Exploration of icariin analog structure space reveals key features driving potent inhibition of human phosphodiesterase-5

Pharmacological actions of the bioactive compounds of Epimedium on the male reproductive system: current status and future perspective

ABSTRACT

Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium, icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium, its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.

Promoting osteogenesis and bone regeneration employing icariin-loaded nanoplatforms

There is an increasing demand for innovative strategies that effectively promote osteogenesis and enhance bone regeneration. The critical process of bone regeneration involves the transformation of mesenchymal stromal cells into osteoblasts and the subsequent mineralization of the extracellular matrix, making up the complex mechanism of osteogenesis. Icariin's diverse pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and osteogenic effects, have attracted considerable attention in biomedical research. Icariin, known for its ability to stimulate bone formation, has been found to encourage the transformation of mesenchymal stromal cells into osteoblasts and improve the subsequent process of mineralization. Several studies have demonstrated the osteogenic effects of icariin, which can be attributed to its hormone-like function. It has been found to induce the expression of BMP-2 and BMP-4 mRNAs in osteoblasts and significantly upregulate Osx at low doses. Additionally, icariin promotes bone formation by stimulating the expression of pre-osteoblastic genes like Osx, RUNX2, and collagen type I. However, icariin needs to be effectively delivered to bone to perform such promising functions.Encapsulating icariin within nanoplatforms holds significant promise for promoting osteogenesis and bone regeneration through a range of intricate biological effects. When encapsulated in nanofibers or nanoparticles, icariin exerts its effects directly at the cellular level. Recalling that inflammation is a critical factor influencing bone regeneration, icariin's anti-inflammatory effects can be harnessed and amplified when encapsulated in nanoplatforms. Also, while cell adhesion and cell migration are pivotal stages of tissue regeneration, icariin-loaded nanoplatforms contribute to these processes by providing a supportive matrix for cellular attachment and movement. This review comprehensively discusses icariin-loaded nanoplatforms used for bone regeneration and osteogenesis, further presenting where the field needs to go before icariin can be used clinically.

Synthesis, evaluation of anti-breast cancer activity in vitro of ICS II derivatives and summary of the structure-activity relationship

A series of Icariside II (ICS II) derivatives were synthesized, and their structure-activity relationships (SARs) were studied in this paper. The in vitro antitumor activities towards human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8 kit). Preliminary results showed that, compared with ICS II, most of the derivatives displayed good micromole level activities. Among the series of derivatives, the S27, which totally acetylated hydroxyl of ICS II, possessed highest cytotoxicity, with IC₅₀ values of 0.70 ± 0.08 μM. Furthermore, compound S27 showed better selectivity than ICS II for cancer cells over normal cells. Our findings indicate that compound S27 may be a promising anticancer lead candidate drug.

A Review on the Pharmacological Importance of PDE5 and Its Inhibition to Manage Biomedical Conditions

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) is a cyclic GMP (cGMP) specific protein. It hydrolyzes the phosphodiesterase linkage and catalyzes the conversion of cGMP to 5’ GMP, which controls different physiological activities of the body. PDE5 is associated with biomedical conditions like neurological disorders, pulmonary arterial hypertension, cardiomyopathy, cancer, erectile dysfunction, and lower urinary tract syndrome. Inhibition of PDE5 has now been proven pharmaceutically effective in a variety of therapeutic conditions. Avanafil, tadalafil, sildenafil, and vardenafil are the most commonly used PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5i) today which are often used for the management of erectile dysfunction, lower urinary tract syndromes, malignancy, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, these synthetic PDE5i come with a slew of negative effects. Some of the most common side effects include mild headaches, flushing, dyspepsia, altered color vision, back discomfort, priapism, melanoma, hypotension and dizziness, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), and hearing loss. In light of the potential negative effects of this class of medications, there is a lot of room for new, selective PDE5 inhibitors to be discovered. We have found 25 plant botanical compounds effectively inhibiting PDE5 which might be useful in treating a variety of disorders with minimal or no adverse effects.

Deciphering the myth of icariin and synthetic derivatives in improving erectile function from a molecular biology perspective: a narrative review

Background and Objective

Although epimedium herb (EH) has been widely used in ancient Chinese medicine to enhance sexual activity, its pharmacological mechanism is not clear. Modern studies have shown that epimedium herb is rich in icariin (ICA, a flavonoid compound), and 91.2% of icariin is converted to icariside II (ICA II) by hydrolytic enzymes in intestinal bacteria after oral administration. YS-10 is a synthetic derivative of icariside II. The aim of this review was to summarize the contemporary evidence regarding the pharmacokinetics, therapeutic properties, and molecular biological mechanisms of ICA and some ICA derivatives for erectile dysfunction therapy.

Methods

A detailed search was conducted in the PubMed database using keywords and phrases, such as “icariin” AND “erectile dysfunction”, “icariside II” AND “erectile dysfunction”. The publication time is limited to last 20 years. Articles had to be published in peer reviewed journals.

