| Herba Epimedii, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is frequently used for treating senile functional disease and enhancing kidney function. The aerial parts of five Epimedium species, Epimedium brevicornu Maxim., E. sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim., E. pubescens Maxim., E. wushanense T. S. Ying and E. koreanum Nakai, are listed as source plants of Herba Epimedii in the latest edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.; In this study, chloroplast DNA sequences of trnL/trnF intergenic spacer, nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 5S rRNA gene spacer were explored to characterize the different Epimedium species. A total of 22 Epimedium species were collected and analyzed. DNA sequences of 5S rRNA gene spacer were more varied than that of trnL/trnF intergenic spacer and ITS, thus providing more phylogenetic information. Sequences of 5S rRNA gene spacer were useful to identify and differentiate the five Epimedium species listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.; Preventive effects of Herba Epimedii (Epimedium wushanense) and formula-ELP against osteopenia were evaluated in 11-month-old OVX rats. Herbal intervention was started from the third day after OVX. Nine weeks after intervention, Herba Epimedii (0.5g/rat/day) and formula-ELP (1g/rat/day), and formula-ELP (2g/rat/day) significantly depressed integral and trabecular BMD decrease at lumbar spine in OVX rats. Nine weeks after intervention, Herba Epimedii (0.5g/rat/day) and formula-ELP (0.5g/rat/day), formula-ELP (1g/rat/day), and formula-ELP (2g/rat/day) significantly depressed integral and trabecular BMD decrease at proximal tibia metaphysis. Significant effect by formula-ELP (2g/rat/day) was showed as early as three weeks after intervention. In groups treated by Herba Epimedii (0.5g/rat/day), formula-ELP (0.5g/rat/day), formula-ELP (1g/rat/day), and formula-ELP (2g/rat/day), urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine and serum osteocalcin were significantly lower than that of the OVX control group nine weeks after treatment.{09}In groups treated by Herba Epimedii (0.5g/rat/day), formula-ELP (0.5g/rat/day), and formula-ELP (2g/rat/day), total ALP activities in serum were significantly lower than that of the OVX control group nine weeks after intervention. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
