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Scutellaria baicalensis has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for bronchitis, hepatitis, and allergic diseases. The root of Scutellaria baicalensis contains active flavonoid components, including baicalin, baicalein, wogonoside, and wogonin, which have pharmaceutical properties. In the present study, the antiallergic properties of a standardized aqueous extract of S. baicalensis were evaluated, and the skin toxicity of its dermal application was also determined. The in vivo and in vitro assays were performed by using the β-hexosaminidase assay in rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3) and cutaneous skin reaction in BALB/c mice, respectively. In addition, the acute dermal irritation/corrosion test was carried out in New Zealand white rabbits, and the skin sensitization test was conducted by Buhlerʼs method in Hartley guinea pigs to estimate the safety of the standardized aqueous extract of S. baicalensis for topical application. β-Hexosaminidase release in RBL-2H3 was markedly decreased following treatment with the standardized aqueous extract of S. baicalensis. It also ameliorated antigen-induced ear swelling compared with the control group in BALB/c mice. In the toxicological studies, it did not induce any dermal irritation/corrosion in rabbits or skin sensitization in guinea pigs. Although still limited, these results concerning the toxicological effects of S. baicalensis could be an initial step toward the topical application of S. baicalensis extracts on hypersensitive skin.

Scutellaria is a traditional herbal remedy with potential anti-cancer activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate anticancer mechanisms of thirteen Scutellaria species and analyze their leaf, stem and root extracts for levels of common biologically active flavonoids: apigenin, baicalein, baicalin, chrysin, scutellarein, and wogonin. Malignant glioma, breast carcinoma and prostate cancer cells were used to determine tumor-specific effects of Scutellaria on cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle progression, via the MTT assay and flow cytometry-based apoptosis and cell cycle analysis. The extracts and individual flavonoids inhibited the proliferation of malignant glioma and breast carcinoma cells without affecting primary or non-malignant cells. The flavonoids exhibited different mechanisms of anti-tumor activity as well as positive interactions. The antitumor mechanisms involved induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G1/G2. Of the extracts tested, leaf extracts of S. angulosa, S. integrifolia, S. ocmulgee and S. scandens were found to have strong anticancer activity. This study provides basis for further mechanistic and translational studies into adjuvant therapy of malignant tumors using Scutellaria leaf tissues.

The genus Scutellaria in the family Lamiaceae has over 350 species, many of which are medicinally active. One species, Scutellaria baicalensis, is one of the most widely prescribed plants in Traditional Chinese Medicine, used for neurological disorders, cancer and inflammatory diseases and has been the subject of detailed scientific study but little is known about the phytochemistry of other Scutellaria. The current study was designed to compare the medicinal phytochemistry of 3 species of Scutellaria used to treat neurological disorders. To accomplish this objective, the specific objectives were (a) to establish an in vitro collection of the South American native; S. racemosa, (b) to botanically characterize S. racemosa and (c) to compare the phytochemistry of S. racemosa with S. baicalensis and S. lateriflora. S. racemosa was established in vitro from wild populations in Florida. Botanically, S. racemosa is diploid with 18 chromosomes, and flow cytometry data indicated that S. baicalensis and S. racemosa have small nuclei with estimated small genomes (377 mbp and 411 mbp respectively). Antioxidant potential studies showed that there were no significant differences in the 3 Scutellaria species. Phytochemical analyses detected and quantified the flavonoids baicalin, baicalein, scutellarin, and wogonin as well as the human neurohormones melatonin and serotonin in leaf and stem tissues from S. baicalensis, S. lateriflora, and S. racemosa. These findings represent the first phytochemical analysis of S. racemosa and establish S. racemosa as a model system for study of medicinal plant secondary metabolism and as a potential source of important phytopharmaceuticals for treatment of human disease.

So far, no antiangiogenic activity of wogonin, a flavonoid, on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) has been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of wogonin on IL-6-induced angiogenesis in HUVEC cultures and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) neovascularization. The in vivo CAM model was applied to evaluate the percentage of new vessel formations, followed by measurement of endothelial migration and tube formation in HUVEC cultures. The results revealed that wogonin (10(-8) approximately 10(-5)M) concentration-dependently inhibited IL-6-induced angiogenesis. The signaling pathway was through down-regulation of the autocrine loop of VEGF and VEGFR-1, but not of VEGFR-2. Furthermore, the regulating loop of the IL-6 receptor complex was also attenuated via expression of sIL-6Ralpha and gp130, but not of IL-6/IL-6R binding density. We conclude that wogonin is a suppressive agent of the autoregulated loop of VEGF, VEGFR-1 and the IL-6 receptor complex.

Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) has been implicated as an inhibitor of cell proliferation and a potent inducer of apoptosis. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SbG) has been widely used in Asia and recent investigations have shown that SbG has anticancer, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the modulatory effect of SbG on TGF-beta1 gene expression. By using RAW 264.7 cell line as an in vitro model, the effects of SbG on TGF-beta1 gene expression were evaluated by ELISA, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative PCR. Many inhibitors such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor (PD98059), p38-MAPK inhibitor (SB203580), NF-kappaB inhibitor (aspirin) and protein kinase C inhibitor (H7) were used to determine the possible signal transduction pathways. The results showed that crude extracts of SbG as well as its pure compounds, baicalin, baicalein and chrysin up-regulated TGF-beta1 gene expression on RAW 264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the flavonoid of SbG, wogonin, did not up-regulate TGF-beta1 expression on gene and protein levels on RAW264.7 cells. The facts that aspirin and H7 but not PD98059 and SB203580 blocked the enhancing effect suggested that NF-kappaB and PKC might be involved in baicalin-enhanced TGF-beta1 gene expression. We conclude that SbG up-regulates TGF-beta1 gene expression on RAW264.7 cells through NF-kappaB and PKC pathways and this might provide evidence to explain the therapeutic effect and potential adverse effects on the clinical use of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.

The anti-inflammatory effect of three flavonoids from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis (baicalein, baicalin and wogonin) was evaluated in a murine model of acute experimental colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Baicalein, but not baicalin or wogonin, given orally at 20 mg/kg for ten days, ameliorates all the considered inflammatory symptoms of the induced colitis, such as body weight loss, blood haemoglobin content, rectal bleeding and other histological and biochemical parameters. The effect of baicalein was similar to that of sulfasalazine, the reference drug given at 50 mg/kg.

The effects of the flavonoids from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (baicalein, baicalin and wogonin) in cultured human hepatoma cells (Hep G2, Hep 3B and SK-Hep1) were compared by MTT assay and flow cytometry. All three flavonoids dose-dependently decreased the cell viabilities accompanying the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential and the depletion of glutathione content. However, the influence of baicalein, baicalin or wogonin on cell cycle progression was different. All three flavonoids resulted in prominent increase of G2/M population in Hep G2 cells, whereas an accumulation of sub G1 (hypoploid) peak in Hep 3B cells was observed. In SK-Hep1 cells, baicalein and baicalin resulted in dramatic boost in hypoploid peak, but wogonin made mainly in G1 phase accumulation. These data, together with the previous findings in other hepatoma cell lines, suggest that baicalein, baicalin and wogonin might be effective candidates for inducing apoptosis or inhibiting proliferation in various human hepatoma cell lines.

By using an HBV-producing cell line (MS-G2) in vitro culture system, we found that wogonin isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis can suppress HBV surface antigen production (P < 0.001) without evidence of cytotoxicity. By assaying the endogenous HBV DNA polymerase activity, we found that both the relaxed circular and the linear forms of HBV DNA are significantly reduced in the wogonin-treated group. Wogonin deserves to be further evaluated for the treatment of human HBV infection.

From the roots of Scutellaria planipes (L.), three new flavonoids, 5,7,3',6'-tetrahydroxy-6,8,2'-trimethoxyflavone (1), (2R,3R)-3,5,7,2',5'-pentahydroxyflavanone (2) and 7,2'-dihydroxy-5-methoxyflavone (3) were isolated, together with ten known flavonoids, skullcapflavone I (4), wogonin (5), baicalein (6), norwogonin (7), viscidulin III (8), 5,7,2',6'-tetrahydroxyflavone (9), 3,5,7,2',6'-pentahydroxyflavone (10), wogonin 7-O-β-D-glucuronide (11), baicalin (12), baicalein 7-D-β-D-glucopyranoside (13), and three phenethyl alcohol glycosides, acteoside (14), martynoside (15), and jionoside D (16). The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

