ArticleMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)2014
Effects of icariin on reproductive functions in male rats.
Article in Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
40 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 80 citations in OpenAlex.
- Compound Xuanju capsules combined with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors as a new strategy for erectile dysfunction: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Pooled it
- Research progress on the role and mechanism of DNA damage repair in germ cell development.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2023Pooled it
- Effectiveness and Safety Evaluation of Qixiong Zhongzi Decoction () in Idiopathic Asthenozoospermia Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Chinese journal of integrative medicine · 2020Trial
- Effects ofAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- Icariin improves metabolic response to exercise by promoting TFEB-dependent mitochondrial clearance and metabolic reprogramming in C57BL/6 mice and C2C12 myotubes.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- A Review of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulations and Natural Active Ingredients with Therapeutic Potential for Male Infertility Targeting Oxidative Stress.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Icariin targets PDE5A to regulate viability, DNA synthesis and DNA damage of spermatogonial stem cells and improves reproductive capacity.Asian journal of andrology · 2025Article
- Icariin inhibits cisplatin-induced ovarian toxicity via modulating NF-κB and PTEN/AKT/mTOR/AMPK axis.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2025Article
- Evaluation of the efficacy of icariin against heat stress-induced spermatogenic dysfunction in the testes of dogs.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2025Article
- L-carnitine combined with traditional Chinese medicine for male infertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Heliyon · 2024Article
- Icariin as a Treatment Proposal in Mammalian Reproduction.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Effect of black garlic (Narra J · 2024Article
- Review
- Effects of icariin as a feed additive on the reproductive function in bucks (Frontiers in veterinary science · 2024Article
- Icariin Attenuates Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Senescence by Targeting PAK2Current pharmaceutical biotechnology · 2024Article
- Determination of Phosphodiesterase Type-5 Inhibitors (PDE-5) in Dietary Supplements.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Highly efficient bioconversion of icariin to icaritin by whole-cell catalysis.Microbial cell factories · 2023Article
- Icariin: A Promising Natural Product in Biomedicine and Tissue Engineering.Journal of functional biomaterials · 2023Review
- Bioavailability Improvement Strategies for Icariin and Its Derivates: A Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Mediterranean Diet as a Shield against Male Infertility and Cancer Risk Induced by Environmental Pollutants: A Focus on Flavonoids.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The present study investigated the effects and potential mechanism(s) of action of icariin on the reproductive functions of male rats. Adult rats were treated orally with icariin at doses of 0 (control), 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg body weight for 35 consecutive days. The results show that icariin had virtually no effect on the body weight or organ coefficients of the testes or epididymides. However, 100 mg/kg icariin significantly increased epididymal sperm counts. In addition, 50 and 100 mg/kg icariin significantly increased testosterone levels. Real-time PCR suggests icariin may be involved in testosterone production via mRNA expression regulation of genes such as peripheral type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). Furthermore, 100 mg/kg icariin treatment also affected follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and claudin-11 mRNA expression in Sertoli cells. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in the testes; 50 and 100 mg/kg icariin treatment improved antioxidative capacity, while 200 mg/kg icariin treatment upregulated oxidative stress. These results collectively suggest that icariin within a certain dose range is beneficial to male reproductive functions; meanwhile, higher doses of icariin may damage reproductive functions by increasing oxidative stress in the testes.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.