Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. (Lamiaceae): a review of its traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology

Pathway-based protein-protein association network to explore mechanism of α-glucosidase inhibitors from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi against type 2 diabetes

Natural products have been widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, their mechanisms are often obscured due to multi-components and multi-targets. The authors constructed a pathway-based protein-protein association (PPA) network for target proteins of 13 α-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) identified from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SBG), designed to explore the underlying mechanisms. This network contained 118 nodes and 1167 connections. An uneven degree distribution and small-world property were observed, characterised by high clustering coefficient and short average path length. The PPA network had an inherent hierarchy as C(k)∼k-0.71 . It also exhibited potential weak disassortative mixing pattern, coupled with a decreased function Knn (k) and negative value of assortativity coefficient. These properties indicated that a few nodes were crucial to the network. PGH2, GNAS, MAPK1, MAPK3, PRKCA, and MAOA were then identified as key targets with the highest degree values and centrality indices. Additionally, a core subnetwork showed that chrysin, 5,8,2'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone, and wogonin were the main active constituents of these AGIs, and that the serotonergic synapse pathway was the critical pathway for SBG against T2D. The application of a pathway-based protein-protein association network provides a novel strategy to explore the mechanisms of natural products on complex diseases.

Scutellaria baicalensis and Their Natural Flavone Compounds as Potential Medicinal Drugs for the Treatment of Nicotine-Induced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Asthma

Flavonoids as the largest group of natural phytochemical compounds have received significant attention, as demonstrated by clinical trials, due to their chemotherapeutic and/or pharmacological effects against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and asthma. Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis), known as one of the most popular medicinal plants and used in several countries, contains natural active flavone constituents, with the major compounds of the roots being baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, wogonoside and oroxylin A. S. baicalensis and their compounds are proven to have inhibitory effects on NSCLC cells when used at different concentrations. However, the exact mechanisms by which these compounds exert their therapeutic effects against asthma remain unexplored. Indeed, the mechanisms by which S. baicalensis and its flavone compounds exert a protective effect against nicotine-induced NSCLC and asthma are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this review explores the mechanisms involved in the therapeutic potential of flavone-rich extracts from S. baicalensis in nicotine-induced NSCLC and asthma.

Potential Mechanism of S. baicalensis on Lipid Metabolism Explored via Network Pharmacology and Untargeted Lipidomics

Background

S. baicalensis, a traditional herb, has great potential in treating diseases associated with aberrant lipid metabolism, such as inflammation, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Aim of the Study

To elucidate the mechanism by which S. baicalensis modulates lipid metabolism and explore the medicinal effects of S. baicalensis at a holistic level.

Materials and Methods

The potential active ingredients of S. baicalensis and targets involved in regulating lipid metabolism were identified using a network pharmacology approach. Metabolomics was utilized to compare lipids that were altered after S. baicalensis treatment in order to identify significantly altered metabolites, and crucial targets and compounds were validated by molecular docking.

Results

Steroid biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism, the PPAR signaling pathway and glycerolipid metabolism were enriched and predicted to be potential pathways upon which S. baicalensis acts. Further metabolomics assays revealed 14 significantly different metabolites were identified as lipid metabolism-associated elements. After the pathway enrichment analysis of the metabolites, cholesterol metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism were identified as the most relevant pathways. Based on the results of the pathway analysis, sphingolipid and cholesterol biosynthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism were regarded as key pathways in which S. baicalensis is involved to regulate lipid metabolism.

Conclusion

According to our metabolomics results, S. baicalensis may exert its therapeutic effects by regulating the cholesterol biosynthesis and sphingolipid metabolism pathways. Upon further analysis of the altered metabolites in certain pathways, agents downstream of squalene were significantly upregulated; however, the substrate of SQLE was surprisingly increased. By combining evidence from molecular docking, we speculated that baicalin, a major ingredient of S. baicalensis, may suppress cholesterol biosynthesis by inhibiting SQLE and LSS, which are important enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. In summary, this study provides new insights into the therapeutic effects of S. baicalensis on lipid metabolism using network pharmacology and lipidomics.

The Root Extract of Scutellaria baicalensis Induces Apoptosis in EGFR TKI-Resistant Human Lung Cancer Cells by Inactivation of STAT3

Resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) is a major obstacle in managing lung cancer. The root of Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) traditionally used for fever clearance and detoxification possesses various bioactivities including anticancer effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether SB exhibited anticancer activity in EGFR TKI-resistant lung cancer cells and to explore the underlying mechanism. We used four types of human lung cancer cell lines, including H1299 (EGFR wildtype; EGFR TKI-resistant), H1975 (acquired TKI-resistant), PC9/ER (acquired erlotinib-resistant), and PC9/GR (acquired gefitinib-resistant) cells. The ethanol extract of SB (ESB) decreased cell viability and suppressed colony formation in the four cell lines. ESB stimulated nuclear fragmentation and the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3. Consistently, the proportion of sub-G1 phase cells and annexin V+ cells were significantly elevated by ESB, indicating that ESB induced apoptotic cell death in EGFR TKI-resistant cells. ESB dephosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and downregulated the target gene expression. The overexpression of constitutively active STAT3 reversed ESB-induced apoptosis, suggesting that ESB triggered apoptosis in EGFR TKI-resistant cells by inactivating STAT3. Taken together, we propose the potential use of SB as a novel therapeutic for lung cancer patients with EGFR TKI resistance.

Neuroprotective Effect for Cerebral Ischemia by Natural Products: A Review

Natural products have a significant role in the prevention of disease and boosting of health in humans and animals. Stroke is a disease with high prevalence and incidence, the pathogenesis is a complex cascade reaction. In recent years, it’s reported that a vast number of natural products have demonstrated beneficial effects on stroke worldwide. Natural products have been discovered to modulate activities with multiple targets and signaling pathways to exert neuroprotection via direct or indirect effects on enzymes, such as kinases, regulatory receptors, and proteins. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the established pharmacological effects and multiple target mechanisms of natural products for cerebral ischemic injury in vitro and in vivo preclinical models, and their potential neuro-therapeutic applications. In addition, the biological activity of natural products is closely related to their structure, and the structure-activity relationship of most natural products in neuroprotection is lacking, which should be further explored in future. Overall, we stress on natural products for their role in neuroprotection, and this wide band of pharmacological or biological activities has made them suitable candidates for the treatment of stroke.

The Use of Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) and Its Extracts for Sustainable Animal Production

Simple Summary

With the increasing pressure to address the problems of bacterial resistance and drug residues, medicinal herbs are gradually taking a more important role in animal production. Scutellaria baicalensis is a common and widely used Chinese medicinal herb. The main bioactive compounds in the plant are baicalein and baicalin. These compounds have many biological functions including anti-oxidation, antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and antitumor effects. S. baicalensis and its extracts can effectively promote animal growth, improve the production performance of dairy cows, reduce the stress and inflammatory response, and have effective therapeutic effects on diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and other pathogenic microorganisms. This paper summarizes the biological function of S. baicalensis and its application in sustainable animal production to provide a reference for future application of S. baicalensis and other medicinal herbs in animal production and disease treatment.

Abstract

Drugs have been widely adopted in animal production. However, drug residues and bacterial resistance are a worldwide issue, and thus the most important organizations (FAO, USDA, EU, and EFSA) have limited or banned the use of some drugs and the use of antibiotics as growth promoters. Natural products such as medicinal herbs are unlikely to cause bacterial resistance and have no chemical residues. With these advantages, medicinal herbs have long been used to treat animal diseases and improve animal performance. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the study of medicinal herbs. S. baicalensis is a herb with a high medicinal value. The main active compounds are baicalin and baicalein. They may act as antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic, antimicrobial, and antitumor agents. They also possess characteristics of being safe, purely natural, and not prone to drug resistance. S. baicalensis and its extracts can effectively promote the production performance of livestock and treat many animal diseases, such as mastitis. In this review, we summarize the active compounds, biological functions, and applications of S. baicalensis in the production of livestock and provide a guideline for the application of natural medicines in the production and treatment of diseases.

Potential anti-epileptic phytoconstituents: An updated review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Epilepsy is one of the most commonly occurring non-communicable neurological disorder that affects people of all age groups. Around 50 million people globally are epileptic, with 80% cases in developing countries due to lack of access to treatments determined by high cost and poor availability or it can be defined by the fraction of active epileptic patients who are not appropriately being treated. The availability of antiepileptic drugs and their adjuvant therapy in such countries is less than 50% and these are highly susceptible to drug interactions and severe adverse effects. As a result, the use of herbal medicine is increasingly becoming popular.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To provide pharmacological information on the active constituents evaluated in the preclinical study to treat epilepsy with potential to be used as an alternative therapeutic option in future. It also provides affirmation for the development of novel antiepileptic drugs derived from medicinal plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant information on the antiepileptic potential of phytoconstituents in the preclinical study (in-vitro, in-vivo) is provided based on their effect on screening parameters. Besides, relevant information on pharmacology of phytoconstituents, the traditional use of their medicinal plants related to epilepsy and status of phytoconstituents in the clinical study were derived from online databases, including PubMed, Clinicaltrial. gov, The Plant List (TPL, www.theplantlist.org), Science Direct. Articles identified using preset searching syntax and inclusion criteria are presented.

RESULTS

More than 70% of the phytoconstituents reviewed in this paper justified the traditional use of their medicinal plant related to epilepsy by primarily acting on the GABAergic system. Amongst the phytoconstituents, only cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol have been explored for clinical application in epilepsy.

CONCLUSION

The preclinical and clinical data of the phytoconstituents to treat epilepsy and its associated comorbidities provides evidence for the discovery and development of novel antiepileptic drugs from medicinal plants. In terms of efficacy and safety, further randomized and controlled clinical studies are required to understand the complete pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic picture of phytoconstituents. Also, specific botanical source evaluation is needed.

Antitumor Effects of Baicalein and Its Mechanism via TGFβ Pathway in Cervical Cancer HeLa Cells

Background

Due to dual-regulating carcinogenesis, the TGFβ pathway is an ideal and alternative tumor target. Natural flavonoids possess the similar structures to estrogen and could exert an important benefit to cervical cancer. The present study aimed to screen the inhibitor of TGFβ pathway from natural flavonoids and evaluate the function and mechanism of the TGFβ pathway inhibitor on cervical cancer.

Materials and Methods

The cervical cancer HeLa cells were firstly treated with different flavonoids and probed by western blot for screening the inhibitor of TGFβ pathway. And then, the effect of the identified inhibitor on cell proliferation was studied by CCK-8 and clone formation assay. Then, RT-PCR and western blot assay were performed to evaluate the effect of identified inhibitor on mTOR/p70S6K pathway, and the cell migration and EMT pathway were also examined using scratching analysis and western blot assay. Finally, the role of TGFβ was assessed via the classic inhibitor of TGFβ/SMAD pathway.

Results

Screening data by western blot assay showed that baicalein displayed the best inhibitor effect on TGFβ expression. CCK-8 and clone formation assay showed that baicalein inhibited the cell proliferation and clone cell number. RT-PCR and western bolt for probing mTOR, p70S6K, and 4EBP1 revealed that baicalein could suppress their expression and phosphorylation. The scratching analysis and western blot assay displayed that baicalein inhibited the cell migration and EMT progression in HeLa. The use of SB431542, a TGFβ inhibitor, revealed that TGFβ was crucial to baicalein-regulating cell proliferation and migration in HeLa cells.

Conclusion

Baicalein, a medicine agent screened from natural flavonoids targeting TGFβ pathway, could suppress mTOR/p70S6K pathway-mediated cell proliferation and EMT pathway-related migration via TGFβ pathway in cervical cancer HeLa cells.

Drug-herb interactions between Scutellaria baicalensis and pharmaceutical drugs: Insights from experimental studies, mechanistic actions to clinical applications

Whilst the popular use of herbal medicine globally, it poses challenges in managing potential drug-herb interaction. There are two folds of the drug-herb interaction, a beneficial interaction that may improve therapeutic outcome and minimise the toxicity of drug desirably; by contrast, negative interaction may evoke unwanted clinical consequences, especially with drugs of narrow therapeutic index. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is one of the most popular medicinal plants used in Asian countries. It has been widely used for treating various diseases and conditions such as cancer, diabetes, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Studies on its extract and bioactive compounds have shown pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions with a wide range of pharmaceutical drugs as evidenced by plenty of in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. Notably, S. baicalensis and its bioactives including baicalein, baicalin and wogonin exhibited synergistic interactions with many pharmaceutical drugs to enhance their efficacy, reduce toxicity or overcome drug resistance to combat complex diseases such as cancer, diabetes and infectious diseases. On the other hand, S. baicalensis and its bioactives also affected the pharmacokinetic profile of many drugs in absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination via the regulatory actions of the efflux pumps and cytochrome P450 enzymes. This review provides comprehensive references of the observed pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic drug interactions of Scutellaria baicalensis and its bioactives. We have elucidated the interaction with detailed mechanistic actions, identified the knowledge gaps for future research and potential clinical implications. Such knowledge is important for the practice of both conventional and complementary medicines, and it is essential to ensure the safe use of related herbal medicines. The review may be of great interest to practitioners, consumers, clinicians who require comprehensive information on the possible drug interactions with S. baicalensis and its bioactives.

Efficacy of Longdan Xiegan Decoction on the Treatment of Eczema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Longdan Xiegan decoction (LDXGD) has been widely used in the treatment of eczema. In recent years, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of LDXGD for the treatment of eczema have gradually increased. Most of the results show that LDXGD is effective in treating eczema. However, whether these conclusions are reliable or not requires meta-analysis.

Objective

This study aimed to systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of LDXGD in the treatment of eczema.

Materials and Methods

Seven electronic databases, including PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature on Disc (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang, and Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP) were systematically searched from their inception until January 2021. Risk of bias was assessed using criteria from the Cochrane Collaboration and meta-analysis was conducted on the screened literature data using Review Manage (RevMan 5.3). Then, to assess the quality of evidence, the GRADE criteria was adopted.