Key Content and Findings

ICA and its some derivatives showed the specific inhibition on phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) and the promotion of testosterone synthesis. In addition, by regulating various reliable evidence of signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT, TGFβ1/Smad2, p38/MAPK, Wnt and secretion of various cytokines, ICA and ICA derivatives can activate endogenous stem cells (ESCs) leading to endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell proliferation, nerve regeneration and fibrosis inhibition, repair pathological changes in penile tissue and improve erectile function.

Conclusions

ICA and some of its derivatives could be a potential treatment for restoring spontaneous erections. In addition ICA and his derivatives may also be valuable as a regenerative medicine approach for other diseases, but more clinical and basic researches with high quality and large samples are recommended.

Icariin Protects H9c2 Rat Cardiomyoblasts from Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity: Role of Caveolin-1 Upregulation and Enhanced Autophagic Response

Doxorubicin (Doxo) is a widely used antineoplastic drug which often induces cardiomyopathy, leading to congestive heart failure through the intramyocardial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Icariin (Ica) is a flavonoid isolated from Epimedii Herba (Berberidaceae). Some reports on the pharmacological activity of Ica explained its antioxidant and cardioprotective effects. The aim of our study was to assess the protective activities of Ica against Doxo-detrimental effects on rat heart-tissue derived embryonic cardiac myoblasts (H9c2 cells) and to identify, at least in part, the molecular mechanisms involved. Our results showed that pretreatment of H9c2 cells with 1 μM and 5 μM of Ica, prior to Doxo exposure, resulted in an improvement in cell viability, a reduction in ROS generation, the prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction and mPTP opening. Furthermore, for the first time, we identified one feasible molecular mechanism through which Ica could exerts its cardioprotective effects. Indeed, our data showed a significant reduction in Caveolin-1(Cav-1) expression levels and a specific inhibitory effect on phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5a) activity, improving mitochondrial function compared to Doxo-treated cells. Besides, Ica significantly prevented apoptotic cell death and downregulated the main pro-autophagic marker Beclin-1 and LC3 lipidation rate, restoring physiological levels of activation of the protective autophagic process. These results suggest that Ica might have beneficial cardioprotective effects in attenuating cardiotoxicity in patients requiring anthracycline chemotherapy through the inhibition of oxidative stress and, in particular, through the modulation of Cav-1 expression levels and the involvement of PDE5a activity, thereby leading to cardiac cell survival.

Secondary Metabolites of Plants as Modulators of Endothelium Functions

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death worldwide. They may be caused by various factors or combinations of factors. Frequently, endothelial dysfunction is involved in either development of the disorder or results from it. On the other hand, the endothelium may be disordered for other reasons, e.g., due to infection, such as COVID-19. The understanding of the role and significance of the endothelium in the body has changed significantly over time—from a simple physical barrier to a complex system encompassing local and systemic regulation of numerous processes in the body. Endothelium disorders may arise from impairment of one or more signaling pathways affecting dilator or constrictor activity, including nitric oxide–cyclic guanosine monophosphate activation, prostacyclin–cyclic adenosine monophosphate activation, phosphodiesterase inhibition, and potassium channel activation or intracellular calcium level inhibition. In this review, plants are summarized as sources of biologically active substances affecting the endothelium. This paper compares individual substances and mechanisms that are known to affect the endothelium, and which subsequently may cause the development of cardiovascular disorders.

2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-4-(2-(4-nitrophenyl)hydrazono)-4H-chromene-3,5,7-triol

On the basis of the knowledge from traditional herbal and folk medicine, flavonoids are among the most studied chemical classes of natural compounds for their potential activity as phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. We here describe the preparation of a semi-synthetic hydrazone derivative of quercetin, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-(2-(4-nitrophenyl)hydrazono)-4H-chromene-3,5,7-triol, that was obtained via a single-step modification of the natural compound. The product was characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry and HPLC. Preliminary molecular modeling studies suggest that this compound could efficiently interact with PDE5.

Molecular and cellular basis of the anticancer activity of the prenylated flavonoid icaritin in hepatocellular carcinoma

The prenylated flavonoid icaritin (ICT) is currently undergoing phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), based on a solid array of preclinical and clinical data. The antitumor activity originates from the capacity of the drug to modulate several signaling effectors in cancer cells, mainly the estrogen receptor splice variant ERα36, the transcription factors STAT3 and NFκB, and the chemokine receptor CXCR4. Recent studies have implicated additional components, including different microRNAs, the generation of reactive oxygen species and the targeting of sphingosine kinase-1. ICT also engages the RAGE-HMGB1 signaling route and modulates the apoptosis/autophagy crosstalk to promote its anticancer activity. In addition, ICT exerts profound changes on the tumor microenvironment to favor an immune-response. Collectively, these multiple biochemical and cellular characteristics confer to ICT a robust activity profile which can be exploited to treat HCC, as well as other cancers, including glioblastoma and onco-hematological diseases such as chronic myeloid leukemia. This review provides an update of the pharmacological properties of ICT and its metabolic characteristics. It also addresses the design of derivatives, including both natural products and synthetic molecules, such as SNG1153 also in clinical trial. The prenylated flavonoid ICT deserves attention as a multifunctional natural product potentially useful to improve the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.