The therapeutic goal in liver fibrosis is the reversal of fibrosis and the selective clearance by apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which play a central role in liver fibrogenesis. In this study, the apoptotic effect of wogonin, oroxylin A, 2',5,6',7-tetrahydroxyflavone, skullcapflavone I, and baicalein, isolated from the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis, was investigated in activated rat HSCs, T-HSC/Cl-6 cells transformed with the Simian virus 40. Among the isolated compounds, skullcapflavone I (20 microM for 24 h) significantly induced apoptosis in activated rat HSCs while there was no change in the cell viability of hepatocytes. Skullcapflavone I increased caspase-3 and -9 activities accompanied by the proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Specific inhibitors of caspase-3 and caspase-9 prevented the apoptotic process induced by skullcapflavone I. From these results, skullcapflavone I from S. baicalensis selectively induced apoptosis in T-HSC/Cl-6 cells via caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of wogonin in the rat plasma. After addition of an internal standard (clomipramine), plasma was deproteinized by acetonitrile and centrifuged for sample clean-up. The supernatant was separated by a reversed-phase column chromatography, identified by a photodiode-array detector, and quantified by ultraviolet detection at a wavelength of 275 nm. Acetonitrile-water-diethylamine (50 :50 :0.1, v/v/v, pH 3.0 adjusted by orthophosphoric acid) was used as the mobile phase. The method was applied to the pharmacokinetic study of wogonin in rats after a dose of 5 mg/kg by intravenous administration. A biphasic phenomenon with a rapid distribution followed by a slower elimination phase was observed from the plasma concentration time profile.

The methanolic extract from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and its flavonoids, wogonin, baicalein, and baicalin were evaluated for anti-inflammatory action and the activatory effect on gingival fibroblasts. In LPS-induced production of IL-1 beta, three flavonoids at 1 microgram/ml expressed a significant (> 50%) inhibitory effect, similar to that of prednisolone. Moreover, the flavonoids inhibited IL-1 beta-induced synthesis of PGE2 and LTB4 considerably, although the effect of wogonin on LTB4 synthesis was marginal. In addition, three flavonoids exerted a moderate inhibition (33-36%) of collagenolytic activity, comparable to 40% inhibition by tetracycline. Meanwhile, the cellular activity of fibroblasts was augmented remarkably (40%) by baicalein (2) and slightly by baicalin (3) or wogonin (1). Consistent with the cellular activation, flavonoids enhanced the synthesis of both collagen and total protein in fibroblasts, in contrast to growth factors which increased only the synthesis of total protein. Although the effects of the methanolic extract resembled those of the flavonoids, the extract expressed a preferential effect on the synthesis of collagen and total protein.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi has been used for the treatment of chronic inflammatory syndromes including respiratory disease, fever and gastric ulcer in traditional Eastern medicine and its major components; baicalin, baicalein and wogonin; were reported to have various biological effects. In this study, we compared the neuroprotective effect of four isolated flavones form the root of S. baicalensis on global ischemic model in rat by 4-vessel occlusion method. S. baicalensis methanol extract was administered at a dose of 100mg/kg whereas four flavones namely, wogonin, baicalein, wogonoside and baicalin were orally administered at a dose of 10mg/kg. The viable pyramidal neurons were counted in the CA1 portion of hippocampus approximately +3.3, 3.5 and 3.7mm caudal to the bregma. At a dose of 10mg/kg, isolated compounds, wogonin, baicalein, wogonoside and baicalin inhibited the hippocampal neuronal cell death by 78.6%, 91.0%, 81.0% and 41.0% respectively whereas S. baicalensis methanol extract inhibited the neuronal cell death by 92% (p

Some plant flavonoids in the form of whole plant extracts have been used topically for skin inflammatory disorders. Since matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1, collagenase-1) plays an important role in unbalanced turn-over or rapid breakdown of collagen molecules in human inflamed/UV-irradiated skin, the effects of natural flavonoids on MMP-1 activity and MMP-1 expression were studied to establish the therapeutic potential. Against recombinant human MMP-1, flavonols such as quercetin and kaempferol were strong inhibitors with IC50 values of 39.6 and 43.7 microM, respectively, while flavones such as apigenin and wogonin showed only weak inhibitory activity. In addition, quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin and wogonin (12.5-25.0 microM) strongly inhibited MMP-1 induction in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-treated human dermal fibroblasts, but naringenin (a flavanone) did not. By means of the electrophoretic mobility shift assay, these flavonoids were also found to inhibit activation of the transcription factor, activator protein-1 (AP-1). Moreover, quercetin inhibited extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, and kaempferol inhibited p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation among the MAPKs tested. In contrast, flavones and naringenin did not inhibit the activation of these three MAPKs. These results have shown, for the first time, that naturally-occurring flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin and wogonin) inhibit MMP-1 and down-regulate MMP-1 expression via an inhibition of the AP-1 activation although the cellular inhibitory mechanisms differ depending on their chemical structures. Therefore, certain plant flavonoids or plant extracts with these flavonoids as major components may be beneficial to treat some skin inflammatory disorders and to protect skin from photoaging.