Results

14 RCTs with 1080 participants were identified. Meta-analysis indicated that compared with western medicine (WM), the cure rate and the total effective rate of LDXGD in treating eczema were higher. Meanwhile, the recurrence rate and the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) after treatment were lower. The adverse reaction was reported in 5 out of 14 studies without significant statistical difference. According to GRADE criteria, the quality of evidence was low for all outcomes except for the cure rate (moderate-quality evidence) and the total effective rate (moderate-quality evidence).

Conclusion

The clinical efficacy of LDXGD in the treatment of eczema was more effective compared with the one of conventional WM alone. However, due to the limitation of the quality of the included studies, additional studies are required to further confirm these results.

Discovery and characterization of naturally occurring potent inhibitors of catechol-O-methyltransferase from herbal medicines

Human catechol-O-methyltransferase (hCOMT) is considered a therapeutic target due to its crucial roles in the metabolic inactivation of endogenous neurotransmitters and xenobiotic drugs. There are nevertheless few safe and effective COMT inhibitors and there lacks a diversity in structure. To discover novel safe and effective hCOMT inhibitors from herbal products, in this study, 53 herbal products were collected and their inhibitory effects against hCOMT were investigated. Among them, Scutellariae radix (SR) displayed the most potent inhibitory effect on hCOMT with an IC50 value of 0.75 μg mL-1. To further determine specific chemicals as COMT inhibitors, an affinity ultrafiltration coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed and successfully applied to identify COMT inhibitors from SR extract. The results demonstrated that scutellarein 2, baicalein 9 and oroxylin A 12 were potent COMT inhibitors, showing a high binding index (>3) and very low IC50 values (32.9 ± 3.43 nM, 37.3 ± 4.32 nM and 18.3 ± 2.96 nM). The results of inhibition kinetics assays and docking simulations showed that compounds 2, 9 and 12 were potent competitive inhibitors against COMT-mediated 3-BTD methylation, and they could stably bind to the active site of COMT. These findings suggested that affinity ultrafiltration allows a rapid identification of natural COMT inhibitors from a complex plant extract matrix. Furthermore, scutellarein 2, baicalein 9 and oroxylin A 12 are potent inhibitors of hCOMT in SR, which could be used as promising lead compounds to develop more efficacious non-nitrocatechol COMT inhibitors for biomedical applications.

Promising influences of Scutellaria baicalensis and its two active constituents, baicalin, and baicalein, against metabolic syndrome: A review

Metabolic syndrome is known as a group of metabolic abnormalities with features including central obesity, insulin resistance, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension as well as low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. Previous studies showed the ameliorating effects of Scutellaria baicalensis on metabolic syndrome parameters, including antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-obesity, and antihypertensive. In this review, we deeply and mechanistically evaluated different studies on the effect of S. baicalensis and its two major bioactive constituents, baicalin, and baicalein, on the critical components of metabolic syndrome, including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched in the English language until the end of June 2020. Accordingly, S. baicalensis, and its two major bioactive constituents, baicalin and baicalein, represent promising effects on the control of metabolic syndrome and its related disorders such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and their following complications. In summary, our findings show that S. baicalensis and its active constituents, baicalin and baicalein, by activation and upregulation of AMPK and PPAR-γ as the main signaling in the hemostasis of glucose and lipid metabolisms may be favorable candidates for the prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome.

Molecular Mechanism of Action of Repurposed Drugs and Traditional Chinese Medicine Used for the Treatment of Patients Infected With COVID-19: A Systematic Scoping Review

Background: The emergence of COVID-19 as a pandemic has resulted in the need for urgent development of vaccines and drugs and the conduction of clinical trials to fight the outbreak. Because of the time constraints associated with the development of vaccines and effective drugs, drug repurposing and other alternative treatment methods have been used to treat patients that have been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and have acquired COVID-19. Objective: The objective of this systematic scoping review is to provide an overview of the molecular mechanism of action of repurposed drugs or alternative treatment medicines used to attenuate COVID-19 disease. Method: The research articles or gray literature, including theses, government reports, and official news online, were identified from four databases and one search engine. The full content of a total of 160 articles that fulfilled our inclusion criteria was analyzed and information about six drugs (ritonavir, lopinavir, oseltamivir, remdesivir, favipiravir, and chloroquine) and four Traditional Chinese Medicines (Shuang Huang Lian Kou Fu Ye, TCM combination of Bu Huan Jin Zheng Qi San and Da Yuan Yin, Xue Bi Jing Injection, and Qing Fei Pai Du Tang) was extracted. Results: All of the repurposed drugs and complementary medicine that have been used for the treatment of COVID-19 depend on the ability of the drug to inhibit the proliferation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by binding to enzyme active sites, viral chain termination, or triggering of the molecular pathway, whereas Traditional Chinese Medicine plays a pivotal role in triggering the inflammation pathway, such as the neuraminidase blocker, to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Herbal Medications Used to Treat Fever

Fever is a natural body defense and a common symptom of disease. Herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat fever. Many herbs have anti-inflammatory properties. Some are useful in reducing the release of cytokines and mediators of inflammation, whereas others work as natural aspirins to inhibit cyclooxygenase. In addition, herbs have known antipathogenic properties and can be effective in the treatment of infection from numerous microorganisms. Last, in traditional Chinese medicine, herbs are used to restore imbalances between the nonpathogenic and the pathogenic clearing interior heat and treating heat patterns in a variety of ways.

COVID-19 Prophylaxis Efforts Based on Natural Antiviral Plant Extracts and Their Compounds

During the time of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it has been crucial to search for novel antiviral drugs from plants and well as other natural sources as alternatives for prophylaxis. This work reviews the antiviral potential of plant extracts, and the results of previous research for the treatment and prophylaxis of coronavirus disease and previous kinds of representative coronaviruses group. Detailed descriptions of medicinal herbs and crops based on their origin native area, plant parts used, and their antiviral potentials have been conducted. The possible role of plant-derived natural antiviral compounds for the development of plant-based drugs against coronavirus has been described. To identify useful scientific trends, VOSviewer visualization of presented scientific data analysis was used.

The Effectiveness of Scutellaria baicalensis on Migraine: Implications from Clinical Use and Experimental Proof

Background

Scutellaria baicalensis (SB), a traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory and painful conditions. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of SB on migraine.

Materials and Methods

We examined the clinical applications of SB based on the data obtained from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database and confirmed that it was frequently used in Taiwan for the treatment of headaches. An experimental migraine model was established in rats by an intraperitoneal injection of nitroglycerin (NTG, 10 mg/kg). Pretreatment with SB was given orally 30 min before NTG administration. The rats were subjected to migraine-related behaviour tests that were video-recorded and analysed using EthoVision XT 12.0 software.

Results

The frequency of exploratory and locomotor behaviour was comparatively lower in the NTG group than that in the control group, while the frequency of resting and grooming behaviour increased. These phenomena were ameliorated by pretreatment with 1.0 g/kg SB. The total time spent on the smooth surface was longer in the NTG group than that in the control group, but the time was shortened by pretreatment with 1.0 g/kg SB.

Conclusions

Pretreatment with 1.0 g/kg SB relieved migraine-related behaviours in the experimental NTG-induced migraine model. The outcome therefore demonstrated that pretreatment with 1.0 g/kg SB is beneficial for migraine treatment.

