Abstract
Epimedium pseudowushanense B.L.Guo is used in traditional medicine as an aphrodisiac and to strengthen muscles and bones. Several recent reports have shown that flavonoids from Epimedium also significantly affect the treatment of breast cancer, liver cancer, and leukemia. However, few studies have examined the medicinal-ingredient yield of Epimedium, a light-demanding shade herb, under different light intensities. To investigate the effects of light intensity on medicinal-ingredient yields, Epimedium was exposed to five levels of light intensity until harvest time. Leaf dry biomass under L4 was the highest among different light treatments. L4 was also associated with the highest net photosynthetic rate. Quantification of epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, and icariin showed that L3 produced the highest amount of epimedin C, and that flavonoid content responded to light levels differently. Results indicated that L3 and L4 were the optimal light levels for medicinal-ingredient yield.
Highlights
Epimedii Folium, commonly called Yinyanghuo, is an important perennial shade herb in traditionalChinese medicine
Epimedium is a shade-tolerant species, light intensity plays an important role in its survival, early growth, development of photosynthetic apparatus, and production of secondary metabolites [16,17,18]
Our study showed that medicinal-ingredient yields of individual plants were higher under 60 days of L3 and L4 treatment (Figure 6)
Summary
Epimedii Folium, commonly called Yinyanghuo, is an important perennial shade herb in traditionalChinese medicine. Epimedii Folium, commonly called Yinyanghuo, is an important perennial shade herb in traditional. Epimedium belongs to the Berberidaceae family and is widely used as an aphrodisiac and to strengthen muscles and bones. Epimedium leaves contain high amounts of flavonoid glycosides, such as epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, and icariin [1,2]. Recent reports have shown that flavonoids from Epimedium significantly affect the treatment of breast cancer, liver cancer, and leukemia [3,4,5]. The recognition of the health benefits of Epimedium has increased its market demand. Commercial culture can address resource constraints of Epimedium. E. pseudowushanense B.L.Guo is an important resource of Epimedii Folium and is the first Epimedium species introduced and cultivated in Guizhou Province, China
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