Icariin and the ERα/FATP1 pathway in postmenopausal sarcopenia: mouse and cell study
In this abstract, oral icariin improved muscle measures in a postmenopausal sarcopenia model, and the authors link the effect to ERα/FATP1 signaling; human benefit is not shown. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The abstract states that icariin's efficacy and mechanism in postmenopausal sarcopenia were undefined before this study. [1]
Oral icariin significantly improved muscle mass, function and fiber cross-sectional area in the described experiments. [1]
FATP1 knockdown completely abrogated the protective effects of icariin, supporting pathway specificity in the described experiments. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of a preclinical study combining in vivo pharmacology, multi-omics and in vitro validation
- Population / context
- Postmenopausal women with sarcopenia (context) and the described aged-muscle, mouse and C2C12 cell experiments.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- June 17, 2026
Postmenopausal sarcopenia model and icariin question
The abstract describes sarcopenia as common among postmenopausal women with limited treatment options. Icariin is described as a prenylated flavonol glycoside commonly used in conditions linked to estrogen deficiency, but its efficacy and mechanism in postmenopausal sarcopenia were undefined. The stated aim was to test the therapeutic effect of icariin and clarify its mechanism, focusing on the estrogen receptor α/fatty acid transport protein 1 (ERα/FATP1) pathway.
Supporting source [1]
Muscle, omics and cell findings with icariin
The design combined in vivo pharmacological evaluation, multi-omics analyses and in vitro mechanistic validation. Oral icariin significantly improved muscle mass, function and fiber cross-sectional area while attenuating lipid deposition and cellular senescence. Single-cell RNA sequencing showed a diminished myoblast pool with downregulated ERα in aged muscle, aligning with human transcriptome data linking reduced ERα/FATP1 signaling and dysregulated fatty acid metabolism to sarcopenia. Metabolomics identified FATP1 as a transporter of eicosapentaenoic and docosapentaenoic acid, which activated the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway to promote myogenesis. Icariin bound to and upregulated both ERα and FATP1; FATP1 knockdown completely abrogated its protective effects.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope and proposed target
The authors conclude that the ERα/FATP1 axis is a pivotal therapeutic target and call icariin a first-in-class dual agonist and promising candidate for sarcopenia treatment. These are interpretations from an abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract does not report human trials of icariin, sample sizes, follow-up or clinical outcomes, so the muscle improvements come from the described animal and cell experiments, not demonstrated human benefit.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports no human trial, sample sizes, follow-up or clinical outcomes, so human benefit is not established.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Song L, Li Y, Li W, Lin B, Xiao W, Xia Y, Wang F, Ye M, Wang W, Wang N. · europepmc.org · June 17, 2026