Baicalein: A review of its anti-cancer effects and mechanisms in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Baicalein attenuates oxidative damage in mice haematopoietic cells through regulation of PDGFRβ

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) plays a crucial role in murine haematopoiesis. Baicalein (BAI), a naturally occurring flavonoid, can alleviate disease damage through anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. However, whether BAI attenuates oxidative damage in murine haematopoietic cells by PDGFRβ remains unexplored. In this study, we utilized a tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced BaF3 cell injury model and an ionising radiation (IR)-induced mice injury model to investigate the impact of the presence or absence of PDGFRβ on the pharmacological effects of BAI. In addition, the BAI-PDGFRβ interaction was characterized by molecular docking and dynamics simulations. The results show that a specific concentration of BAI led to increased cell viability, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, upregulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) expression, and its downstream target genes heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H Quinone Dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), and activated protein kinase B (AKT) pathway in cells expressing PDGFRβ plasmid and experiencing damage. Similarly, BAI elevated lineage-Sca1+cKIT+ (LSK) cell proportion, promoted haematopoietic restoration, enhanced NRF2-mediated antioxidant response in PDGFRβ+/+ mice. However, despite BAI usage, PDGFRβ knockout mice (PDGFRβ-/-) showed lower LSK proportion and less antioxidant capacity than the total body irradiation (TBI) group. Furthermore, we demonstrated an interaction between BAI and PDGFRβ at the molecular level. Collectively, our results indicate that BAI attenuates oxidative stress injury and helps promote haematopoietic cell recovery through regulation of PDGFRβ.

Curcumin and Baicalin Co-Loaded Nanoliposomes for Synergistic Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Currently, the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) mainly relies on traditional chemotherapeutic drugs; however, most of them have limited therapeutic effects and high toxicity. Some natural products with good therapeutic efficacy and low toxicity and side effects are limited in clinical application due to their low solubility and bioavailability. In this study, a nanoliposome drug-carrying system (Lip-Cur/Ba) was developed for the co-delivery of curcumin (Cur) and baicalin (Ba) using the thin-film hydration method. In vitro experiments demonstrated that Lip-Cur/Ba had a strong killing effect on A549 cells, and the inhibitory effect of Lip-Cur/Ba on A549 cells was enhanced by 67.8% and 51.9% relative to that of the single-carrier system, which could reduce the use of a single-drug dose (Lip-Cur and Lip-Ba), delay the release rate of the drug and improve the bioavailability. In vivo experiments demonstrated the antitumor activity of Lip-Cur/Ba by intravitreal injection in BALB/c mice, and there were no obvious toxic side effects. This study provides a new idea for curcumin and baicalin to be used in the co-treatment of NSCLC by constructing a new vector.

Baicalein targets STMN1 to inhibit the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma via regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

BACKGROUNDS

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common malignancy in the head and neck. Baicalein has been reported to exert the anticancer effects on various cancers. In this study, our aim was to explore the function of baicalein in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and further investigate the potential underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 assay, EdU assay, sphere formation assay, flow cytometry, and transwell invasion assay were conducted to determine cell proliferation, stemness, apoptosis, and invasion, respectively. Western blot was performed to examine the protein levels of PCNA, MMP9, STMN1, β-catenin, and Wnt3A. The mRNA level of STMN1 was assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Xenograft tumor model was carried out to evaluate the effects of baicalein on tumor growth in vivo. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was used to detect the levels of PCNA, MMP9, and STMN1 in tumor tissues from mice.

RESULTS

Baicalein significantly induced cell apoptosis and impeded cell proliferation, invasion, and stemness of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. STMN1 was highly expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and baicalein could directly downregulate STMN1 expression. STMN1 knockdown hampered the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Moreover, the effects of baicalein on cell proliferation, stemness, invasion, and apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells were harbored by STMN1 overexpression. Baicalein regulated STMN1 to inhibit the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. SKL2001, an agonist of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, could reverse the effects of STMN1 knockdown on the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In addition, baicalein markedly impeded tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Baicalein regulated the STMN1/Wnt/β-catenin pathway to restrain the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Network-based pharmacology-based research on the effect and mechanism of the Hedyotis diffusa-Scutellaria Barbata pair in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

