I think the place to start is the following studies- should be a fairly plausible explanation
Chin Med J (Engl). 2007 Feb 5;120(3):204-10.Click here to read Links
Icariine stimulates proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts by increasing production of bone morphogenetic protein 2.
Yin XX, Chen ZQ, Liu ZJ, Ma QJ, Dang GT.
Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100083, China.
BACKGROUND: Icariine is a flavonoid isolated from a traditional Chinese medicine Epimedium pubescens and is the main active compound of it. Recently, Epimedium pubescens was found to have a therapeutic effect on osteoporosis. But the mechanism is unclear. The aim of the study was to research the effect of Icariine on the proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts. METHODS: Human osteoblasts were obtained by inducing human marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) directionally and were cultured in the presence of various concentrations of Icariine. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used to observe the effect of Icariine on cell proliferation.
The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the amount of calcified nodules were assayed to observe the effect on cell differentiation. The expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Icariine (20 microg/ml) increased significantly the proliferation of human osteoblasts.
And, Icariine (10 microg/ml and 20 microg/ml) increased the activity of ALP and the amount of calcified nodules of human osteoblasts significantly (P < 0.05). BMP-2 mRNA synthesis was elevated significantly in response to Icariine (20 microg/ml). CONCLUSIONS: Icariine has a direct stimulatory effect on the proliferation and differentiation of cultured human osteoblast cells in vitro, which may be mediated by increasing production of BMP-2 in osteoblasts.
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2005 Feb;30(4):289-91.Links
[Effects of Epimedium pubescens icariine on proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts]
[Article in Chinese]
Yin XX, Chen ZQ, Dang GT, Ma QJ, Liu ZJ.
Third Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
[email protected]
OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of epimedium pubescens icariine on the proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts. METHOD:
Human osteoblasts were obtained by inducting human marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) directionally. MTT was used to observe the proliferation and activity of ALP was assayed to observe the differentiation of the third passage human osteoblasts cultured in vitro. The expression of BMP-2 mRNA was checked by RT-PCR. RESULT: Epimedium pubescens icariine at the dose of 20 microg x mL(-1) increased greatly the proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts and promoted the expression of BMP-2 mRNA. CONCLUSION:
Epimedium pubescens icariine enhances significantly the proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts, which may be mediated by increasing the expression of BMP-2 mRNA.
J Bone Miner Res. 2007 Jul;22(7):1072-9.
Epimedium-derived phytoestrogen flavonoids exert beneficial effect on preventing bone loss in late postmenopausal women: a 24-month randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial.
Zhang G, Qin L, Shi Y.
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Epimedium brevicornum maxim, a nonleguminous medicinal plant, has been found to be rich in phytoestrogen flavonoids. Results from a 24-month randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial showed that Epimedium-derived phytoestrogen flavonoids were able to exert beneficial effects on preventing bone loss in late postmenopausal women, without resulting in a detectable hyperplasia effect on the endometrium. INTRODUCTION: We performed a 24-mo randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial for evaluating the effect of the Epimedium-derived phytoestrogen flavonoids (EPFs) on BMD, bone turnover biochemical markers, serum estradiol, and endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred healthy late postmenopausal women, with a natural menopausal history within 10 approximately 18 yr and with a BMD T-score at the lumbar spine between -2 and -2.5 superdrol, were randomized into EPF treatment group (n = 50; a daily dose of 60 mg Icariin, 15 mg Daidzein, and 3 mg Genistein) or placebo control group (n = 50). All participants received 300 mg element calcium daily. BMD, bone turnover biochemical markers, serum estradiol, and endometrial thickness were measured at baseline and 12 and 24 mo after intervention. RESULTS: Eighty-five participants completed the trial. The patterns of BMD changes were significantly different between the EPF treatment group and placebo control group by repeated-measures ANOVA (p = 0.045 for interaction between time and group at femoral neck; p = 0.006 for interaction between time and group at lumbar spine). BMD was found with a decreased tendency in the placebo control group at 12 (femoral neck: -1.4%, p = 0.104; lumbar spine: -1.7%, p = 0.019) and 24 mo (femoral neck: -1.8%, p = 0.048; lumbar spine: -2.4%, p = 0.002), whereas EPF treatment maintained BMD at 12 (femoral neck: 1.1%, p = 0.285; lumbar spine:1.0%, p = 0.158) and 24 mo (femoral neck: 1.6%, p = 0.148; lumbar spine: 1.3%, p = 0.091). The difference in lumbar spine between the two groups was significant at both 12 (p = 0.044) and 24 mo (p = 0.006), whereas the difference in the femoral neck was marginal at 12 mo (p = 0.061) and significant at 24 mo (p = 0.008). Levels of bone biochemical markers did not change in the placebo control group. In contrast, EPF intervention significantly decreased levels of deoxypyrdinoline at 12 (-43%, p = 0.000) and 24 mo (-39%, p = 0.000), except for osteocalcin at 12 (5.6%, p = 0.530) and 24 mo (10.7%, p = 0.267). A significant difference in deoxypyrdinoline between the two groups was found at both 12 (p = 0.000) and 24 mo (p = 0.001). Furthermore, neither serum estradiol nor endometrial thickness was found to be changed in either groups during the clinical trial. CONCLUSIONS: EPFs exert a beneficial effect on preventing bone loss in late postmenopausal women without resulting in a detectable hyperplasia effect on the endometrium.
Icariin seems to elevate ALP significantly- along with many other drugs, including most types of anabolic steroids:
* Allopurinol
* Antibiotics
* Anti-inflammatory medicines
* Birth control pills
* Certain arthritis drugs
* Certain diabetes medicines
* Chlorpromazine
* Cortisone
* Male hormones
* Methyldopa
* Narcotic pain medicines
* Propranolol
* Tranquilizers
* Tricyclic antidepressants
So the heightened ALP, at least in this case, was caused by the icariin- from all the data I have gone over- this is simply a marker of increased metabolite retention, which is commonplace in a bone formation-type anabolic scenario, not any type of liver disorder- rest easy