• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2001

This study was undertaken to determine whether Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SbG) extract exerts the protective effect against $HgCl_2$-induced alterations in membrane transport function in rabbit renal cortical slices. The slices were treated with 0.1 mM $HgCl_2$ for 60 min at $37^{\circ}C$. $HgCl_2$ caused an inhibition in PAH uptake by renal cortical slices. Such an effect was accompanied by depressed $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity and ATP depletion. SbG prevented $HgCl_2$-induced inhibition of PAH uptake in a dose-dependent manner at the concentration ranges of 0.01-0.1%. $HgCl_2$-induced inhibition of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity and ATP depletion were significantly prevented by 0.05% SbG. These results suggest that SbG prevents $HgCl_2$-induced alterations in membrane transport function in rabbit renal cortical slices. Such protective effects of SbG may be attributed to inhibition of peroxidation of membrane lipid.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.101-110
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• 2001

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine if Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SbG) extract exerts protective effect against oxidant-induced cell injury in renal proximal tubular cells. Methods : The cell injury was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in rabbit renal cortical slices and lipid peroxidation was estimated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA). t-Butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) was used as a model of oxidant. Results : tBHP at 1 mM increased LDH release and lipid peroxidation, which were prevented by SbG in a dose dependent manner over concentration range of 0.001-0.1%. SbG provided the protective effect against oxidant-induced reduction in PAH uptake by renal cortical slices and microsomal Na+-K+-ATPase activity. SbG attenuated tBHP-induced depletion of reduced glutathione. 0.2 mM $HgCl_2$ increased LDH release and lipid peroxidation, which were completely prevented by 0.05% SbG. Conclusion : SbG prevents oxidant-induced impairment in membrane transport function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.5 s.85
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• pp.706-713
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• 2007

Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI(SB) is used in oriental medicine for the treatment of incipient strokes. Although it has been reported that SB is neuroprotective in a hypoxia model, its mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of SB on the modulation of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), which has important biological roles in regulating mitochondrial heme protein turnover and in protecting against conditions such as hypoxia, neurodegenerative diseases, or sepsis. Rat cerebrocortical day In vitro(DIV)12 cells were grown in neurobasal medium. On DIV12 cells were treated with SB($20{\mu}g/ml$) and given a hypoxic shock ($2%\;O_2/5%\;CO_2,\;3\;hr$) on DIV14. In situ hybridization results revealed that SB upregulated HO-1 mRNA in neuronal dendrites in both normoxia and hypoxia(38.5% and 59.2%, respectively). At the protein level, SB upregulated HO-1 in the neuronal soma in both normoxia and hypoxia(22.4% and 15.7%, respectively). Interestingly, most significant increase was associated with astrocytes, which increased HO-1 protein by 77.5% compared to SB-untreated culture. These results indicate that SB upregulates both neuronal and glial HO-1 expression, which contributes to the neuroprotection efficacy in hypoxia).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2002

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine whether Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract (SbG) exerts the protective effect against oxidant-induced alterations in organic cation transport in the renal proximal tubule. Methods : Organic cation transport was estimated by examining alterations in tetraethylammonium (TEA) uptake in rabbit renal cortical slices. The slices were treated with 0.2 mM tBHP for 60 min at $37^{\circ}C$. tBl-IP caused an inhibition in TEA uptake by renal cortical slices. Such an effect was accompanied by depressed Na+-K+-ATPase activity and ATP depletion. Result : SbG prevented tBHP-induced inhibition of TEA uptake in a dose-dependent manner at the concentration ranges of 0.05-0.1%. SbG also prevented H2O2-induced reduction in TEA uptake. tBHP-induced inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity and ATP depletion were significantly prevented by 0.05% SbG. Oxidants increased LDH release, which was blocked by SbG. Oxidants caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and its effect was prevented by SbG. Conclusion : These results suggest that SbG prevents oxidant-induced alterations in organic cation transport in rabbit renal cortical slices. Such protective effects of SbG may be attributed to inhibition of peroxidation of membrane lipid.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.1 s.81
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• pp.143-149
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• 2007

Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI(SB) is used in oriental medicine for the treatment of incipient strokes. Although it has been reported that SB is neuroprotective in a hypoxia model, its mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of SB on the modulation of retinoic acid receptor a (RARa). Rat cerebrocortical cells were grown in neurobasal medium. On DIV12 cells were treated with SB $(20{\mu}g/ml)$ and given a hypoxic shock $(2%\;O_2/5%\;CO_2,\;3hr)$ on DIV14. In situ hybridization using cRNA probe revealed that RARa mRNA punctae are distributed, in addition to nucleus, throughout neuronal dendrites, where SB upregulated its density by 69.8% (p=0.001) and 129.8% (p=0.001) in both normoxia and hypoxia, respectively. At the protein level, SB upregulated RARa in the neuronal soma by 78.8% (p=0.004) and 23.6% (p=0.001) in both normoxia and hypoxia, respectively. These results indicate that SB upregulates RARa in both normoxia and hypoxia, which might contribute to the neuroprotection.