Nutralighting Epimedium Extract, also known as Horny Goat Weed Extract, derived from the leaves of Hericium epimedium. – centered on standardized Icariin, focusing on plant raw materials for male health and bone nutrition.

Product Description

Epimedium Extract (Horny Goat Weed Extract) is a concentrated powder of characteristic active ingredients refined from specified botanical raw materials, with icariin as the main active component. It meets quality standards of icariin 10%-98% (HPLC), offering multiple benefits including male sexual health support (PDE5 inhibition), bone health (osteogenesis promotion), cardiovascular protection (endothelial function improvement), and neuroprotection (BDNF upregulation). It is widely used in health supplements, functional foods, and personal care products. Epimedium Extract is sourced from premium Hubei-grown raw materials, with icariin content ≥2% available as a standard grade, and PDE5 inhibitory activity is strong.

Epimedium is one of the most important tonifying herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine, classified as a kidney-yang tonic. It has been used for over 2,000 years in Chinese medicine and remains one of the most widely used botanicals in male health formulations. Hubei and Hunan provinces are the primary growing regions in China. The global epimedium extract market is valued at approximately USD 300 million, driven by increasing demand for natural male health solutions and bone health products. The herb is also known as “Horny Goat Weed” in Western herbalism, deriving its nickname from an ancient observation that goats became more sexually active after eating the plant.

This product adopts low-temperature extraction, reduced-pressure concentration, and spray drying (or freeze-drying) processes to ensure stable content of characteristic ingredients and high biological activity. Different extraction ratios and standardization levels (icariin 10%, 20%, 50%, 98%) can be customized according to customer requirements.

Why Choose Nutraligting?

• Full Range of Icariin Specifications: We are one of the few Chinese suppliers offering the complete spectrum from Icariin 10% (entry-level standard extract) to 98% (high-purity isolate), allowing you to select the most cost-effective grade for your formula.
• Flexible MOQ for Formulation Developers : We support small-batch orders (MOQ as low as 5 kg) for R&D and clinical trials, with seamless scale-up to multi-ton commercial production – eliminating the need to switch suppliers as your product progresses from lab to market.
• Quality Assurance: All Epimedium Extract batches undergo rigorous quality control including identity testing, purity analysis, heavy metal screening, pesticide residue testing, and microbial examination in accordance with international standards.
• Natural Sourcing: Sourced from certified herbal farms with sustainable harvesting practices.

Basic Information

Standard Specifications (COA)

The following specifications are reference values only; actual values are subject to each batch COA report.

Botanical Source Description

The raw material of Epimedium Extract product is the dried aerial parts of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim., E. sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim., or E. rubrum Maxim. (Family: Berberidaceae). Primary growing regions include Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Guizhou provinces in China. Epimedium is included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP 2020 Edition, Part I). In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Epimedium is classified as a kidney-yang tonic herb with a pungent, sweet, and warm flavor. It enters the Liver and Kidney meridians and is renowned for its ability to tonify kidney yang, strengthen tendons and bones, dispel wind-dampness, and improve vitality. The plant is known in Chinese as “Immortal Spirit Spleen”, reflecting its legendary reputation for enhancing vigor and longevity.

Core Efficacy

Epimedium extract has the most robust evidence-based support for male sexual health and bone metabolism among botanical ingredients. The core active component, icariin (typically ≥95% in high-purity grades), is a natural PDE5 (phosphodiesterase type 5) inhibitor with a mechanism of action similar to sildenafil but with milder effects and fewer side effects. Studies have shown that icariin inhibits cGMP phosphodiesterase, increasing cGMP levels in penile smooth muscle cells, promoting smooth muscle relaxation and blood perfusion (European Urology, 2003; 43(4): 412-418). A clinical trial demonstrated that oral intake of Epimedium extract containing 20mg icariin for 6 weeks improved IIEF (International Index of Erectile Function) scores by an average of 4.2 points (P<0.01) in men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction. Beyond male health, icariin has demonstrated significant osteogenic effects — it stimulates osteoblast proliferation and osteocalcin expression while inhibiting osteoclast activity, providing dual protection against osteoporosis (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2018; 66(40): 10583-10591). Additionally, icariin has been shown to upregulate BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) expression, supporting neuroprotective and cognitive benefits.

Regulatory & Regional Access Status

Note: Regulatory information is subject to change. Before export, please confirm the latest compliance requirements with the target market regulatory authority or professional consultant.

Application Directions & Recommended Dosage

Recommended Daily Dosage Reference

• Standardised 10:1 extract: For daily adult health maintenance, the recommended daily dose is 0.6-1.5 g, taken in 1-2 divided doses with warm water; this corresponds to the active ingredient equivalent of 6-15 g of the raw herbal material.
• 20:1 highly concentrated extract: The daily dose should be limited to 0.3-0.75 g; do not directly apply the dosage standards for the raw herbal material to avoid excessive intake.
• High-purity epimedin (≥50%): This is a pharmaceutical-grade active ingredient; the dosage must be determined by a doctor based on individual circumstances. Self-administration is not recommended for general health maintenance.
• Course of treatment: After taking the product continuously for 2-4 weeks, it is recommended to pause for one week to reassess your physical condition. Long-term, uninterrupted use at high doses is not recommended.

Other Precautions

• Epimedium extract has a warm and drying nature; it must not be used by individuals with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat (characterised by heat in the palms and soles, hot flushes, night sweats, dry mouth and insomnia), as it may otherwise exacerbate symptoms of internal heat, leading to discomfort such as dry mouth, nosebleeds and restlessness.
• Those with low blood pressure or hypoglycaemia should use this product with caution, as its constituents may slightly enhance the effects of antihypertensive or antidiabetic medication; consult a doctor before combined use to avoid abnormal fluctuations in blood pressure or blood glucose levels.
• There are no definitive safety data for infants, young children, pregnant women or breastfeeding women; self-administration is strictly prohibited. Patients with hypertension characterised by ‘liver yang hyperactivity’ may experience fluctuations in blood pressure following administration and must strictly avoid this product.
• The extract cannot replace standard clinical treatment for conditions such as erectile dysfunction or osteoporosis; it may only be used as an adjunct to daily health maintenance.

Appendix: References

[1] Lin Z. et al., Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2003; 301(1): 293-299. — Icariin promotes bone formation through stimulating BMP-2 expression.

[2] Wang HT. et al., Andrologia, 2018; 50(4): e13058. — The role of icariin in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A review.

[3] Chen J. et al., Evidence-Based Complementarian and Alternative Medicine, 2019; 2019: 8857403. — Icarin attenuates osteoporosis by regulating the OPG/RANKL/RANK signaling pathway.

[4] European Urology, 2003; 43(4): 412-418. — Icariin as a natural PDE5 inhibitor.

[5] Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2018; 66(40): 10583-10591. — Icariin promotes osteogenesis and inhibits osteoclastogenesis.

[6] Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, 2020 Edition, Part I.

[7] Liu Y, Zhang Q, Wang L, et al. A literature review on Epimedium, a medicinal plant with promising slow aging properties[J]. Aging and Disease, 2023, 14(6): 1892-1907.

[8] Wang X, Li H, Chen Z, et al. Epimedium for osteoporosis based on Western and Eastern medicine: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 2022, 31: 123-135.

[9] Zhao M, Sun Y, Zhou K, et al. Safety and toxicological evaluation of Epimedium brevicornum 80% ethanol extract in 90-day subchronic oral toxicity study in rats[J]. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2024, 291: Article 115126.