Epmedin C

Epmedin C (Epimedin-C; Baohuoside-VI) is an orally active anti-inflammatory agent and immunomodulator that binds to multiple key proteins including UCP1, Caspase-1, CDK2 and Keap1. Epmedin C inhibits epithelial cell proliferation by disrupting the complex function of CDK2/Cyclin E. Epmedin C also upregulates Nrf2 expression, reduces ROS levels and inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, thereby effectively restoring antibody production and alleviating tissue damage. Epmedin C has good safety with no hepatotoxicity or skin sensitization, and it has been used in studies on diseases such as obesity, Deoxynivalenol (HY-N6684)-induced immunotoxicity and mammary hyperplasia^[1][2][3][4]. In Vitro:Epmedin C (0.1-10 μg/mL; 48 h) shows no cytotoxicity against RAW264.7, THP-1 and HD11 cells, and at the concentration of 1 μg/mL, it reduces the cytotoxicity induced by Deoxynivalenol (HY-N6684) in the aforementioned cell lines^[2].
Epmedin C (1 μg/mL; 48 h) reduces Deoxynivalenol (DON)-induced cell death in RAW264.7, THP-1 and HD11 cells as measured by LDH release assay, including inhibition of ROS accumulation, caspase-1 activation, and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6) in HD11 chicken macrophages^[2].
Epmedin C (1 μg/mL; 48 h) promotes antibody production in mouse hybridoma cells and reverses the antibody inhibitory effect induced by DON. In iBMDM cells, it inhibits the DON-induced macrophage-mediated suppression of antibody production in co-cultured mouse hybridoma cells^[2].
Epmedin C upregulates the expression level of Nrf2 mRNA by 23-50% in HaCaT cells treated with H₂O₂^[4]. In Vivo:Epmedin C (10 mg/kg; dietary supplementation; daily; 30 days) alleviates Deoxynivalenol (HY-N6684)-induced immunotoxicity in one-day-old female Sanhuang chickens by restoring antibody production, normalizing inflammatory and caspase-1 activity, and preserving immune and intestinal organ structure, while also improving growth performance^[2].