Effects

Horny goat weed, a plant known for its leathery leaves, is traditionally used as a tonic, aphrodisiac, and for treating rheumatism. It's important to note that there is no connection between its oral consumption and liver damage or elevated liver enzymes.

Prevalence in Supplements

Research has found horny goat weed to be a common ingredient in over-the-counter male testosterone and erectile dysfunction supplements. However, a systematic review of these ingredients showed limited evidence supporting their effectiveness. Only 19% had strong positive evidence from multiple randomized-controlled trials.

Icariin: Active Component Studies

Icariin (ICA), the active component of horny goat weed, has demonstrated potential benefits in various studies, including:

• Improving erectile function in rats with nerve injuries and enhancing penile hemodynamics.
• Promoting nerve growth in cultured pelvic ganglia.
• Enhancing erectile function in castrated rats by increasing smooth muscle content and nitric oxide synthase expression.
• Improving erectile function in rats with arteriogenic erectile dysfunction and restoring endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression.

These findings suggest ICA's potential for treating erectile dysfunction and its neurotrophic effects.

Postmenopausal Women and Osteoporosis Treatment

In postmenopausal women, Herba Epimedii water extract has shown to improve lipid profiles and increase estrogen levels. Additionally, Epimedium has demonstrated efficacy for osteoporosis treatment, improving bone mineral density and reducing pain intensity when used alone or alongside conventional pharmacotherapy.

Cardiovascular and Neurological Benefits

Icariin exhibits cardiovascular protective qualities and may be effective against atherosclerosis. It also shows promise in the treatment of neurological disorders by targeting molecular mechanisms that can influence diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Potential Side Effects and Interactions

Although beneficial, horny goat weed supplements may have side effects, including tachyarrhythmia and hypomania, and can potentially cause vasculitic rash. Icariin may interact with drug metabolism enzymes, indicating possible drug interactions.

Conclusions

Despite its traditional uses and promising research, the efficacy of horny goat weed and its components, like icariin, requires further investigation to fully understand their benefits and safety profiles.

References:

1. Horny Goat Weed
2. A systematic review and evidence-based analysis of ingredients in popular male testosterone and erectile dysfunction supplements
3. Erectogenic and neurotrophic effects of icariin, a purified extract of horny goat weed (Epimedium spp.) in vitro and in vivo
4. Effects of icariin on erectile function and expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in castrated rats
5. [Effects of icariin on the erectile function and expression of nitrogen oxide synthase isoforms in corpus cavernosum of arterigenic erectile dysfunction rat model]
6. Herba Epimedii water extract elevates estrogen level and improves lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women
7. Epimedium for Osteoporosis Based on Western and Eastern Medicine: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
8. Icariin, an Anti-atherosclerotic Drug from Chinese Medicinal Herb Horny Goat Weed
9. Icariin, an Up-and-Coming Bioactive Compound Against Neurological Diseases: Network Pharmacology-Based Study and Literature Review
10. Tachyarrhythmia and hypomania with horny goat weed
11. Case report of vasculitic rash induced by Ginkgo biloba and/or Horny Goat Weed
12. Drug-Drug Interactions Potential of Icariin and Its Intestinal Metabolites via Inhibition of Intestinal UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases
13. Effects of icariin on phosphodiesterase-5 activity in vitro and cyclic guanosine monophosphate level in cavernous smooth muscle cells
14. Icariin stimulates angiogenesis by activating the MEK/ERK- and PI3K/Akt/eNOS-dependent signal pathways in human endothelial cells
15. Icariin enhances endothelial nitric-oxide synthase expression on human endothelial cells in vitro
16. Neuroprotective effects of icariin on memory impairment and neurochemical deficits in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice
17. Icariin inhibits hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity through inhibition of phosphorylation of JNK/p38 MAPK and p53 activity
18. Neuroprotective effects of icariin on corticosterone-induced apoptosis in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons