Efficient preparation of icariin from epimedin C by recyclable biphasic enzymatic hydrolysis

Icariin is the most bioactive ingredient of Epimedium L. and a quality marker of Herba Epimedii. Conventional methods for production of Icariin are known to be inefficient, resulting in low yields and significant environmental pollution. This study aimed to develop a sustainable and effective biphasic enzymatic hydrolysis system for the efficient conversion of epimedin C to icariin. The biphasic system was created using butyl acetate and phosphate buffer (pH 4.5) at a ratio of 3:1 (V/V) along with α-L-rhamnosidase/epimedin C (2 U/1 mg) at 50 °C for 12 h. Consequently, 98.21% of epimedin C was hydrolysed to icariin, with 95.62% of the product being transferred to the organic phase. Even after four cycles of use, the conversion ratio remained high at 75.28%. Furthermore, this novel strategy was also used for the conversion of Epimedium brevicornu Maxim. extracts. The biphasic system represents a sustainable and effective method for icariin production, offering potential benefits for industrial applications.