The Hedyotis diffusa-Scutellaria officinalis pair (HD-SB) has therapeutic effects on a variety of cancers. Our study was to explore the mechanism of HD-SB in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 217 active ingredients of HD-SB and 1196 HCC-related targets were reserved from the TCMSP and the SwissTarget Prediction database, and we got 63 intersection targets from GeneCards. We used a Venn diagram, and Cytoscape found that the three core ingredients were quercetin, luteolin, and baicalein. The PPI analysis showed that the core targets were TP53, CDK2, XPO1, and APP. Molecular docking results showed that these core ingredients had good binding potential with the core targets. HD-SB acts simultaneously on various HCC-related signaling pathways, including proteoglycans in cancer and the P53 signaling pathway. In vitro experiments confirmed that HD-SB can inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation by increasing TP53 and APP levels and decreasing XPO1 and CDK2 levels. This study analyzed active ingredients, core targets, and central mechanisms of HD-SB in the treatment of HCC. It reveals the role of HD-SB in targeting the P53 signaling pathway in the treatment of HCC. We hope that our research could provide a new perspective to the therapy of HCC and find new anticancer drugs.

A comprehensive investigation on the interaction between jaceosidin, baicalein and lipoxygenase: Multi-spectroscopic analysis and computational study

Lipoxygenase (LOX) has the harmful effect of accelerating lipid oxidation, and polyphenols have the inhibitory effect on lipoxygenase. However, there were rare researches investigated on the interactions between polyphenols and LOX. In this study, the binding mechanisms between polyphenols (Jaceosidin-JSD and baicalein-BCL) and LOX were investigated by multi-spectroscopic analysis and computational study. Both JSD and BCL binding to LOX resulted in static fluorescence quenching, and the complexes of JSD-LOX and BCL-LOX were built at a molar ratio of 1:1, respectively. The binding constants of LOX-JSD (72.18 × 105 L/mol at 298 K) and LOX-BCL (12.43 × 105 L/mol at 298 K) indicated that LOX had stronger binding affinity to JSD compared to BCL. Compared with BCL-LOX, the JSD-LOX system formed more hydrogen bonds which ensured a stronger bond between JSD and LOX. The studies in molecular dynamics also demonstrated that the JSD-LOX complex is more stable, and the addition of JSD is more conducive to the complex formation. The current study provides some new insights for the study on the inhibition of lipid oxidation and affords a new strategy for the discovery of novel food preservatives.

Baicalin and baicalein in modulating tumor microenvironment for cancer treatment: A comprehensive review with future perspectives

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. The burden of cancer incidence and mortality is increasing rapidly. New approaches to cancer prevention and treatment are urgently needed. Natural products are reliable and powerful sources for anticancer drug discovery. Baicalin and baicalein, two major flavones isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, a multi-purpose traditional medicinal plant in China, exhibit anticancer activities against multiple cancers. Of note, these phytochemicals exhibit extremely low toxicity to normal cells. Besides their cytotoxic and cytostatic activities toward diverse tumor cells, recent studies demonstrated that baicalin and baicalein modulate a variety of tumor stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is essential for tumorigenesis, cancer progression and metastasis. In this review, we summarize the therapeutic potential and the mechanism of action of baicalin and baicalein in the regulation of tumor microenvironmental immune cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and ECM that reshape the TME and cancer signaling, leading to inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, progression, and metastasis. In addition, we discuss the biotransformation pathways of baicalin and baicalein, related therapeutic challenges and the future research directions to improve their bioavailability and clinical anticancer applications. Recent advances of baicalin and baicalein warrant their continued study as important natural ways for cancer interception and therapy.

Mechanism Research of PZD Inhibiting Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration based on Network Pharmacology

BACKGROUND

A classic Chinese medicine decoction, Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit.-Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ban-Xia and Sheng-Jiang in Chinese) decoction (PZD), has shown significant therapeutic effects on lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore and elucidate the mechanism of action of PZD on lung cancer using network pharmacology methods.

METHODS

Active compounds were selected according to the ADME parameters recorded in the TCMSP database. Potential pathways related to genes were identified through GO and KEGG analysis. The compoundtarget network was constructed by using Cytoscape 3.7.1 software, and the core common targets were obtained by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Batch molecular docking of small molecule compounds and target proteins was carried out by using the AutoDock Vina program. Different concentrations of PZD water extracts (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg/mL) were used on lung cancer cells. Moreover, MTT and Transwell experiments were conducted to validate the prominent therapeutic effects of PZD on lung cancer cell H1299.

