• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2016

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by dysregulatory production of proinflammatory cytokines and helper T (Th) cytokine-dependent autoantibody production. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of baicalin on the dysregulatory production of proinflammatory cytokines and Th cytokines in pristane-induced lupus mice. Mice were received i.p. a single injection of 0.5 ml of pristane, and then, later about 3 months, were used as a pristane-induced lupus model. The pristane-induced lupus mice were administrated orally with baicalin 50 mg/kg once in a day for 10 days. Immune cells obtained from the pristane-primed lupus control group (lupus control) and baicalin-treated pristaneprimed lupus mouse group (BAC lupus) were cultured for 24 h or 36 h with/without mitogens. These results demonstrated that LPS-induced production of macrophage and splenic TNF-${\alpha}$ and Con A-induced production of thymic IFN-${\gamma}$ were attenuated in BAC lupus compared to lupus control, while LPS-stimulated production of macrophage IL-10, Con A-stimulated production of splenic IL-10 and, $PGE_2$-reduced production of splenic IFN-${\gamma}$ enhanced. Therefore, these findings suggest that baicalin may protect from autoimmunity and disease activity in lupus via modulatory effect of proinflammatory cytokine overproduction and Th cytokine imbalance.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.489-497
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• 2009

In this study, we evaluated and compared the protective effects of two major constituents, baicalein and baicalin, against oxidative DNA and cell damages caused by hydroxyl radical. Antioxidant properties were evaluated using DPPH and hydroxyl radicals scavenging assays and $Fe^{2+}$ chelating assay. ${\varphi}X$ 174 RFI plasmid DNA and intracellular DNA migration assay were used to evaluate the protective effect against oxidative DNA damage. Also, MTT and lipid peroxidation assays were used to evaluate their protective effects against oxidative cell damage. Both baicalein and baicalin prevented intracellular DNA and cells from oxidative damage caused by hydroxyl radical via antioxidant activities. Baicalein demonstrated a stronger antioxidant activity in scavenging DPPH radicals and chelating $Fe^{2+}$ while baicalin scavenged hydroxyl radicals more efficiently. The differences in the level of baicalein and baicalin pose a different pathological pathway for each. The antioxidant activity of baicalin was due to its ability to scavenge hydroxyl radical whilst baicalein was a stronger $Fe^{2+}$ chelator. Further investigation to compare the molecular mechanisms of antitumor activities of baicalein and baicalin is vital to anticancer research.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2021

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the destruction of the bone supporting the tooth and connective tissues surrounding it. Periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs) induce overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) involved in periodontal disease's inflammatory destruction. Osteoclasts take part in physiological bone remodeling, but they are also involved in bone destruction in many kinds of bone diseases, including osteoporosis and periodontal disease. This study examined the effect of baicalin on proteolytic enzymes' production and secretion of inflammatory cytokines in PDLFs and RAW 264.7 cells under the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory conditions. Baicalin inhibited the expression of the protein, MMP-1 and MMP-2, without affecting PDLFs' cell viability, suggesting its possibility because of the inhibition of phosphorylation activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase's p38, and the signal transduction process of nuclear factor κB (NFκB)-related protein. Also, baicalin reduced the expression of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in RAW 264.7 cells. This reduction is thought to be due to the inhibition of the signal transduction process of NFκB-related proteins affected by inhibiting p65RelA phosphorylation. Also, baicalin inhibited the secretion of nitric oxide and interleukin-6 induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that baicalin inhibits connective tissue destruction in periodontal disease. The inhibition of periodontal tissue destruction may be a therapeutic strategy for treating inflammatory periodontal-diseased patients.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.286-292
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• 2014

