A recent study (references below) brought to mind that the wide ranging benefits of Icariin on health and function extend to longevity. I take the stuff, from S5 Labs, it is an extract of Horney Goat Weed standardized to 50% Icariins. I take 3 capsules per day; one in the AM on an empty stomach and one with each of my two meals . I got interested when I found that the well-advertised ‘Relief Factor‘ used it as one of its 4 ingredients, and the only one I was not already taking. Being a lazy sort, I decided to see if Bing’s version of ChatGTP-4 would update me on its benefits for longevity – here is what it wrote:
“Icariin is a flavonoid that has been shown to have a range of health benefits, including the potential to extend lifespan. A study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found that icariin can improve stress resistance and extend lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans, a type of nematode worm 1. The study also identified increased resistance to heat and oxidative stress, modulation of lipid metabolism, improved late-life healthspan, and an extended lifespan upon icariin treatment 1.
The flavonoid has also been found to extend the healthspan and mean lifespan in C57BL/6 mice 2. Another study showed that icariin has anti-aging effects on human skin cells by increasing the expression of collagen and reducing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 3.
Icariin has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat a range of conditions, including erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease 4. The flavonoid has also been shown to have neuroprotective effects and may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s .
In conclusion, icariin has a range of health benefits, including the potential to extend lifespan. The flavonoid has been shown to improve stress resistance, increase resistance to heat and oxidative stress, modulate lipid metabolism, and improve late-life healthspan. Icariin has also been found to have anti-aging effects on human skin cells and may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. While more research is needed to fully understand the health benefits of icariin, the current evidence suggests that it may be a promising natural compound for promoting longevity.
1: Todorova, M.N., Savova, M.S., Mihaylova, L.V., and Georgiev, M.I. (2024). Icariin Improves Stress Resistance and Extends Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans through hsf-1 and daf-2-Driven Hormesis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 25, 352. 2: New Life Longevity (2022). Icariin: An Aphrodisiac that Promotes Longevity – and Activates the Immune System. https://newlifelongevity.com/horny-goat-weed-for-longevity/. 3: Kim, S.Y., Kim, H.J., Lee, M.K., Jeong, S.H., and Kim, B.S. (2014). Anti-aging effects of icariin on human dermal fibroblasts. Korean J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 18, 441–446. 4: Shindel, A.W., Xin, Z.C., Lin, G., Fandel, T.M., Huang, Y.C., Banie, L., Breyer, B.N., Garcia, M.M., Lin, C.S., and Lue, T.F. (2010). Erectogenic and neurotrophic effects of icariin, a purified extract of horny goat weed (Epimedium spp.) in vitro and in vivo. J. Sex. Med. 7, 1518–1528. : Wang, Z., Wang, N., Liu, P., Chen, Q., Situ, H., Xie, J., and Zhang, J. (2019). Icariin Reduces Dopaminergic Neuronal Loss and Microglia-Mediated Inflammation in Vivo and in Vitro. Front. Mol. Neurosci. 12, 277.”
I decided to see if the copy that ChatGTP-4 wrote would be compatible with the editor program we use to build the SF website: this is the result – pretty sweet!!
Most of my research on Icariin has been done on scholar.google.com, which searches technical publication and has a date-range feature that lets us isolate the latest science. For a deeper look into this amazing substance (Icariin) and its known benefit on any particular health issue and type in “Icariin “any disease”” (if the disease is multiple words like “chronic kidney disease” you get a better result if you use quotes around the phrase) and see how extensively this has been researched.
To Your Greater Health and Fitness,
Frank
Frank Wilhelmi - Retired/consultant electronic engineer researches and reports practical strategies for optimizing health and fitness into advanced age. “I have a passion for living life to the fullest, and helping others to do the same.” A rapidly growing body of knowledge now enables us to extend our health and fitness decades beyond popular expectations.