Wogonin from Scutellaria baicalensis, was demonstrated to increase nitric oxide (NO) in the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. It is our aim to investigate the modulatory effect of wogonin on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene expression. By using RAW 264.7 as an in vitro model, the effects of wogonin on inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) and TNF-alpha gene expression were evaluated by ELISA and reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Aspirin and H7 were used to determine the possible signal transduction pathways. The results showed that wogonin at the concentration of 10 (-5) M and 10 (-6) M up-regulated NOS2 gene expression in RAW 264.7 cells. Besides, wogonin up-regulated the gene expression of TNF-alpha, in terms of TNF-alpha secretion and transcription, in a dose dependent manner. The fact that aspirin but not H7 blocks the enhancing effect suggests that NF-kappaB might be involved in wogonin-enhanced TNF-alpha gene expression. We conclude that a low concentration of wogonin up-regulates NOS2 and TNF-alpha gene expression through NF-kappaB pathway.

To define the anti-allergic components in Saiboku-To, a herbal medicine for bronchial asthma, we examined the effects of 11 compounds found in post-administrative urine of Saiboku-To on concanavalin A-induced human lymphocyte blastogenesis in vitro and picryl chloride (PC)-induced mouse ear swelling in vivo. The urinary products of Saiboku-To were flavonoids and lignans derived from the constitutional herbs and their hydrogenated metabolites. Medicarpin derived from Glycyrrhiza glabra, magnolol and 8,9-dihydroxydihydromagnolol from Magnolia officinalis, baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A from Suctellaria baicalensis inhibited lymphocyte blastogenesis in dose-dependent fashion with IC50 values ranging from 3.0 to 7.7 micrograms/mL, which corresponded to 20-100 times that of prednisolone IC50 (0.08 microgram/mL). Davidigenin, dihydrowogonin and dihydrooroxylin A, which are hydrogenated metabolites of liquiritigenin, wogonin and oroxylin A, respectively, had no or little effects on lymphocyte blastogenesis. Oral administration of Saiboku-To, medicarpin, baicalein, magnolol and baicalin (100 mg/kg), inhibited PC-induced ear swelling significantly by 23.5, 40.1, 30.5, 23.6 and 20.9%, respectively, though the effects were weaker than that of 5 mg/kg of prednisolone (52.9%). The results suggested that flavonoids and lignans tested in the present study were implicated in anti-asthmatic effect of Saiboku-To through suppression of type IV allergic reaction.

A radioreceptor binding assay was used to guide the isolation of four chemical constituents in the organic solvent extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi capable of binding to the benzodiazepine site (BZD-S) of the GABAA receptor: wogonin (Ki = 2.03 +/- 0.24 microM), baicalin (Ki = 77.10 +/- 4.79 microM), baicalein (Ki = 5.69 +/- 0.95 microM), and scutellarein (Ki = 12.00 +/- 1.27 microM). All four compounds contain the flavonoid phenylbenzopyrone nucleus. Based on BZD-S binding, the order of affinity among these four compounds was wogonin > baicalein > scutellarein > baicalin.

The effects of various flavonoids [i.e. baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, skullcapflavone II, (2 S),2′,5,6′,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone, (2 R,3 R),2′,3,5,6′,7-pentahydroxyflavanone, and 2′,5,5′,7-tetrahydroxy-6′,8-dimethoxyflavone] isolated from Scutellariae Radix on rat peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocyte lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products were studied. Baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone) was found to inhibit the formation of 5-HETE (lipoxygenase product) more strongly than the formation of HHT (cyclooxygenase product); its concentrations for 50% inhibition (IC 50 ) were 7.13 ± 0.767 μM for the formation of 5-HETE and 55.3 ± 16.9 μM for the formation of HHT (cyclooxygenase product). Baicalin (baicalein-7- O- D-glucuronide) also inhibited the formation of 5-HETE, though less strongly, while its compound had no effect on the formation of HHT (cyclooxygenase product) in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In contrast, (2 S),2′,5,6′,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone inhibited the formation of HHT more strongly than the formation of 5-HETE via 5-lipoxygenase pathway; its concentrations for IC 50 were 5.63 ± 1.27 μM for the formation of HHT and 670.0 + 85.0 μM for the formation of 5-HETE. Wogonin and (2 R,3 R),2′,3,5,6′,7-pentahydroxyflavanone also inhibited the formation of HHT; their IC 50 values were respectively 14.6 ± 3.51 μM and 50.0 ± 4.04 μM.

The substance ( SB-1), which inhibits lipid peroxide formation ( IN VITRO experiments), and various flavonoids (wogonin, oroxylin A, chrysin, skullcapflavone II, baicalein and baicalin) were obtained from roots of SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS Georgi. On the basis of analytical and physical data, the structure of SB-1 was proved to be 2′,5,5′, 7-tetrahydroxy-6′,8-dimethoxy-flavone.