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is a rapid and accurate analytical method for determining the composition of agricultural products and feeds. This study was conducted to measure baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin contents in Scutellaria baicalensis by using NIRS system. Total 63 samples previously were analyzed by HPLC, which showed baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin contents ranging 4.56 to 13.59%, 0.28 to 5.54%, and 0.50 to 1.63% with an average of 9.66%, 2.09% and 0.52%, respectively. Each sample was scanned by NIRS and calculated for calibration and validation equation. A calibration equation calculated by modified partial least squares(MPLS) regression technique was developed in which the coefficient of determination for baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin content was 0.958, 0.944, and 0.709, respectively. Each calibration equation was applied to validation set that was performed with the remaining samples not included in the calibration set, which showed high positive correlation both in baicalin and baicalein content file. In case of wogonin, the prediction model was needed more accuracy because of low $R^2$ value in validation set. These results demonstrate that the developed NIRS equation can be practically used as a rapid screening method for quantification of baicalin and baicalein contents in Scutellaria baicalensis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1119-1124
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• 2012

Background: The effect and possible mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine, baicalin, on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in drug-resistant human myeloid leukemia HL-60/ADR cells have been investigated in this current study. Methods: HL-60/ADR cells were treated by 20, 40, $80\;{\mu}mol/L$ baicalin followed by cell cycle analysis at 24h. The mRNA expression level of the apoptosis related gene, Bcl-2 and bad, were measured by RT-PCR on cells treated with $80\;{\mu}mol/L$ baicalin at 12, 24 and 48hr. Western blot was performed to detect the changes in the expression of the proteins related to HL-60/ADR cell apoptosis and the signaling pathway before and after baicalin treatment, including Bcl-2, PARP, Bad, Caspase 3, Akt, p-Akt, NF-${\kappa}B$, p-NF-${\kappa}B$, mTOR and p-mTOR. Results: Sub-G1 peak of HL-60/ADR cells appeared 24 h after $20\;{\mu}mol/L$ baicalin treatment, and the ratio increased as baicalin concentration increased. Cell cycle analysis showed 44.9% G0/G1 phase cells 24 h after baicalin treatment compared to 39.6% in the control group. Cells treated with $80\;{\mu}mol/L$ baicalin displayed a trend in decreasing of Bcl-2 mRNA expression over time. Expression level of the Bcl-2 and PARP proteins decreased significantly while that of the PARP, Caspase-3, and Bad proteins gradually increased. No significant difference in Akt expression was observed between treated and the control groups. However, the expression levels of p-Akt, NF-${\kappa}B$, p-NF-${\kappa}B$, mTOR and p-mTOR decreased significantly in a time-dependent manner. Conclusions: We conclude that baicalin may induce HL-60/ADR cell apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.519-524
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• 2015

Vascular inflammatory process has been suggested to play a key role in initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, a major complication of diabetes mellitus. Thus, in this study, we attempted to determine whether three structurally related polyphenols found in the Chinese herb Huang Qui, namely baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin, can suppress vascular inflammatory processes induced by high glucose (HG) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mice. Data showed that HG induced markedly increased vascular permeability, monocyte adhesion, expressions of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Remarkably, all of the above mentioned vascular inflammatory effects of HG were attenuated by pretreatment with baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin. Vascular inflammatory responses induced by HG are critical events underlying development of various diabetic complications, therefore, our results suggest that baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin may have significant therapeutic benefits against diabetic complications and atherosclerosis. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(9): 519-524]

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.233-243
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• 1994

Precipitation was formed during the preparation of decoction from a mixture of Scutellariae Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma or Phellodendri Cortex according to the prescription of Hwang-ryean-hae-dog-tang. Baicalin and berberine were identified in coprecipitated product and these components were the active ingredients of two herbal medicine. The coprecipitated product was very slightly soluble in water and sparingly soluble in ethanol. The stoichiometric ratio of baicalin and berberine was found to be 1:1. The lipid-water partition coefficients of coprecipitated product were increased more than baicalin and berberine in chloroform, but were decreased in other organic solvents. The content of baicalin and berberine in coprecipitated product, determined by HPLC, were 23.08% and 26.75%, but the content of active ingredients in supernatant were 0.66% and 0.26%, respectively. The dissolution profile of baicalin of coprecipitated product was increased more than extract of Scutellariae Radix in artificial gastric juice, but was decreased in artificial intestinal juice. The dissolution rate of berberine of coprecipitated product was lower than extract of Coptidis Rhizoma in artificial gastric juice and intestinal juice commonly.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1997