A Song of Ice and Fire: Cold and Hot Properties of Traditional Chinese Medicines

The theory of cold and hot properties is the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and has been successfully applied to combat human diseases for thousands of years. Although the theory of cold and hot is very important to guide the clinical application of TCMs, this ancient theory remains an enigma for a long time. In recent years, more and more researchers have tried to uncover this ancient theory with the help of modern techniques, and the cold and hot properties of a myriad of TCMs have been studied. However, there is no review of cold and hot properties. In this review, we first briefly introduced the basic theories about cold and hot properties, including how to distinguish between the cold and hot properties of TCMs and the classification and treatment of cold and hot syndromes. Then, focusing on the application of cold and hot properties, we take several important TCMs with cold or hot property as examples to summarize their traditional usage, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. In addition, the mechanisms of thermogenesis and antipyretic effect of these important TCMs, which are related to the cold and hot properties, were summarized. At the end of this review, the perspectives on research strategies and research directions of hot and cold properties were also offered.

Evaluation of inhibitors of intestinal UDP-glucuronosyltransferases 1A8 and 1A10 using raloxifene as a substrate in Caco-2 cells: Studies with four flavonoids of Scutellaria baicalensis

UDP glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) of the gastrointestinal tract play a crucial role in protection against the toxic effects of xenobiotics in the environment. UGTs such as UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 are predominantly expressed in gastrointestinal tissues. In this study, we examined the phase II metabolism of raloxifene in differentiated Caco-2 monolayers by inducing UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 expression in these cells. The present study evaluated the following four flavonoids of Scutellaria baicalensis as model herbal compounds: scutellarein, salvigenin, baicalein, and wogonin. All test compounds, endpoint substrates, and their metabolites were quantified using liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The transepithelial electrical resistance values for the individual compounds were comparable regardless of whether they were measured individually. Salvigenin significantly inhibited UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 activities in a concentration-dependent manner. All individual compounds except scutellarein inhibited UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 activity at a concentration of 100 μM. In addition, all individual flavonoids at 100 μM, except wogonin, significantly increased the amount of raloxifene in the basolateral chambers. The positive control, canagliflozin, significantly inhibited both UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 activities. These findings suggest that the Caco-2 assay can be utilized for identifying UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 inhibitors and indicate the potential of salvigenin for enhancing the pharmacological effects of UGT substrate drugs.

Screening and isolation of potential lipoxidase and superoxide dismutase inhibitors from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi using high-speed countercurrent chromatography target-guided by ultrafiltration-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

We present a simple and efficient method based on ultrafiltration high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the rapid screening and identification of ligands obtainable from the extract of Scutellaria baicalensis. Five major compounds (chrysin-6-C-arabinosyl-8-C-glucoside, chrysin-6-C-glucosyl-8-C-arabinoside, baicalin, oroxylin A-7-O-glucuronide, and wogonoside) were identified as potentially effective inhibitors of lipoxidase and superoxide dismutase. Subsequently, specific binding ligands were separated by high-speed countercurrent chromatography, using ethyl acetate/ethyl alcohol/water acetate (0.1%) (1.0:0.1:1.0, v/v/v) as the solvent system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of S. baicalensis extracts containing potent lipoxidase and superoxide dismutase inhibitors. Our results demonstrate that the systematic isolation of bioactive components from the n-butyl alcohol layer of S. baicalensis guided by ultrafiltration high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry represents a feasible and efficient technique that could also be employed for the identification and isolation of other enzyme inhibitors.

Baicalein suppresses growth of non-small cell lung carcinoma by targeting MAP4K3

Exploring key genes associated with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) may lead to targeted therapies for NSCLC patients. The protein kinase MAP4K3 has been established as an important modulator of cell growth and autophagy in mammals. Herein, we investigated the somatic mutations and the expression pattern of MAP4K3 detected in NSCLC patients based on the TCGA database. Abnormal MAP4K3 expression and its somatic mutations are associated with the carcinogenesis and thereby becoming an attractive therapeutic target. Baicalein, a natural product, was determined to be the first-reported MAP4K3 binding ligand with its KD values of 6.47 μM measured by microscale thermophoresis. Subsequent in silico docking and mutation studies demonstrated that baicalein directly binds to MAP4K3, presumably to the substrate-binding pocket of this kinase domain, causing inactivity of MAP4K3. We further showed that baicalein could induce degradation of MAP4K3 through decreasing its stability and promoting the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Degradation of MAP4K3 could cause dissociation of the transcription factor EB and 14-3-3 complex, enhance rapid transport of TFEB to the nucleus and trigger TFEB-dependent autophagy, resulting in lung cancer cells proliferation arrest. Knockdown of MAP4K3 expression by siRNA was sufficient to mimic baicalein-induced autophagy. Ectopic expression of the MAP4K3 protein resulted in significant resistance to baicalein-induced autophagy. Baicalein exhibited good tumor growth inhibition in a nude mouse model for human H1299 xenografts, which might be tightly related to its binding to MAP4K3 and degradation of MAP4K3. Our data provide novel mechanistic insights of baicalein/ MAP4K3/ mTORC1/ TFEB axis in regulating baicalein-induced autophagy in NSCLC, suggesting potential therapies for treatment of NSCLC.

Scutellarin Inhibits the Growth and EMT of Gastric Cancer Cells through Regulating PTEN/PI3K Pathway

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies with a high mortality rate world. This study intends to make clear the role and mechanism of the Scutellarin (Scu), a flavonoid isolated from Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand.-Mazz, in regulating the evolvement of gastric cancer. We selected different doses of Scu to treat gastric cancer cells (MGC-803 and AGS). Then, cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay was conducted to verify the proliferation of tumor cells, while flow cytometry was adopted to test the apoptosis rate. Meanwhile, Western blot was conducted to examine epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl2 and Caspase3). Moreover, xenograft tumor experiment in nude mice was established to verify the effect of Scu on tumor growth. Furthermore, the knockdown model of PTEN was constructed, and the influence of PTEN on the anti-tumor effect of Scu was investigated. As a result, Scu inhibited cell proliferation, EMT and promoted the apoptosis in gastric cancer dose-dependently. Additionally, Scu attenuated tumor cell growth in vivo. Besides, Scu enhanced the expression of PTEN while reduced the phosphorylated level of PI3K. Moreover, the mechanistic study proved that Scu inactivated PI3K by up-regulating PTEN, thus dampening tumor progression. In conclusion, Scu dampened the growth and EMT of gastric cancer by regulating the PTEN/PI3K pathway.

Therapeutic Strategies to Protect the Central Nervous System against Shiga Toxin from Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Infection with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) may cause hemorrhagic colitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and encephalopathy. The mortality rate derived from HUS adds up to 5% of the cases, and up to 40% when the central nervous system (CNS) is involved. In addition to the well-known deleterious effect of Stx, the gram-negative STEC releases lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and may induce a variety of inflammatory responses when released in the gut. Common clinical signs of severe CNS injury include sensorimotor, cognitive, emotional and/or autonomic alterations. In the last few years, a number of drugs have been experimentally employed to establish the pathogenesis of, prevent or treat CNS injury by STEC. The strategies in these approaches focus on: 1) inhibition of Stx production and release by STEC, 2) inhibition of Stx bloodstream transport, 3) inhibition of Stx entry into the CNS parenchyma, 4) blockade of deleterious Stx action in neural cells, and 5) inhibition of immune system activation and CNS inflammation. Fast diagnosis of STEC infection, as well as the establishment of early CNS biomarkers of damage, may be determinants of adequate neuropharmacological treatment in time.

