Efficiency for extracting icariin from Epimedium koreanum Nakai by temperature and solvent variations

To improve industrial scale extraction method for extraction of icariin from Epimedium koreanum Nakai, the yields under different extracting conditions such as solvent, temperature, duration and solvent to plant material weight ratio were compared. Regarding extracting solution, highest extracts and icariin yield could be achieved when 10% EtOH was used. In case of plant material to extracting solvent ratio, no significant differences could be observed from 1/10 to 1/50, indicating 1/10 was the most efficient. Extracting temperature significantly affected extracts and icariin yields in that 90℃ increased the collected extracts and icariin contents up to 29.6% and 0.76%, respectively, compared to 27.2%, 0.33% at 70℃. The yield of extracts was less dependent upon extracting temperature compared to icariin yield. Regarding extraction time, 4 hr and 6 hr resulted in high extracts and icariin yield, respectively. We found extracting Epimedium koreanum Nakai in 10 times volume of 10% EtOH for 4 and 6 hr at 90℃ seem to be relatively efficient methods for extracts and icariin, respectively.