RESULTS

A total of 381 components in PZD were screened, of which 16 were selected as bioactive compounds. The compound-target network consisting of 16 compounds and 79 common core targets was constructed. MTT experiment showed that the PZD extract could inhibit the cell proliferation of NCI-H1299 cells, and the IC50 was calculated as 97.34 ± 6.14 μg/mL. Transwell and wound-healing experiments showed that the PZD could significantly decrease cell migration and invasion at concentrations of 80 and 160 μg/mL, respectively. The in vitro experiments confirmed that PZD had significant therapeutic effects on lung cancer cells, mainly through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

PZD could inhibit the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of NCI-H1299 cells partially through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings suggested that PZD might be a potential treatment strategy for lung cancer patients.

Ferroptosis: action and mechanism of chemical/drug-induced liver injury

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is characterized by hepatocyte injury, cholestasis injury, and mixed injury. The liver transplantation is required for serious clinical outcomes such as acute liver failure. Current studies have found that many mechanisms were involved in DILI, such as mitochondrial oxidative stress, apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, etc. Ferroptosis occurs when hepatocytes die from iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and plays a key role in DILI. After entry into the liver, where some drugs or chemicals are metabolized, they convert into hepatotoxic substances, consume reduced glutathione (GSH), and decrease the reductive capacity of GSH-dependent GPX4, leading to redox imbalance in hepatocytes and increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation level, leading to the undermining of hepatocytes; some drugs facilitated the autophagy of ferritin, orchestrating the increased ion level and ferroptosis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of ferroptosis in chemical- or drug-induced liver injury (chemical/DILI) and how natural products inhibit ferroptosis to prevent chemical/DILI.

Oxidative stress in pituitary neuroendocrine tumors: Affecting the tumor microenvironment and becoming a new target for pituitary neuroendocrine tumor therapy

Pituitary adenomas (PAs), or pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs), are commonly found in the anterior pituitary gland. Although the majority of PitNETs are benign and stable, several tumors have malignant characteristics. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the process of tumorigenesis and is composed of several types of cells. Various cells in the TME are significantly affected by oxidative stress. It has been reported that immunotherapeutic strategies have good effects in several cancers. However, the clinical potential of immunotherapies in PitNETs has not yet been fully discussed. Oxidative stress can regulate PitNET cells and immune cells in the TME, thus affecting the immune status of the TME of PitNETs. Therefore, modulation of oxidative stress-regulated immune cells using a combination of several agents and the immune system to suppress PitNETs is a promising therapeutic direction. In this review, we systematically analyzed the oxidative stress process within PitNET cells and various immune cells to elucidate the potential value of immunotherapy.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Their Natural Flavonoid Compounds in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: A Review

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common types of cancer in women with a high mortality rate, and the treatment of OC is prone to high recurrence rates and side effects. Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) is a herbal medicine with good anti-cancer activity, and several studies have shown that SB and its flavonoids have some anti-OC properties. This paper elucidated the common pathogenesis of OC, including cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation, cell invasion and metastasis, apoptosis and autophagy, drug resistance and angiogenesis. The mechanisms of SB and its flavonoids, wogonin, baicalein, baicalin, Oroxylin A, and scutellarein, in the treatment of OC, are revealed, such as wogonin inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, inhibits invasion and metastasis, and increases the cytotoxicity of the drug. Baicalein also inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression etc. Analyzing their advantages and disadvantages in treating OC provides a new perspective on the role of SB and its flavonoids in OC treatment. It serves as a resource for future OC research and development.

Isolation and identification of the new baicalin target protein to develop flavonoid structure-based therapeutic agents

Proteins are vital constituents of all living organisms. As many therapeutic agents alter the activity of functional proteins, identifying functional target proteins of small bioactive molecules isessential for the rational design of stronger medicines. Flavonoids with antioxidant, anti-allergy, and anti-inflammatory effects are expected to have preventive effects for several diseases closely related to oxidation and inflammation, including heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and eye diseases. Therefore, identifying the proteins involved in the pharmacological actions of flavonoids, and designing a flavonoid structure-based medicine that strongly and specifically inhibits flavonoid target proteins, could aid the development of more effective medicines for treating heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and ocular diseases with few side effects. To isolate the flavonoid target protein, we conducted a novel affinity chromatography in a column wherein baicalin, a representative flavonoid, was attached to Affi-Gel 102. Through affinity chromatography and nano LC-MS/MS, we identified GAPDH as a flavonoid target protein. Then, we performed fluorescence quenching and an enzyme inhibition assay to experimentally confirmbaicalin's binding affinity for, and inhibition of, GAPDH. We also conducted in silico docking simulations to visualize the binding modes of baicalin and the newly identified flavonoid target protein, GAPDH. From the results of this study, it was considered that one of the reasons why baicalin exhibits the effects on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases is that it inhibits the activity of GAPDH. In summary, we showed that Affi-Gel102 could quickly and accurately isolate the target protein for bioactive small molecules, without the need for isotopic labeling or a fluorescent probe. By using the method presented here, it was possible to easily isolate the target protein of a medicine containing a carboxylic acid.

