''Epimedium wushanense'' , the Wushan fairy wings, is a flowering plant species in the genus ''
Epimedium
''Epimedium'', also known as barrenwort, bishop's hat, fairy wings, horny goat weed, or yin yang huo (), is a genus of flowering plants in the family Berberidaceae. The majority of the species are endemic to China, with smaller numbers elsewher ...
''.
Chemistry
''E. wushanense'' contains a number of flavanoids. 37 compounds were characterized from the underground and aerial parts of the plant. Among them, 28 compounds were
prenylflavonoid
Prenylated flavonoids or prenylflavonoids are a sub-class of flavonoids. They are widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom. Some are known to have phytoestrogenic or antioxidant properties. They are given in the list of adaptogens in herbali ...
s. The predominant flavonoid,
epimedin C, ranged from 1.4 to 5.1% in aerial parts and 1.0 to 2.8% in underground parts. It also contains
wushanicaritin and
wushankaempferol.
Seven flavonoids named
diphylloside A,
epimedoside A,
epimedin C,
icariin
Icariin is a chemical compound classified as a prenylated flavonol glycoside, a type of flavonoid. It is the 8-prenyl derivative of kaempferol 3,7-''O''-diglucoside. The compound has been isolated from several species of plant belonging to the ge ...
,
epimedoside C,
icarisoside A,
desmethylanhydroicaritin, as well as
oleanolic acid
Oleanolic acid or oleanic acid is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid related to betulinic acid. It is widely distributed in food and plants where it exists as a free acid or as an aglycone of triterpenoid saponins.
Natural occurren ...
can be isolated from the roots.
References
wushanense
Plants described in 1975
{{berberidaceae-stub