School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China.
The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China.
Phytomedicine. 2023 Jul 25;116:154890. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154890. Epub 2023 May 20.
Icariin (ICA) is the main active component of Epimedium, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), known to enhance cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims to investigate and summarize the mechanisms through which ICA treats AD.
The PubMed and CNKI databases were utilized to review the advancements in ICA's role in AD prevention and treatment by analyzing literature published between January 2005 and April 2023. To further illustrate ICA's impact on AD development, tables, and images are included to summarize the relationships between various mechanisms.
The study reveals that ICA ameliorates cognitive deficits in AD model mice by modulating Aβ via multiple pathways, including BACE-1, NO/cGMP, Wnt/Ca, and PI3K/Akt signaling. ICA exhibits neuroprotective properties by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis through the suppression of ER stress in AD mice, potentially linked to NF-κB, MAPK, ERK, and PERK/Eif2α signaling pathways. Moreover, ICA may safeguard neurons by attenuating mitochondrial oxidative stress injury. ICA can also enhance learning, memory, and cognition by improving synaptic structure via regulation of the PSD-95 protein. Furthermore, ICA can mitigate neuroinflammation by inactivating microglial activity through the upregulation of PPARγ, TAK1/IKK/NF-κB, and JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathways.
This study indicates that ICA possesses multiple beneficial effects in AD treatment. Through the integration of pharmacological and molecular biological research, ICA may emerge as a promising candidate to expedite the advancement of TCM in the clinical management of AD.
淫羊藿苷（ICA）是中药（TCM）淫羊藿的主要活性成分，已知其可增强阿尔茨海默病（AD）患者的认知功能。本研究旨在探讨和总结 ICA 治疗 AD 的作用机制。
利用PubMed 和中国知网（CNKI）数据库，通过分析 2005 年 1 月至 2023 年 4 月期间发表的文献，综述 ICA 在 AD 防治中的作用。为进一步说明 ICA 对 AD 发生发展的影响，采用表格和图片总结了各机制之间的关系。
研究表明，ICA 通过多种途径调节 Aβ，包括 BACE-1、NO/cGMP、Wnt/Ca 和 PI3K/Akt 信号通路，改善 AD 模型小鼠的认知功能障碍。ICA 通过抑制 AD 小鼠的内质网应激，抑制神经元凋亡，发挥神经保护作用，其作用机制可能与 NF-κB、MAPK、ERK 和 PERK/Eif2α 信号通路有关。此外，ICA 还可以通过减轻线粒体氧化应激损伤来保护神经元。ICA 还可以通过调节 PSD-95 蛋白来改善突触结构，从而增强学习、记忆和认知能力。此外，ICA 通过激活 PPARγ、TAK1/IKK/NF-κB 和 JNK/p38 MAPK 信号通路抑制小胶质细胞活性，减轻神经炎症。
本研究表明 ICA 在 AD 治疗中有多种有益作用。通过药理学和分子生物学研究的整合，ICA 可能成为一种有前途的候选药物，加速 TCM 在 AD 临床治疗中的发展。