Therapeutic mechanism of baicalein in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritoneal fibrosis based on network pharmacology and experimental validation

Baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone) is a traditional Chinese medicine with multiple pharmacological and biological activities including anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. However, whether baicalein has a therapeutic impact on peritoneal fibrosis has not been reported yet. In the present study, network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches were performed to evaluate the role and the potential mechanisms of baicalein in attenuating peritoneal dialysis-associated peritoneal fibrosis. The results were validated in both animal models and the cultured human mesothelial cell line. Nine intersection genes among baicalein targets and the human peritoneum RNA-seq dataset including four encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis samples and four controls were predicted by network analysis. Among them, MMP2, BAX, ADORA3, HIF1A, PIM1, CA12, and ALOX5 exhibited higher expression in the peritoneum with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis compared with those in the control, which might be crucial targets of baicalein against peritoneal fibrosis. Furthermore, KEGG and GO enrichment analyses suggested that baicalein played an anti-peritoneal fibrosis role through the regulating cell proliferation, inflammatory response, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. Moreover, molecular docking analysis revealed a strong potential binding between baicalein and MMP2, which was consistent with the predictive results. Importantly, using a mouse model of peritoneal fibrosis by intraperitoneally injecting 4.25% glucose dialysate, we found that baicalein treatment significantly attenuated peritoneal fibrosis, as evident by decreased collagen deposition, protein expression of α-SMA and fibronectin, and peritoneal thickness, at least, by reducing the expression of MMP2, suggesting that baicalein may have therapeutic potential in suppressing peritoneal dialysis-related fibrosis.

Advances in the Anti-Tumor Activity of Biflavonoids in Selaginella

Despite the many strategies employed to slow the spread of cancer, the development of new anti-tumor drugs and the minimization of side effects have been major research hotspots in the anti-tumor field. Natural drugs are a huge treasure trove of drug development, and they have been widely used in the clinic as anti-tumor drugs. Selaginella species in the family Selaginellaceae are widely distributed worldwide, and they have been well-documented in clinical practice for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Biflavonoids are the main active ingredients in Selaginella, and they have good biological and anti-tumor activities, which warrant extensive research. The promise of biflavonoids from Selaginella (SFB) in the field of cancer therapy is being realized thanks to new research that offers insights into the multi-targeting therapeutic mechanisms and key signaling pathways. The pharmacological effects of SFB against various cancers in vitro and in vivo are reviewed in this review. In addition, the types and characteristics of biflavonoid structures are described in detail; we also provide a brief summary of the efforts to develop drug delivery systems or combinations to enhance the bioavailability of SFB monomers. In conclusion, SFB species have great potential to be developed as adjuvant or even primary therapeutic agents for cancer, with promising applications.

Natural products in digestive tract tumors metabolism: Functional and application prospects

Digestive tract diseases are presently the hotspot of clinical diagnosis and treatment, and the incidence of digestive tract tumor is increasing annually. Surgery remains the main therapeutic schedule for digestive tract tumor. Though benefits were brought by neoadjuvant chemotherapy, a part of patients lose the chance of surgery because of late detection or inappropriate intervention. Therefore, the treatment of inoperable patients has become an urgent need. At the same time, tumor metabolism is an extremely complex and diverse process. Natural products are confirmed effective to inhibit the development of tumors in vitro and in vitro. There are many kinds of natural products and their functions remain not clear. However, some natural products such as polyphenols have been proven to have definite anti-cancer effects, and some terpenoids have definite anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-tumor, and other effects. Therefore, the anti-tumor characteristics of natural products should arouse our high attention. Although there are many obstacles to study the activities of natural products in tumor, including the difficulty in detection or distinguishing each component due to their low levels in tumor tissue, etc., the emergence of highly sensitive and locatable spatial metabolomics make the research and application of natural products a big step forward. In this review, natural products such as phenols, terpenoids and biotinoids were summarized to further discuss the development and therapeutic properties of natural metabolites on digestive tract tumors.

