Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42819598›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in pharmacology2026

Icariin: from preclinical promise to clinical reality-a critical evidence-based assessment.

Chengjuan Gu, Yuan Lin, Zhaobo Wang, Mengtian Li, Lin Du, Xingrong Lai, Liping Qiao, Han Wang, Jia Wang, Xiaolin Tong

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Chengjuan Gu *Department of Basic Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Yuan Lin *The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Zhaobo Wang *Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Mengtian LiGuang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Lin DuShenzhen Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Xingrong LaiShenzhen Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Liping QiaoGuang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Han WangBeijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Jia WangGuang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Xiaolin TongGuang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Icariin (ICA), the principal flavonoid from Epimedii Folium, aligns with traditional Chinese medicine indications of tonifying kidney-yang and strengthening bone. Prior reviews mostly catalog ICA's preclinical neuroprotective, anti-fibrotic, anti-tumor, and osteoprotective effects, but lack evidence stratification. Here, we establish an evidence-stratified framework to evaluate ICA's structure-activity relationships, pharmacokinetics, and safety profiles, explicitly distinguishing preclinical pharmacological actions from unproven clinical efficacy. We delineate translational barriers including interspecies pharmacokinetic gaps, poor bioavailability, and flawed trial designs, and assess delivery systems to address these limitations. This work bridges traditional Chinese medicine practice with graded modern evidence, providing a translational roadmap to guide ICA's rational clinical development.

Indexed as

clinical trialsdrug delivery systemsEpimedii Foliumicariinpharmacokineticspharmacological effectssafety profilesstructure-activity relationship

Identifiers

PMID42819598
PMCPMC13624405

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.