Icaritin (Anhydroicaritin) is a prenylflavonoid derivative from Epimedium Genusis and potently inhibits proliferation of K562 cells (IC₅₀ of 8 µM) and primary CML cells (IC₅₀ of 13.4 µM for CML-CP and 18 µM for CML-BC). Icaritin can regulate MAPK/ERK/JNK and JAK2/STAT3 /AKT signalings, also enhances osteogenesis^[1][2][3. In Vitro: Icaritin (4-64 µM; 48 hours; K562, imatinib-resistant cells and primary CML cells) treatment inhibits proliferation of K562, imatinib-resistant cells and primary CML cells ^[1].
Icaritin (0-64 µM; 48 hours; K562 and primary cells) treatment induces K562 or primary cells apoptosis in an concentration dependent manner^[1].
Icaritin (32 µM; K562 cells) treatment increases cell population in the sub-G1 phase in K562 cells^[1].
Icaritin (0-64 µM; 48 hours; K562 cells) treatment inhibits MAPK/ERK/JNK downstream signaling and diminishes Jak2/Stat3/Akt expression. Icaritin treatment also significantly inhibits Bcl-2 protein expression and up-regulated Bax protein expression in K562 with a dose-dependent manner accompanied by the cleavage activation of caspase-3 or caspase-9, and a down-regulated expression of Apaf-1^[1]. In Vivo: Icaritin (4-8 mg/kg; intraperitoneal injection; daily; for 10 weeks; female NOD-SCID nude mice) treatment could prolong lifespan of NOD-SCID nude mice inoculated with K562 cells without suppression of bone marrow in mouse leukemia model^[1].