Therapy-resistant breast cancer in focus: Clinically relevant mitigation by flavonoids targeting cancer stem cells

Significant limitations of the reactive medical approach in breast cancer management are clearly reflected by alarming statistics recorded worldwide. According to the WHO updates, breast malignancies become the leading cancer type. Further, the portion of premenopausal breast cancer cases is permanently increasing and demonstrates particularly aggressive patterns and poor outcomes exemplified by young patients with triple-negative breast cancer that lacks targeted therapy. Accumulating studies suggest the crucial role of stem cells in tumour biology, high metastatic activity, and therapy resistance of aggressive breast cancer. Therefore, targeting breast cancer stem cells is a promising treatment approach in secondary and tertiary breast cancer care. To this end, naturally occurring substances demonstrate high potential to target cancer stem cells which, however, require in-depth analysis to identify effective anti-cancer agents for cost-effective breast cancer management. The current article highlights the properties of flavonoids particularly relevant for targeting breast cancer stem cells to mitigate therapy resistance. The proposed approach is conformed with the principles of 3P medicine by applying predictive diagnostics, patient stratification and treatments tailored to the individualised patient profile. Expected impacts are very high, namely, to overcome limitations of reactive medical services improving individual outcomes and the healthcare economy in breast cancer management. Relevant clinical applications are exemplified in the paper.

Baicalein as Promising Anticancer Agent: A Comprehensive Analysis on Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives

Despite significant therapeutic advancements for cancer, an atrocious global burden (for example, health and economic) and radio- and chemo-resistance limit their effectiveness and result in unfavorable health consequences. Natural compounds are generally considered safer than synthetic drugs, and their use in cancer treatment alone, or in combination with conventional therapies, is increasingly becoming accepted. Interesting outcomes from pre-clinical trials using Baicalein in combination with conventional medicines have been reported, and some of them have also undergone clinical trials in later stages. As a result, we investigated the prospects of Baicalein, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the stems of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Oroxylum indicum Kurz, which targets a wide range of molecular changes that are involved in cancer development. In other words, this review is primarily driven by the findings from studies of Baicalein therapy in several cancer cell populations based on promising pre-clinical research. The modifications of numerous signal transduction mechanisms and transcriptional agents have been highlighted as the major players for Baicalein’s anti-malignant properties at the micro level. These include AKT serine/threonine protein kinase B (AKT) as well as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, matrix metalloproteinases-2 & 9 (MMP-2 & 9), Wnt/-catenin, Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), NF-κB, Caspase-3/8/9, Smad4, Notch 1/Hes, Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap 1), Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Src/Id1, ROS signaling, miR 183/ezrin, and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling cascades. The promise of Baicalein as an anti-inflammatory to anti-apoptotic/anti-angiogenic/anti-metastatic medicinal element for treating various malignancies and its capability to inhibit malignant stem cells, evidence of synergistic effects, and design of nanomedicine-based drugs are altogether well supported by the data presented in this review study.

Baicalein suppresses HER2-mediated malignant transformation of HER2-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells by downregulating HER2 gene expression

The upregulation of the HER2 oncogene is associated with a variety of human cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. Baicalein is reported to have anti-tumor activity, but the molecular mechanism of this effect in HER2-positive cancer cells has not been studied. In this study, our data showed that baicalein can inhibit the proliferation and transformation potential of ovarian cancer cells overexpressing HER2. Baicalein treatment caused a dose-dependent inhibition of HER2 gene expression at the transcriptional level. Baicalein acted on ovarian cancer cells overexpressing HER2 to downregulate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway downstream of HER2 and inhibit the expression or activity of downstream targets, such as VEGF and cyclin D1 and MMP2. Oral administration of baicalein supplemented with a pharmaceutical excipient significantly inhibited the growth of HER2-overexpressing ovarian SKOV-3 cancer xenografts in mice. These results suggest that downregulation of HER2 gene expression by baicalein at the transcriptional level contributes to inhibit the in vitro and in vivo proliferation and HER2-mediated malignant transformation of HER2-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells.