A traditional Chinese medicine formula NRICM101 to target COVID-19 through multiple pathways: A bedside-to-bench study

COVID-19 is a global pandemic, with over 50 million confirmed cases and 1.2 million deaths as of November 11, 2020. No therapies or vaccines so far are recommended to treat or prevent the new coronavirus. A novel traditional Chinese medicine formula, Taiwan Chingguan Yihau (NRICM101), has been administered to patients with COVID-19 in Taiwan since April 2020. Its clinical outcomes and pharmacology have been evaluated. Among 33 patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted in two medical centers, those (n = 12) who were older, sicker, with more co-existing conditions and showing no improvement after 21 days of hospitalization were given NRICM101. They achieved 3 consecutive negative results within a median of 9 days and reported no adverse events. Pharmacological assays demonstrated the effects of the formula in inhibiting the spike protein/ACE2 interaction, 3CL protease activity, viral plaque formation, and production of cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. This bedside-to-bench study suggests that NRICM101 may disrupt disease progression through its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, offering promise as a multi-target agent for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Scutellaria baicalensis Flavones as Potent Drugs against Acute Respiratory Injury during SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Structural Biology Approaches

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can result in severe damage to the respiratory system. With no specific treatment to date, it is crucial to identify potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) that could also modulate the enzymes involved in the respiratory damage that accompanies SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, flavones isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis (baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, norwogonin, and oroxylin A) were studied as possible compounds in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-2-induced acute lung injuries. We used structural bioinformatics and cheminformatics to (i) identify the critical molecular features of flavones for their binding activity at human and SARS-CoV-2 enzymes; (ii) predict their drug-likeness and lead-likeness features; (iii) calculate their pharmacokinetic profile, with an emphasis on toxicology; (iv) predict their pharmacodynamic profiles, with the identification of their human body targets involved in the respiratory system injuries; and (v) dock the ligands to SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. All flavones presented appropriate drug-like and kinetics features, except for baicalin. Flavones could bind to SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro at a similar site, but interact slightly differently with the protease. Flavones’ pharmacodynamic profiles predict that (i) wogonin strongly binds at the cyclooxygenase2 and nitric oxide synthase; (ii) baicalein and norwogonin could modulate lysine-specific demethylase 4D-like and arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase; and (iii) baicalein, wogonin, norwogonin, and oroxylin A bind to SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. Our results propose these flavones as possible potent drugs against respiratory damage that occurs during SARS-CoV-2 infections, with a strong recommendation for baicalein.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi polysaccharide ameliorates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving intestinal barrier function and modulating gut microbiota

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a polysaccharide from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi on UC. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is a worldwide problem associating with ulcerative colitis. One homogeneous polysaccharide, named SP2-1, was isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. SP2-1 comprised mannose, ribose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, glucose, xylose, arabinose, fucose in the molar ratio of 5.06:21.24:1.00:20.25:3.49:50.90:228.77:2.40, with Mw of 3.72 × 10⁶ Da. SP2-1 treatment attenuated body weight loss, reduced DAI, ameliorated colonic pathological damage, and decreased MPO activity of UC mice induced by DSS. SP2-1 also suppressed the levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, the intestinal barrier was repaired due to the up-regulated expressions of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-5. SP2-1 remarkably enhanced the levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid in DSS-treated mice. Furthermore, as compared with model group, the abundance of Firmicutes, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Roseburia were significantly increased with SP2-1 treatment. And SP2-1 could significantly inhibit the levels of Bacteroides, Proteobacteria and Staphylococcus. In conclusion, SP2-1 might serve as a novel drug candidate against UC.

Interactions between Ginkgo biloba L. and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in multicomponent mixtures towards cholinesterase inhibition and ROS scavenging

This study gives new insights to understand the type of interactions between Ginkgo biloba L. and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, two Chinese medicinal plants with well documented neuroprotective effects, on three targets in Alzheimer's disease (AD): acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholnesterase (BuChE) inhibition and hydrogen peroxide scavenging. Individual samples, binary mixtures with different proportions of both plant species, and also a commercial multicomponent combination containing both plants together with unroasted Coffea arabica L. and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside were used to perform this in vitro evaluation. Sample phenolic profiles were also determined by HPLC-DAD, showing the presence of several flavonoid glycosides, phenolic acids and a methylxanthine. In order to investigate the possible synergism/antagonism interaction, data obtained were analyzed by CompuSyn software. The results showed that G. biloba and S. baicalensis alone display better activities than in mixtures, most of the interactions exhibiting different degrees of antagonism. A slight synergism interaction was only observed for the commercial multicomponent mixture tested against H₂O₂. Further analysis was carried out to understand which compounds could be responsible for the antagonistic interaction. Seventeen single pure compounds present in all extracts were tested against AChE inhibition, most of them displaying weak or no activity. Only caffeine had a remarkable activity. Five different binary and quaternary mixture compositions were design to deepen the interaction between these compounds, revealing mainly phenolic acid-flavonoid, flavonoid-flavonoid and methylxanthine-flavonoid-phenolic acid antagonistic interactions. These results clearly show that, for the targets evaluated, there is no potentiation of the neuroprotective effect by combining S. baicalensis and G. biloba extracts.

Regulatory Mechanisms of Baicalin in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is the leading cause of high morbidity and mortality worldwide, which emphasizes the urgent necessity to develop new pharmacotherapies. In eastern countries, traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi has been used clinically for thousands of years. Baicalin is one of the main active ingredients extracted from Chinese herbal medicine S. baicalensis. Emerging evidence has established that baicalin improves chronic inflammation, immune imbalance, disturbances in lipid metabolism, apoptosis and oxidative stress. Thereby it offers beneficial roles against the initiation and progression of CVDs such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction and reperfusion, and heart failure. In this review, we summarize the pharmacological features and relevant mechanisms by which baicalin regulates CVDs in the hope to reveal its application for CVDs prevention and/or therapy.

Neuroprotective Effects of Baicalein, Wogonin, and Oroxylin A on Amyloid Beta-Induced Toxicity via NF-κB/MAPK Pathway Modulation

Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide, one of the most important pathogenic traits of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), invokes a cascade of oxidative damage and eventually leads to neuronal death. In the present study, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A, main active flavones in Scutellaria baicalensis, were evaluated for their neuroprotective effects against Aβ_25–35-stimulated damage. All tested compounds decreased Aβ_25–35-induced ROS generation and cell cycle arrest. In particular, baicalein exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. In addition, these compounds suppressed apoptosis by attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction such as loss of membrane potential, Ca²⁺ accumulation and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Furthermore, all tested flavones inhibited the expression of iNOS and COX-2, which resulted in suppressing inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, NO, and PGE₂. Noticeably, all compounds exhibited the anti-inflammatory effects through downregulating NF-κB/MAPK pathway. Especially, oroxylin A was effective against both p65 and IκBα, while wogonin and baicalein were suppressed phospho-p65 and phospho-IκBα, respectively. Taken together, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A can effectively relieve Aβ_25–35-stimulated neuronal apoptosis and inflammation in PC12 cells via downregulating NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway.

