• 한국식품영양과학회지
• /
• 제38권2호
• /
• pp.160-165
• /
• 2009

본 연구는 황금추출물인 baicalein의 피부알레르기 예방 효과를 알아본 연구로서 baicalein을 투여할 농도에 따라 0 mg/kg(대조군), 50 mg/kg(저용량군), 100 mg/kg(고용량군) 3개의 그룹으로 나누고, ear swelling을 측정하는 1군과 IgE 농도와 histamine 농도의 측정 및 조직병리학적 관찰을 위한 2군으로 나눠 실험을 하였다. Baicalein을 8일에 걸쳐 8회 경구투여를 실시한 후 접촉성 피부알레르기 유발 물질인 PCL을 귀에 감작시켜 알레르기를 유발시키고, 1군에서 ear swelling 변화를 확인하고 2군에서는 1군의 ear swelling의 결과에서 귀의 두께가 최고치를 이루는 시간대에 부검을 실시하여 적출한 조직으로는 HE염색과 TB염색을 실시하여 병변의 유무와 비만세포를 확인하였다. 채취한 혈청으로는 IgE 농도와 histamine 농도를 측정하였다. Ear swelling의 경우 0 mg/kg 농도의 baicalein을 투여한 대조군에 비해 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg 농도의 baicalein을 투여한 저용량군과 고용량군 그룹의 귀의 두께 증가폭이 낮게 나타났고, 저용량군보다 고용량군에서 그 증가폭이 낮게 나타났다. IgE 농도와 histamine 농도 측정결과에서도 0 mg/kg 농도의 baicalein을 투여한 대조군에 비해 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg 농도의 baicalein을 투여한 저용량군과 고용량군에서 낮은 수치가 나왔다. 조직병리학적 검사결과에서는 육안적으로 모든 그룹의 간과 신장에서는 별다른 병변은 관찰되지 않았고, HE염색을 한 귀 조직에서는 대조군에서 고용량군에 비해 귀의 두께가 두껍게 관찰되었고, TB염색을 한 귀 조직에서는 대조군에 비해 고용량군에서 적은 수의 비만세포들이 관찰되었다. 즉, ear swelling, IgE 농도, histamine 농도 및 조직병리학적 결과를 종합해봤을 때 황금추출물인 baicalein이 접촉성 피부알레르기 예방효과가 있다고 판단되어지고, 향후 baicalein은 항알레르기 치료제로 사용되는 생약제의 주요 성분으로 유용할 것이라 사료된다.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제17권2호
• /
• pp.131-137
• /
• 2001

Baicalein, a major flavonoid of extract from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to exhibit antioxidant and anti proliferative effects. In the present study, we investigate the effects of baicalein on viability and induction of apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Baicalein was found to induce apoptosis of HL-60 cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. When HL-60 cells were exposed to 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$ baicalein for 6h, the viability was decreased remarkably to 27% of control, whereas DNA fragmentation was significantly increased to 64%. Nucleosomal fragmentation of baicalein treated HL-60 cells, a hallmark of apoptosis, was further identified by agarose gel electrophoresis (DNA ladder). Flow cytometric analysis showed that apoptotic cells were increased to 66.6% after treatment with 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$ baicalein for 6 h. Baicalein-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells was reduced by 1h pretreatment with inhibitor of caspases, z-Asp-$CH_2$-DCB. At 3 and 10 $\mu\textrm{M}$ of z-Asp-$CH_2$-DCB, DNA fragmentation of HL-60 cells induced by baicalein (50 $\mu\textrm{M}$) was 36.8 and 17.1 %, respectively, whereas, that of HL-60 cells treated by baicalein (50 $\mu\textrm{M}$) without pretreatment with inhibitor of caspases was 62.7%. These data suggest that baicalein induces apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells, and that caspase enzymes might be involved in baicalein-induced apoptosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• 제56권6호
• /
• pp.589-601
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Baicalein, a natural flavone found in herbs, exhibits diverse biological activities. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an irreversible condition often associated with a poor prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of baicalein on the development of NASH in mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups. Three groups were fed a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet to induce NASH and were simultaneously treated with baicalein (at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg) or vehicle only (sodium carboxymethylcellulose) through oral gavage for 4 weeks. The control group was fed a methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS) diet without the administration of baicalein. Results: The baicalein treatment significantly reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, suggestive of reduced liver damage. Histological analysis revealed a marked decrease in nonalcoholic fatty liver activity scores induced by the MCD diet in the mice. Similarly, baicalein treatment at both doses significantly attenuated the degree of hepatic fibrosis, as examined by Sirius red staining, and hepatocellular death, as examined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Baicalein treatment attenuated MCD-diet-induced lipid peroxidation, as evidenced by lower levels of hepatic malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal, demonstrating a reduction in oxidative stress resulting from lipid peroxidation. Moreover, baicalein treatment suppressed hepatic protein levels of 12-lipoxygenase (12-Lox) induced by the MCD diet. In contrast, baicalein enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Additionally, baicalein treatment significantly reduced hepatic non-heme iron concentrations and hepatic ferritin protein levels in mice fed an MCD diet. Conclusion: To summarize, baicalein treatment suppresses hepatic lipid peroxidation, 12-Lox expression, and iron accumulation, all of which are associated with the attenuation of NASH progression.

• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제9권4호
• /
• pp.189-193
• /
• 2003

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of baicalein, a major flavone component of Scutellaria balicalensis Georgi, on oxidant-induced cell injury in renal epithelial cells. Opossum kidney cells, an established proximal tubular epithelial cells, were used as a cell model of renal epithelial cells and t-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) as an oxidant drug model. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and lipid peroxidation was estimated by measuring the content of malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation. Exposure of cells to tBHP caused cell death and its effect was dose-dependent over concentration range of 0.1~1.0 mM. When cells were exposed to tBHP in the presence of various concentrations (0.1~10 $\mu$M) of baicalein, tBHP-induced cell death was prevented with a manner dependent of baicalein concentration. tBHP induced A TP depletion, which was significantly prevented by baicalein. Similarly, tBHP-induced DNA damage was prevented by baicalein. tBHP produced a marked increase in lipid peroxidation and its effect was completely inhibited by baicalein. These results indue ate that tBHP induces cell injury through a lipid peroxidation-dependent mechanism in renal epithelial cells, and baicalein prevented oxidant-induced cell injury via antioxidant action inhibiting lipid peroxidation. In addition, these results suggest that baicalein may be a candidate for development of drugs which are effective in preventing and treating renal diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제26권11호
• /
• pp.1918-1923
• /
• 2016

Two baicalein derivatives, baicalin and oroxylin A, were synthesized in this study. These derivatives exhibit diverse biological activities, such as anxiolytic and anticancer activities as well as memory enhancement. In order to synthesize baicalin from aglycon baicalein using Escherichia coli, we utilized a glycosyltransferase that regioselectively transfers glucuronic acid from UDP-glucuronic acid to the 7-hydroxy group of baicalein. To increase baicalin productivity, an araA deletion E. coli mutant, which accumulates UDP-glucuronic acid, was used, and ugd, which converts UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronic acid, was overexpressed. Using these strategies, approximately $720.3{\mu}M$ baicalin was synthesized from $1,000{\mu}M$ baicalein. Oroxylin A was then synthesized from baicalein. Two O-methyltransferases (OMTs), ROMT-15 and POMT-9, were tested to examine the production of oroxylin A from baicalein. E. coli harboring ROMT-15 and E. coli harboring POMT-9 produced reaction products that had different retention times, indicating that they are methylated at different positions; the structure of the reaction product from POMT-9 was consistent with oroxylin A, whereas that from ROMT-15 was 7-O-methyl baicalein. Using E. coli harboring POMT-9, approximately 50.3 mg/l of oroxylin A ($177{\mu}M$) was synthesized from 54 mg/l baicalein ($200{\mu}M$).

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• 제17권6호
• /
• pp.1305-1309
• /
• 2008

Baicalein, one of the major flavonoid in Scutellaria baicalensis, has been known for its effects on proliferation and apoptosis of many tumor cell lines. Most biological effects of baicalein are thought to be from its antioxidant and prooxidant activities. In this report, baicalein was found to induce apoptosis in HL60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line. Baicalein treatment induced DNA fragmentation and typical morphological features of apoptosis. To elucidate the mechanism of baicalein-induced apoptosis, the activities of the members of caspase family were measured. Interestingly caspase 2, 3, and 6 were significantly activated whereas caspase 1, 8, and 9 were not activated, suggesting selective involvement of specific caspases. Further, treatment with caspase inhibitors also supports the involvement of caspase 2 in apoptosis process. Although it has been reported that baicalein can induce apoptosis through many caspase pathways, the present study indicates that caspase 2 not caspase 9 pathway may be the important step in apoptosis on HL60 cell line.