Some Nanocarrier's Properties and Chemical Interaction Mechanisms with Flavones

Flavones such as 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (tropoflavin), 5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone (baicalein), 3',4',5,6-tetrahydroxyflavone (luteolin), 3,3',4',5,5',7-hexahydroxyflavone (myricetin), 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone (apigenin), and 5,7-dihydroxyflavone (chrysin) are important both for their presence in natural products and for their pharmacological applications. However, due to their chemical characteristics and their metabolic processes, they have low solubility and low bioavailability. Knowledge about the physicochemical properties of nanocarriers and the possible mechanisms of covalent and non-covalent interaction between nanoparticles (NPs) and drugs is essential for the design of nanocarriers to improve the bioavailability of molecules with pharmacological potential, such as tropoflavin, baicalein, luteolin, myricetin, apigenin, and chrysin. The parameters of characterization of some NPs of these flavones, such as size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and % release/time, utilized in biomedical applications and the covalent and non-covalent interactions existing between the polymeric NPs and the drug were analyzed. Similarly, the presence of functional groups in the functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as well as the effect of pH on the % adsorption of flavonoids on functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH), were analyzed. Non-covalent interaction mechanisms between polymeric NPs and flavones, and covalent interaction mechanisms that could exist between the NPs and the amino and hydroxyl functional groups, are proposed.

Biologically active compounds in Scutellaria baicalensis L. callus extract: Phytochemical analysis and isolation

Plant cells and tissue cultures are sources of secondary plant metabolites. Substances produced by callus cultures can expand the raw material base in pharmacy and food production. However, isolating biologically active substances from medicinal plants is a labor- and time-consuming process. As a result, new and efficient technological processes adapted for extraction from callus cultures are in high demand, and new algorithms of isolation and purification of biologically active substances remain a relevant task. This research featured callus cultures of Scutellaria baicalensis. The procedures for phytochemical analysis and isolation of biologically active substances involved such physicochemical research methods as high-performance chromatography (HPLC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), UV spectrometry, and IR spectrometry. The high performance liquid chromatography confirmed the presence of flavonoids represented by baicalein (5,6,7-trioxyflavone), baicalin (baicalein 7-O-glucuronide), scutellarein (5,6,7,4-tetraoxyflavone), scutellarin (7-O-glucuronide scutellarein), vagonin, and oroxylin. The spectral analyses also detected skutebaicalin. The highest total content of diterpene belonged to the samples extracted with 70% ethanol at 70°C. The content of diterpene was 0.09 mg/cm3 in terms of betulin. The biologically active substances were isolated from the callus extracts of S. baicalensis with a recovery rate of ≥ 80%. The purification scheme made it possible to obtain highly-pure individual biologically active compounds: trans-cinnamic acid, baicalin, and oroxylin A had a purity of ≥ 95%; baicalein had a purity of ≥ 97%; scutellarin and luteolin reached ≥ 96%. The new technological extraction method made it possible to obtain extracts from S. baicalensis callus cultures, which were tested for the component composition. The developed isolation algorithm and purification scheme yielded biologically active substances with a purification degree of ≥ 95%.

Therapeutic Properties of Flavonoids in Treatment of Cancer through Autophagic Modulation: A Systematic Review

Cancers have high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Current anticancer therapies have demonstrated specific signaling pathways as a target in the involvement of carcinogenesis. Autophagy is a quality control system for proteins and plays a fundamental role in cancer carcinogenesis, exerting an anticarcinogenic role in normal cells and can inhibit the transformation of malignant cells. Therefore, drugs aimed at autophagy can function as antitumor agents. Flavonoids are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites commonly found in plants and, consequently, consumed in diets. In this review, the systematic search strategy was used, which included the search for descriptors "flavonoids" AND "mTOR pathway" AND "cancer" AND "autophagy", in the electronic databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus, from January 2011 to January 2021. The current literature demonstrates that flavonoids have anticarcinogenic properties, including inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, autophagy, necrosis, cell cycle arrest, senescence, impaired cell migration, invasion, tumor angiogenesis and reduced resistance to multiple drugs in tumor cells. We demonstrate the available evidence on the roles of flavonoids and autophagy in cancer progression and inhibition. (Registration No. CRD42021243071 at PROSPERO).