Applications, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetics, toxicity of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. and its probably potential therapeutic effects on COVID-19: a review

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. (SB) is a common heat-clearing medicine in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It has been used for thousands of years in China and its neighboring countries. Clinically, it is mostly used to treat diseases such as cold and cough. SB has different harvesting periods and processed products for different clinical symptoms. Botanical researches proved that SB included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1st, 2020) was consistent with the medicinal SB described in ancient books. Modern phytochemical analysis had found that SB contains hundreds of active ingredients, of which flavonoids are its major components. These chemical components are the material basis for SB to exert pharmacological effects. Pharmacological studies had shown that SB has a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, liver protection, etc. The active ingredients of SB were mostly distributed in liver and kidney, and couldn't be absorbed into brain via oral absorption. SB's toxicity was mostly manifested in liver fibrosis and allergic reactions, mainly caused by baicalin. The non-medicinal application prospects of SB were broad, such as antibacterial plastics, UV-resistant silk, animal feed, etc. In response to the Coronavirus Disease In 2019 (COVID-19), based on the network pharmacology research, SB's active ingredients may have potential therapeutic effects, such as baicalin and baicalein. Therefore, the exact therapeutic effects are still need to be determined in clinical trials. SB has been reviewed in the past 2 years, but the content of these articles were not comprehensive and accurate. In view of the above, we made a comprehensive overview of the research progress of SB, and expect to provide ideas for the follow-up study of SB.

COVID-19: Is There Evidence for the Use of Herbal Medicines as Adjuvant Symptomatic Therapy?

BACKGROUND

Current recommendations for the self-management of SARS-Cov-2 disease (COVID-19) include self-isolation, rest, hydration, and the use of NSAID in case of high fever only. It is expected that many patients will add other symptomatic/adjuvant treatments, such as herbal medicines.

AIMS

To provide a benefits/risks assessment of selected herbal medicines traditionally indicated for "respiratory diseases" within the current frame of the COVID-19 pandemic as an adjuvant treatment.

METHOD

The plant selection was primarily based on species listed by the WHO and EMA, but some other herbal remedies were considered due to their widespread use in respiratory conditions. Preclinical and clinical data on their efficacy and safety were collected from authoritative sources. The target population were adults with early and mild flu symptoms without underlying conditions. These were evaluated according to a modified PrOACT-URL method with paracetamol, ibuprofen, and codeine as reference drugs. The benefits/risks balance of the treatments was classified as positive, promising, negative, and unknown.

RESULTS

A total of 39 herbal medicines were identified as very likely to appeal to the COVID-19 patient. According to our method, the benefits/risks assessment of the herbal medicines was found to be positive in 5 cases (Althaea officinalis, Commiphora molmol, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hedera helix, and Sambucus nigra), promising in 12 cases (Allium sativum, Andrographis paniculata, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea, Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, Justicia pectoralis, Magnolia officinalis, Mikania glomerata, Pelargonium sidoides, Pimpinella anisum, Salix sp, Zingiber officinale), and unknown for the rest. On the same grounds, only ibuprofen resulted promising, but we could not find compelling evidence to endorse the use of paracetamol and/or codeine.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work suggests that several herbal medicines have safety margins superior to those of reference drugs and enough levels of evidence to start a clinical discussion about their potential use as adjuvants in the treatment of early/mild common flu in otherwise healthy adults within the context of COVID-19. While these herbal medicines will not cure or prevent the flu, they may both improve general patient well-being and offer them an opportunity to personalize the therapeutic approaches.

Baicalin inhibits inflammation caused by coinfection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Escherichia coli involving IL-17 signaling pathway

Coinfection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) is frequently reported in poultry farms. Baicalin possess various pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant, etc. However, the protective effects of baicalin against coinfection of MG and E. coli are still elusive. In this study, baicalin (450 mg/kg) treatment was started on day 13 after infection and continued for 5 d. Histopathological examination, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and molecular docking technique were used to evaluate the effects of baicalin on MG and E. coli coinfection in chicken lung and trachea. The results showed that coinfection caused severe lesions in the lung and tracheal tissues. However, baicalin treatment partially alleviated these lesions in coinfection group. Histopathological examination showed the alveolar spaces and mucosal layer thickening was restored and cilia gradually recovered with baicalin treatment compared in coinfection group and MG-infection group. Meanwhile, IL-17 singling pathway–related genes were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in baicalin treatment group in lung, including IL-17C, TRAF6, NF-κB, CXCL1, CXCL2, MMP1, GM-CSF, and MUC5AC. The activities of cytokines and chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL2, MMP1, GMCSF, and MUC5AC) were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in baicalin-treated group. The molecular docking of baicalin and NF-κB showed the highest fitness score and interaction. From these results, it has been suggested that baicalin proved effective against coinfection of MG and E. coli in chicken and provided scientific basis for further dose–response and drug–target interaction studies.

Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of baicalin in cerebrovascular and neurological disorders

Inflammatory responses play an extraordinary role in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular and neurological disorders. Baicalin is one of the important flavonoids, which is extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Recently, numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that baicalin has salutary effects for anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory and has been demonstrated to exert beneficial therapeutic properties in cerebrovascular and neurological diseases. In this review, we aim to discuss that baicalin exerts anti-inflammatory effects through multiple pathways and targets, thus affecting the production of a variety of inflammatory cytokines and neuroprotective process of neurological diseases; furthermore, the related targets of the anti-inflammatory effects of baicalin were analyzed via using the tools of network pharmacology, to provide theoretical basis and innovative ideas for the future clinical application of baicalin.

Oroxyloside ameliorates acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting JNK related apoptosis and necroptosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Oroxyloside is a natural flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Lamiaceae) which is a Chinese herb widely used for liver diseases. However, its mechanisms on protecting against drug induced liver injury has not been investigated yet.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the protecting effects and the primary mechanisms of oroxyloside on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After a 12 h fasting period with free access to water, C57BL/6 mice were injected with APAP (300 mg/kg) intragastrically (i.g.) and 1 h later with oroxyloside (100 mg/kg, i.g.). When mice sacrificed, blood samples were collected from fundus venous plexus and liver tissues were collected. In addition, cells were incubated with 10 mM APAP alone and 10 mM APAP combined with 100 μM oroxyloside for 24 h. ELISA, TUNEL assay, qRT-PCR et al. were used to assess the effect of oroxyloside on ameliorating APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Western bolt and immunohistochemistry were used in the signaling pathway analysis.

RESULTS

Oroxyloside administration significantly decreased the accumulations of CYP2E1, CYP1A2, IL-6, IL-1β, ALT and AST induced by APAP in vivo. In addition, oroxyloside inhibited the APAP-induced JNK related apoptosis by enhancing the antioxidant defenses, reversing ER-stress and keeping the mito-balance of liver cells in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, oroxyloside protected the liver cells from necroptosis by affecting JNK pathway.

CONCLUSION

Oroxyloside acted as a protective agent against APAP-induced liver injury through inhibiting JNK-related apoptosis and necroptosis.