• 약학회지
• /
• 제47권1호
• /
• pp.46-51
• /
• 2003

Baicalein and baicalin are flavonoid compounds isolated from medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Labiatae) and have been known to possess antiviral activities. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of baicalein and baicalin on the three distinctive enzymatic activities of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) integrase-endonucleolytic, integration, and disintegration activities. Both compounds inhibited the three enzymatic activities in a dose-dependent manner. The 50％ inhibitory concentrations of baicalein and baicalin for endonucleolytic activities of HIV-1 integrase were 4.4$\pm$3.3 and 25.9$\pm$4.0$\mu$M, respectively. In general, baicalein exhibited nearly 6- to 10-fold stronger inhibition than baicalin for the three enzymatic activities. These data demonstrate that baicalein or baicalin can be used as a leading compound to develop anti-AIDS chemotherapeutic agents targeting to the HIV-1 integrase.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• 제40권5호
• /
• pp.291-296
• /
• 2010

This study was to investigate the effect of baicalein, an antioxidant, on the bioavailability of nicardipine after orally or intravenously administered nicardipine in rats. Nicardipine was administered orally (12 mg/kg) or intravenously (4 mg/kg) with or without orally administered baicalein (0.4, 2 or 10 mg/kg) to rats. In the inhibitory effect of baicalein on CYP3A4 activity, baicalein inhibited CYP3A4 activity with $IC_{50}$ values of 9.2 ${\mu}M$. The cell-based P-gp activity test using rhodamine-123 also showed that baicalein (30-10 ${\mu}M$, p<0.01) significantly inhibited P-gp activity. Compared with the control group (given nicardipine alone), the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was significantly (2 mg/kg, P<0.05; 10 mg/kg, P<0.01) increased by 25.9-60.0%, and the peak concentration ($C_{max}$) was significantly (10 mg/kg, P<0.01) increased by 40.0% in the presence of baicalein after orally administration of nicardipine. Consequently, the relative bioavailability (R.B.) of nicardipine was increased by 1.26- to 1.60-fold and the absolute bioavailability (A.B.) was significantly (2 mg/kg, P<0.05; 10 mg/kg, P<0.01) increased by 26.0-59.9%. Compared to the i.v. control, baicalein did not significantly change pharmacokinetic parameters of nicardipine in i.v. administration. Accordingly, the enhanced oral bioavailability of nicardipine might be mainly due to increased intestinal absorption caused by P-gp inhibition rather than to reduced elimination of nicardipine by baicalein. The increase in the oral bioavailability might be mainly attributed to enhanced absorption in the small intestine via the inhibition of P-gp and reduced first-pass metabolism of nicardipine via the inhibition of the CYP3A subfamily in the small intestine and/or in the liver by baicalein. Based on these results, nicardipine dosage should be adjusted when given concomitantly with baicalein.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제24권6호
• /
• pp.616-622
• /
• 2016

Baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxy-2-phenyl-chromen-4-one) is a flavone, a type of flavonoid, originally isolated from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis. This study evaluated the protective effects of baicalein against oxidative damage-mediated apoptosis induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation in a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Baicalein absorbed light within the wavelength range of UVB. In addition, baicalein decreased the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to UVB radiation. Baicalein protected cells against UVB radiation-induced DNA breaks, 8-isoprostane generation and protein modification in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, baicalein suppressed the apoptotic cell death by UVB radiation. These findings suggest that baicalein protected HaCaT cells against UVB radiation-induced cell damage and apoptosis by absorbing UVB radiation and scavenging ROS.

• 대한본초학회지
• /
• 제28권2호
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2013

Objects : Baicalein is a major bioactive flavonoid component of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi that shows a wide range of biological activities, including neuroprotections and anti-inflammatory actions. Hence it is a potential therapeutic material for the treatment of neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated the modulatory effect of baicalein on neuroinflammation. Method : Pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 mRNA), COX-2 mRNA expression and microglial activation in the brain tissue is induced by systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment in C57BL/6 mice. Baicalein was treated orally with 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg 1 hour prior to the LPS (3 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and COX-2 mRNA expression in the brain tissue was measured by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method. Iba1 expression in the brain was measured by western blotting method. Microglia was observed with immunohistochemistry. Results : Baicalein 30 mg/kg significantly attenuated the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and COX-2 mRNA in the brain tissue. Baicalein 20 mg/kg significantly attenuated the expression of IL-6 mRNA in the brain tissue. Baicalein 30 mg/kg significantly attenuated the expression of Iba1 protein expression in the brain tissue. Baicalein 30 mg/kg significantly decreased the number and cell size of microglia in the cerebral cortex and hypothalamic region and the area percentage of Iba1-expressed microglia in the hippocampus. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that baicalein attenuates LPS induced neuroinflammation in the mice via reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6), COX-2 mRNA expression and microglial activation.