Epimedium, also known as Horny Goat Weed, or Yin Yang Huo, is a genus of about 60 or more species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Berberidaceae. The large majority are endemic to
southern China, with further outposts in Europe, and central, southern and eastern Asia.
Epimedium brevicornum and other dried stems and leaves are used as raw materials for processing Epimedium extracts. There are many specifications of commercial extracts, and usually icariin or total flavones are used as standard indexes.
Icraiin is extracted from stem and leaves of horny hoat weed, also named epimedium. Icraiin is yellow brown powder, soluble inethanol, ethyl acetate.Icraiin insoluble in water, and insoluble in
etherbenzene, chloroform.
Reaction with ferric chloride green, hydrochloric magnesium powder,epimedium extract icariin action was orange and red.