| Epimedium | |
|---|---|
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| Epimedium × versicolor | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Berberidaceae |
| Genus: | Epimedium L.[1] |
| Type species | |
| Epimedium alpinum | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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| Epimedium | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 淫羊藿 | ||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "lascivious goat huo" | ||||||||||||||||
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Epimedium, also known as barrenwort, bishop's hat, fairy wings, horny goat weed, or yin yang huo (Chinese: 淫羊藿; pinyin: Yínyánghùo; Wade–Giles: Yin²-yang²-huo⁴), is a genus of flowering plants in the family Berberidaceae. The majority of the species are endemic to China, with smaller numbers elsewhere in Asia, and a few in the Mediterranean region.[2]
Epimedium species are deciduous or evergreen hardy perennials. The majority have four-parted "spider-like" flowers in spring.
The species used as a dietary supplement is Epimedium grandiflorum. It contains icariin, which is a weak PDE5 inhibitor, in vitro. Its clinical effects are unknown. While there is little clinical evidence to date, as sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil – sold under the brand names Viagra, Levitra and Cialis – are all based on (stronger) PDE5 inhibitory action, it is thought to have erectogenic properties and is found in some men's sexual health supplements.[3]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
IPNIwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
FoCwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Shindel, Alan W.; Xin, Zhong-Chen; Lin, Guiting; Fandel, Thomas M.; Huang, Yun-Ching; Banie, Lia; Breyer, Benjamin N.; Garcia, Maurice M.; Lin, Ching-Shwun; Lue, Tom F. (April 2010). "Erectogenic and Neurotrophic Effects of Icariin, a Purified Extract of Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium spp.) In Vitro and In Vivo". The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 7 (4 Pt 1): 1518–1528. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01699.x. ISSN 1743-6095. PMC 3551978. PMID 20141584.