Retention mechanism of pH-peak-focusing in countercurrent chromatographic separation of baicalin and wogonoside from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

An efficient and target-oriented pH-peak-focusing countercurrent chromatographic method was established for large-scale separation of baicalin and wogonoside from the crude exact of traditional Chinese medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. An optimized two-phase solvent system composed of n-butanol-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (1:4:0.5:5, v/v) was selected. Trifluoroacetic acid (10 mmol/L) was added to the upper organic phase, used as the stationary phase. One liter of the aqueous lower phase was used as the mobile phase for 0-350 min, and then 10 mmol/L ammonia was added to remaining 1 L of the aqueous lower phase and used as the mobile phase for 350-600 min. In total, 493.2 mg of baicalin with 98.6% purity and 88.6 mg of wogonoside with 98.9% purity were obtained from 1.0 g of crude exact of S. baicalensis by countercurrent chromatography in a single run. The acid dissociation constant (pKa) and oil-water partition coefficient values of two components were measured to better understand the mechanism of separation. Results showed that pH-peak-focusing countercurrent chromatography with a polar solvent system added with trifluoroacetic acid could be an efficient method for large-scale isolation of organic acids, which are difficult to separate with conventional countercurrent chromatography due to their poor solubility in non-polar solvents.

Enhancement of anti-acne effect of Scutellaria baicalensis extract by fermentation with symbiotic fungus Penicillium decumbens

Inflammatory responses stimulated by Propionibacterium acnes have been shown to be major etiological factors in the pathogenesis of acne. Scutellaria baicalensis, a popular traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, primary component analysis and primary effective component analysis were conducted. The results showed that wogonin (1.15 mg/g S. baicalensis extract) possessed better anti-acne effects than wogonoside (8.71 mg/g S. baicalensis extract) in inhibiting the up-regulation of IL-1β and IL-8 level caused by P. acnes via inactivation of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. To enhance the anti-acne effects of S. baicalensis extract, an environmentally friendly and healthy plant fermentation strategy was used to efficiently convert glycoside-type constituents into bioactive aglycone. S. baicalensis extract was fermented by symbiotic fungus Penicillium decumbens f3-1 to transform wogonoside into wogonin with a conversion rate of 91.0% after 4 days. Fermented S. baicalensis extract (FSE) showed higher potential anti-acne effects than non-fermented S. baicalensis extract (NSE) by inhibiting the up-regulation of IL-1β and IL-8. Thus, P. decumbens-fermented S. baicalensis Extract may be used for developing new anti-acne cosmetic ingredients.

5-HT1A receptor-mediated attenuation of heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia by chrysin in mice with experimental mononeuropathy

BACKGROUND

Persistent neuropathic pain poses a health problem, for which effective therapy or antidote is in dire need. This work aimed to investigate the pain-relieving effect of chrysin, a natural flavonoid with monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity, in an experimental model of neuropathic pain and elucidate mechanism(s).

METHODS

Chronic constriction injury (CCI) was produced by loose ligation of sciatic nerve in mice. The pain-related behaviors were examined using von Frey test and Hargreaves test. The serotonin-related mechanisms were investigated by serotonin depletion with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) and antagonist tests in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

Repeated treatment of CCI mice with chrysin (orally, two times per day for 2 weeks) ameliorated heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in a dose-dependent fashion (3-30 mg/kg). The chrysin-triggered pain relief seems serotonergically dependent, since its antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic actions were abolished by chemical depletion of serotonin by PCPA, whereas potentiated by 5-hydroxytryptophan (a precursor of 5-HT). Consistently, chrysin-treated neuropathic mice showed enhanced levels of spinal monoamines especially 5-HT, with depressed monoamine oxidase activity. Moreover, chrysin-evoked pain relief was preferentially counteracted by 5-HT_1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 delivered systematically or spinally. In vitro, chrysin (0.1-10 nM) increased the maximum effect (Emax, shown as stimulation of [³⁵S] GTPγS binding) of 8-OH-DPAT, a 5-HT_1A agonist. Beneficially, chrysin was able to correct comorbid behavioral symptoms of depression and anxiety evoked by neuropathic pain, without causing hypertensive crisis (known as 'cheese reaction').

CONCLUSION

These findings confirm the antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic efficacies of chrysin, with spinal 5-HT_1A receptors being critically engaged.

Efficacy and safety of YinQiSanHuang-antiviral decoction in chronic hepatitis B: study protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial

Introduction

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a global public health problem. Antiviral therapy is the primary treatment. Studies have shown that a combined therapy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and conventional antiviral drugs has better efficacy than conventional antiviral for treatment of CHB. YinQiSanHuang-antiviral decoction (YQSH) is a TCM compound preparation that has shown an effect on anti-hepatitis B virus and on slowing progression of hepatitis B-related liver diseases. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of YQSH combined with entecavir and its preventive effect on hepatitis B cirrhosis, we designed this randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. The objective is that the combination of YinQiSanHuang-antiviral decoction with entecavir will reduce the annual incidence of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis to 1%.

Methods

This is a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial involving five hospitals. A total of 802 patients are randomly allocated to two groups: the YQSH group (n = 401) or the placebo group (n = 401). The YQSH group receives YQSH with entecavir; the placebo group receives granules of placebo with entecavir. Patients receive treatment for 52 weeks and then are followed up for 52 ± 2 weeks. The primary outcome measure is the annual incidence of cirrhosis. The secondary outcome measures are hepatitis B virus DNA negative rate, hepatitis B surface antigen negative rate, hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion rate, liver function (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase , gamma-glutamyl transferase , alkaline phosphatase , serum albumin, and total bilirubin), spleen thickness, evaluation scores of patients’ clinical symptoms, and safety assessment. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after treatment.

Discussion

Combination therapy could become a trend for treatment of CHB, and this trial expects to provide credible clinical evidence for the future combination of TCM and conventional antiviral drugs for the treatment of CHB.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900021521. Registered on 25 February 2019.

Can network pharmacology identify the anti-virus and anti- inflammatory activities of Shuanghuanglian oral liquid used in Chinese medicine for respiratory tract infection?

Introduction

Shuanghuanglian (SHL) oral liquid is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine preparation administered for respiratory tract infections in China. However, the underlying pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aims to determine the potential pharmacological mechanisms of SHL oral liquid based on network pharmacology.

Methods

A network pharmacology-based strategy including collection and analysis of putative compounds and target genes, network construction, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, identification of key compounds and target genes, and molecule docking was performed in this study.

Results

A total of 82 bioactive compounds and 226 putative target genes of SHL oral liquid were collected. Of note, 28 hub target genes including 4 major hub target genes: estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), nuclear receptor coactivator 2 (NCOA2), nuclear receptor coactivator 1 (NCOA1), androgen receptor (AR) and 5 key compounds (quercetin, luteolin, baicalein, kaempferol and wogonin) were identified based on network analysis. The hub target genes mainly enriched in pathways including PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, human cytomegalovirus infection, and human papillomavirus infection, which could be the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of SHL oral liquid for treating diseases. Moreover, the key compounds had great molecule docking binding affinity with the major hub target genes.

