Ying WANG
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CHINA
Title: Sustainable utilization of Epimedium species
Biography
Biography: Ying WANG
Abstract
Epimedium, also known as Horny Goat Weed or Ying Yang Huo, has been extensively used as traditional medicinal plant in China for more than 2000 years. In the last decade, although Epimedium studies have focused on the extraction and medicinal function of the bioactive compounds such as epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, and icariin, little is known about the potential molecular mechanism for the biosynthesis and regulation of these bioactive compounds in Epimedium. Genetic and phytochemical diversity of wild medicinal materials will be presented. Structural genes and regulatory genes involved in Epimedium flavonoid pathway were studied. Moreover, several key genes have been functionally characterized, including GTs, OMTs and PTs. The synthetic pathway of icariin was successfully identified, and icariin can be synthesized in transgenic yeast cells. The quality control of Epimedium will also be discussed for wild plant materials, cultivated plant materials and synthesized compounds.