Harmine suppresses the malignant phenotypes and PI3K activity in breast cancer

Breast cancer remains a serious threaten to the women's health, discovery of potent treatment would help to improve the outcomes of breast cancer patients. Harmine extracted from Peganum harmala L , has been reported to exert tumor suppressive activity in several malignancies. Our objective was to demonstrate the effects of harmine on the malignant phenotypes of breast cancer cells. Breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, SKBR3, and MCF-7) and human normal breast cell line MCF-10A were employed in the present study. The MTT and colony formation assays were applied to the detection of cell viability and proliferation. Wound healing and transwell assays were performed to evaluate the alterations of cell migration and invasion after harmine treatment. Flow cytometry was applied to assess the effect of harmine in inducing cell apoptosis. Furthermore, western blotting assay was used to detect the biomarkers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway. The tumorigenesis ability was detected by subcutaneous implantation. Harmine dose-dependently suppressed the viability and proliferative capacity of breast cancer cells. Flow cytometry showed that harmine induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, harmine effectively inhibited the migration and invasion abilities of breast cancer cells. Western blotting indicated harmine significantly promoted E-cadherin and PTEN expression, while suppressed N-cadherin, vimentin, PI3K, p-mTOR, and AKT levels. Interfering the PTEN expression by siRNA partly rescued the activity of PI3K signaling pathway. Moreover, harmine injection also suppressed the tumorigenesis of breast cancer cells. Our results suggested that Hermine could suppress multiple malignant phenotypes and inhibit PI3K signaling, which supports that harmine might be a potential tumor-suppressive natural compound against breast cancer.

Anti-inflammatory potential of baicalein combined with silk fibroin protein in a zebrafish model (Danio rerio)

Baicalein (BA) is a flavonoid with wide-ranging pharmacological activity. However, its biological evaluation is hampered by its low solubility in aqueous medium, making forms of incorporation that improve its solubility necessary. In the present study, BA was combined with a solution of silk fibroin protein (SF), a biomaterial used too as a drug carrier, to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of this combination, in vivo, in an experimental model, zebrafish (Danio rerio). Baicalein-silk fibroin (BASF) improved the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) free radical scavenging rate (95%) in comparison with BA in solution. The acute toxicity study and histopathological analysis in zebrafish showed that BASF has low cytotoxic potential, except for the maxim dose of 2000 mg/kg. The use of BA in combination with SF enhanced the anti-inflammatory effect of flavonoids by inducing inflammatory peritoneal edema through carrageenan and achieved 77.6% inhibition of abdominal edema at a dose of 75 mg/kg. The results showed that the BASF, significantly increases the bioavailability and therapeutic effect of flavonoids and several results observed in this study may help in the development of new drugs.

Identification and high-throughput quantification of baicalein and its metabolites in plasma and urine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. contains varieties of function compounds, and it has been used as traditional drug for centuries. Baicalein is the highest amount of flavonoid found in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi., which exerts various pharmacological activities and might be a promising drug to treat COVID-19.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present work aims to investigate the metabolism of baicalein in humans after oral administration, and study the pharmacokinetics of BA and its seven metabolites in plasma and urine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The metabolism profiling and the identification of baicalein metabolites were performed on HPLC-Q-TOF. Then a column-switching method named MPX™-2 system was applied for the high-throughput quantificationof BA and seven metabolites.

RESULTS

Seven metabolites were identified using HPLC-Q-TOF, including sulfate, glucuronide, glucoside, and methyl-conjugated metabolites. Pharmacokinetic study found that BA was extensively metabolized in vivo, and only 5.65% of the drug remained intact in the circulatory system after single dosing. Baicalein-7-O-sulfate and baicalein-6-O-glucuronide-7-O-glucuronide were the most abundant metabolites. About 7.2% of the drug was excreted through urine and mostly was metabolites.

CONCLUSION

Seven conjugated metabolites were identified in our assay. A high-throughput HPLC-MS/MS method using column switch was established for quantifying BA and its metabolites. The method has good sensitivity and reproducibility, and successfully applied for the clinical pharmacokinetic study of baicalein and identified metabolites. We expect that our results will provide a metabolic and pharmacokinetic foundation for the potential application of baicalein in medicine.