Conclusion

Using network pharmacology analysis, SHL oral liquid was found to contain anti-virus, anti-inflammatory, and “multi-compounds and multi-targets” with therapeutic actions. These findings may provide a valuable direction for further clinical application and research.

An untargeted metabolomics approach to investigate the wine-processed mechanism of Scutellariae radix in acute lung injury

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Scutellariae radix (SR) is one of the most popular traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). Crude SR (CSR) and wine-processed SR (WSR) are the two most common commercial specifications. According to the theories of TCM, wine-processing increases the inclination and direction of SR's actions, thereby strengthening its efficacy in clearing the upper-energizer lung damp heat. The pharmacological mechanism-related research on WSR for the treatment of lung disease is limited and needs to be expanded.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this report was to identify the relevant biological pathways by assessing changes in plasma metabolites between CSR and WSR in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) model, and thus, revealed the potential mechanism of wine processing in SR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats with LPS-induced ALI were treated with CSR and WSR. The contents of inflammatory cytokines and histopathological examination were determined to explore the effects of CSR and WSR. Next, the metabolic profiling of rat plasma samples was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Then, principal component analysis (PCA) were used to provide an overview for all of the groups and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was utilized to maximize the discrimination and present the differences in the metabolite between all of the groups.

RESULTS

WSR exhibited a more remarkable effect on improving ALI than CSR by reducing the levels of inflammatory factors, including nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). On the basis of UPLC-QTOF-MS technology, an unequal curative effect was revealed by nontargeting metabolomics. Sixteen biomarkers were discovered in the plasma of LPS-induced rats. Pathway analysis indicated that CSR acted on ALI by regulating the abnormal sphingolipid metabolism pathways; however, an WSR-mediated cure of ALI was linked primarily to reversing the abnormality of retinol metabolism pathways and tryptophan metabolism pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

This report examined the underlying wine-processing mechanism of SR from the perspective of plasma metabolites. In addition, this work provided a novel and valuable insight into interpretation of the processing mechanisms of TCM in a holistic way.

Role of Baicalin and Liver X Receptor Alpha in the Formation of Cholesterol Gallstones in Mice

This study was aimed at investigating the effect of baicalin on experimental cholesterol gallstones in mice. The mouse gallstone model was induced by feeding with a lithogenic diet, and cholesterol stones were found in the gallbladder. The lithogenic diet caused elevation of triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein concentrations and descent of high-density lipoprotein concentration in serum. Hyperplasia and inflammatory infiltration were observed in the gallbladder wall of lithogenic diet-fed mice. We also found the increase of cholesterol content and the decrease of bile acid in bile. Real-time PCR and western blot results demonstrated that the expression levels of two enzymes (cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7a1) and sterol 12α-hydroxylase (CYP8b1)) to catalyze the synthesis of bile acid from cholesterol were decreased and that two cholesterol transporters (ATP-binding cassette transporter G5/G8 (ABCG5/8)) were increased in the liver of lithogenic diet-fed mice. The lithogenic diet also led to enhanced activity of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in serum; increased concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-6, and malondialdehyde; and decreased superoxide dismutase activity in the liver, suggesting inflammatory and oxidative stress. In addition, liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) was increased in the liver. After gavage of baicalin, the lithogenic diet-induced gallstones, hyperlipidemia, gallbladder hyperplasia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in liver and cholesterol metabolism disorders were all alleviated to some degree. The expression of LXRα in the liver was inhibited by baicalin. In addition, the LXRα agonist T0901317 aggravated lithogenic diet-induced harmful symptoms in mice, including the increase of gallstone formation, hyperlipidemia, hepatic injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress. In conclusion, we demonstrated that baicalin played a protective role in a lithogenic diet-induced gallstone mouse model, which may be mediated by inhibition of LXRα activity. These findings may provide novel insights for prevention and therapy of gallstones in the clinic.

Potential Antidepressant Effects of Scutellaria baicalensis, Hericium erinaceus and Rhodiola rosea

Recent studies focused on the pharmacology and feasibility of herbal compounds as a potential strategy to target a variety of human diseases ranging from metabolic to brain disorders. Accordingly, bioactive ingredients which are found within a variety of herbal compounds are reported to produce both neuroprotective and psychotropic activities which may help to combat mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and cognitive alterations. In the present manuscript, we focus on three herbs which appear effective in mitigating anxiety or depression with favourable risk-benefit profiles, namely Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis), Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus) and Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea). These three traditional folk medicinal herbs target the main biochemical events that are implicated in mental disorders, mimicking, to some extent, the mechanisms of action of conventional antidepressants and mood stabilizers with a wide margin of tolerability. In detail, they rescue alterations in neurotransmitter and neuro-endocrine systems, stimulate neurogenesis and the synthesis of neurotrophic factors, and they counteract oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation. Albeit the encouraging results that emerge from both experimental and clinical evidence, further studies are needed to confirm and better understand the mental-health promoting, and specifically, the antidepressant effects of these herbs.

A systematic analysis of natural α-glucosidase inhibitors from flavonoids of Radix scutellariae using ultrafiltration UPLC-TripleTOF-MS/MS and network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Flavonoids from plant medicines are supposed to be viable alternatives for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) as less toxicity and side effects. Radix scutellariae (RS) is a widely used traditional medicine in Asia. It has shown great potential in the research of T2D. However, the pharmacological actions remain obscured due to the complex chemical nature of plant medicines.

METHODS

In the present study, a systematic method combining ultrafiltration UPLC-TripleTOF-MS/MS and network pharmacology was developed to screen α-glucosidase inhibitors from flavonoids of RS, and explore the underlying mechanism for the treatment of T2D.

RESULTS

The n-butanol part of ethanol extract from RS showed a strong α-glucosidase inhibition activity (90.55%, IC50 0.551 mg/mL) against positive control acarbose (90.59%, IC50 1.079 mg/mL). A total of 32 kinds of flavonoids were identified from the extract, and their ESI-MS/MS behaviors were elucidated. Thirteen compounds were screened as α-glucosidase inhibitors, including viscidulin III, 2',3,5,6',7-pentahydroxyflavanone, and so on. A compound-target-pathway (CTP) network was constructed by integrating these α-glucosidase inhibitors, target proteins, and related pathways. This network exhibited an uneven distribution and approximate scale-free property. Chrysin (k = 87), 5,8,2'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (k = 21) and wogonin (k = 20) were selected as the main active constituents with much higher degree values. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) weighted network was built for target proteins of these α-glucosidase inhibitors and drug targets of T2D. PPARG (Cd = 0.165, Cb = 0.232, Cc = 0.401), ACACB (Cd = 0.155, Cb = 0.184, Cc = 0.318), NFKB1 (Cd = 0.233, Cb = 0.161, Cc = 0.431), and PGH2 (Cd = 0.194, Cb = 0.157, Cc = 0.427) exhibited as key targets with the highest scores of centrality indices. Furthermore, a core subnetwork was extracted from the CTP and PPI weighted network. Type II diabetes mellitus (hsa04930) and PPAR signaling pathway (hsa03320) were confirmed as the critical pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

These results improved current understanding of natural flavonoids on the treatment of T2D. The combination of ultrafiltration UPLC-TripleTOF-MS/MS and network pharmacology provides a novel strategy for the research of plant medicines and complex diseases.