Table 1.
Summary of clinical trials of Epimedium.
| Clinical Trial | Study Design | Study Subjects | Subject Number | Formulation | Dosing | Effective Outcomes | Safety Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhang et al., 2007 (8) | RCT | Healthy late postmenopausal women （mean age 64y） |
100 | Capsule, composing 15 mg Icariin | 4 capsules, daily | Beneficial effect on preventing bone loss | Neither dominant side effects on major systems nor abnormal hematology indicators were found |
| Deng et al., 2012 (48) | RCT | Postmenopausal Osteoporosis （47–70y） |
194 | Herbal Fufang | 10 g/day, twice daily | Beneficial effect on preventing bone loss | No notable adverse events were observed |
| Punyawudh et al., 2013 (76) | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study | Patients with mild or mild to moderate ED （≥ 18y） | 63 | Tablet, composing Epimedium Drevicornum Maxim 120 g | 1 tablet 1h before planned sexual activity | Improvements in mild to moderate ED | Dizziness (13.3 %), face numbness (1.6 %), and tachycardia (1.6 %) |
| Nishimatsu et al., 2014 (77) | RCT | Male patients with mild or moderate symptoms of aging (mean age 63y) | 94 | Capsule, composing 5 mg of Epimedium herb extract | 1 capsule, twice daily | Improvement in symptoms of aging, including ED, in males | Epigastric discomfort (4 %) and skin rash (4 %) |
| Yan et al., 2008 (81) | RCT | Normal postmenopausal subjects (mean age 57y) | 90 | Herba Epimedii water extract | 300 mL, daily | Decreased the TC and TG levels; increased the serum level of E2 | No serious adverse effects were observed |
| Zhao et al., 2012 (91) | RCT | Patients with stable moderate or severe COPD (58–90y) | 90 | 30 g ShanYao and 12 g Herba Epimedii, immersed in water for 30 min, decocted twice, then filtered |
80 ml, twice daily | Improved in dyspnea, exercise capacity, and quality of life | No serious adverse effects were observed |
| Cai et al., 1998 (92) | RCT | Patients took prednisone (age not reported) | 65 | EB 5g | 5g daily | EB could relieve the neuroendocrine-immunological effect inhibited by exogenous glucocorticoid | Not reported |
| Liao et al., 1995 (93) | Controlled trial | Patients of hemodialysis maintenance (age not reported) | 34 | ES | 0.6 g/Kg daily | Therapeutic effect on the sexual disorder and immunologic inadequacy | Not reported |
RCT: randomized controlled trial; ED: Erectile dysfunction; TC: cholesterol; TG: triglyceride; E2: serum estradiol; EB: Epimedium brevicornum; ES: Epimedium Sagittatum; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.