Precipitation was formed during the preparation of decoction from a mixture of Scutellariae Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma. Baicalin and berberine were identified in this coprecipitated product (CPP) and these components were the active ingredients of two herbal medicine. We extracted respectively crude baicalin and berberine in Scutellariae Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma and prepared coprecipitate of crude baicalin-berberine. To increase the stability and bioavailability of coprecipitate of crude baicalin-berberine(CBB), which is slightly soluble drug, its inclusion complex was prepared and studied in this experiment. Inclusion complex of CBB with ${\beta}-cyclodextrin(CBB-{\beta}-CD)$ was prepared by freeze drying method and its characteristics were ascertained by means of solubility test, differential thermal analysis(DTA) and scanning electron microscope(SEM). The type of $CBB-{\beta}-CD$ is classified as $A_L-type$ on phase solubility diagram, and the stoichiometric ratio of CBB(baicalin in CBB) : ${\beta}-CD$ complex is 1:1 and formation constant is 151 $M^-1$. The solubility, dissolution, in situ absorption and serum concentration of $CBB-{\beta}-CD$ were significantly increased when compared to CBB. Therefore enhanced bioavailability of CBB by inclusion complexation with ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ might be useful for dosage form design of active ingredients of two herbal medicine.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 1996

Precipitation was formed during the preparation of decoction from a mixure of Scutellariae Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma or Phellodendri Cortex according to the prescription of Hwang-ryean-hae-dog-tang. Baicalin and berberine, the active ingredients of the two herbal medicine were identified in coprecipitated product. Pills were prepared using the coprecipitated product and various binders. The dissolution rate of baicalin and berberine from pills was increased in at pH1.2 when acacia or tragacanth was used. The absorption rate of baicalin from the coprecipitated product was faster than that from Scutellaria extract, but the absorption of berberine from CPP was slower in stomach, duodenum and jejunum of rats compared with Coptis extract. The time required for the maximum serum concentration (Cmax) of baicalin and berberine from CPP in mice were 150 and 200 min after oral administration, respectively. The maximum serum concentration of baicalin from CPP in mice was higher than Scutellaria extract, but the concentration of berberine was lower compared with Coptis extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration of CPP was below $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ against gram positive bacteria, and was higher than that against gram negative bacteria. The antibacterial activity of CPP was lower than that of herberine, but was more potent than Scutellaria extract. It was found that the inhibition rates of growth by CPP against S. epidermidis, K. pneumoniae, B. cereus and S.aureus were 60.0, 51.1, 45.4 and 39.9%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 2010

Baicalin, a flavonoid, was shown to have diverse effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and others. Recently, we found that the baicalin inhibits adipogenesis through the modulations of anti-adipogenic and pro-adipogenic factors of the adipogenesis pathway. In the present study, we further characterized the molecular mechanism of the anti-adipogenic effect of baicalin using microarray technology. Microarray analyses were conducted to analyze the gene expression profiles during the differentiation time course (0 day, 2 day, 4 day and 7 day) in 3T3-L1 cells with or without baicalin treatment. We identified a total of 3972 genes of which expressions were changed more than 2 fold. These 3972 genes were further analyzed using hierarchical clustering analysis, resulting in 20 clusters. Four clusters among 20 showed clearly up-regulated expression patterns (cluster 8 and cluster 10) or clearly down-regulated expression patterns (cluster 12 and cluster 14) by baicalin treatment for over-all differentiation period. The cluster 8 and cluster 10 included many genes which enhance cell proliferation or inhibit adipogenesis. On the other hand, the cluster 12 and cluster 14 included many genes which are related with proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest, cell growth suppression or adipogenesis induction. In conclusion, these data provide detailed information on the molecular mechanism of baicalin-induced inhibition of adipogenesis.