Baicalein Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest Associated with ROS Generation and CHK2 Activation in Highly Invasive Human Ovarian Cancer Cells

Ovarian cancer is a lethal gynecological cancer because drug resistance often results in treatment failure. The CHK2, a tumor suppressor, is considered to be an important molecular target in ovarian cancer due to its role in DNA repair. Dysfunctional CHK2 impairs DNA damage-induced checkpoints, reduces apoptosis, and confers resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation therapy in ovarian cancer cells. This provides a basis for finding new effective agents targeting CHK2 upregulation or activation to treat or prevent the progression of advanced ovarian cancer. Here, the results show that baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone) treatment inhibits the growth of highly invasive ovarian cancer cells, and that baicalein-induced growth inhibition is mediated by the cell cycle arrest in the G₂/M phase. Baicalein-induced G₂/M phase arrest is associated with an increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, DNA damage, and CHK2 upregulation and activation. Thus, baicalein modulates the expression of DNA damage response proteins and G₂/M phase regulatory molecules. Blockade of CHK2 activation by CHK2 inhibitors protects cells from baicalein-mediated G₂/M cell cycle arrest. All the results suggest that baicalein has another novel growth inhibitory effect on highly invasive ovarian cancer cells, which is partly related to G₂/M cell cycle arrest through the ROS-mediated DNA breakage damage and CHK2 activation. Collectively, our findings provide a molecular basis for the potential of baicalein as an adjuvant therapeutic agent in the treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer.

Study on the mechanism of action of Scutellaria barbata on hepatocellular carcinoma based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers with the characteristics of invasion and high mortality. Current forms of prevention remain severe. Scutellaria barbata is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine treatment of various tumors. This study explored the mechanism of Scutellaria barbata in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by network pharmacology and bioinformatics. Methods: The active ingredients of Scutellaria barbata and potential targets for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma were collected by network pharmacology. The protein interaction network was constructed to screen the core targets, and the association between the core targets and diseases was further verified by bioinformatics methods. Finally, the active ingredients corresponding to the targets closely related to the disease were screened for AMDE characteristics analysis. Molecular docking of drug-like ingredients with corresponding targets was performed. We used CCK-8 kit to determine the effect of active ingredients on cell proliferation. Results: 29 candidate active ingredients and 461 related targets of Scutellaria barbata were screened. A total of 8238 potential therapeutic targets for hepatocellular carcinoma were indentified. Finally, 373 potential targets for the treatment of HCC were obtained. The active ingredients: wogonin, Rhamnazin, eriodictyol, quercetin, baicalein, and luteolin, etc. The core targets were CDK1, CDK4, SRC, and E2F1. A total of 3056 GO enrichment entries were obtained, and 180 enrichment results were obtained by KEGG pathway analysis. Genes were mainly enriched in PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, apoptosis pathway, and hepatocellular carcinoma pathway. Molecular docking results showed that the screened compounds had strong binding ability with the corresponding target proteins. CCK8 assays showed that Rhamnazin and Luteolin suppressed the proliferation of HCC cells significantly compared with controls. Conclusion: This study revealed that the mechanism of Scutellaria barbata in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma may be that the active ingredients inhibit the expression of core genes and block the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway to inhibit the proliferation, and migration and induce apoptosis of cancer cells.

Natural Compounds as Integrative Therapy for Liver Protection against Inflammatory and Carcinogenic Mechanisms: From Induction to Molecular Biology Advancement

The liver is exposed to several harmful substances that bear the potential to cause excessive liver damage ranging from hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to extreme cases of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver ailments have been effectively treated from very old times with Chinese medicinal herbal formulations and later also applied by controlled trials in Japan. However, these traditional practices have been hardly well characterized in the past till in the last decades when more qualified studies have been carried out. Modern advances have given rise to specific molecular targets which are specifically good candidates for affecting the intricate mechanisms that play a role at the molecular level. These therapeutic regimens that mainly affect the progression of the disease by inhibiting the gene expression levels or by blocking essential molecular pathways or releasing cytokines may prove to play a vital role in minimizing the tissue damage. This review, therefore, tries to throw light upon the variation in the therapies for the treatment of benign and malignant liver disease from ancient times to the current date. Nonetheless, clinical research exploring the effectiveness of herbal medicines in the treatment of benign chronic liver diseases as well as prevention and treatment of HCC is still warranted.

miR-3,178 contributes to the therapeutic action of baicalein against hepatocellular carcinoma cells via modulating HDAC10

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of hepatic malignancies with high mortality and poor prognosis. Baicalein, one of the major and bioactive flavonoids isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which is reported to have anti-proliferation effect in varying cancers, including HCC, whose underlying molecular mechanism is still largely unknown. In this study, we found that baicalein significantly inhibited proliferation and colony formation, blocked cell cycle, and promoted apoptosis in HCC cells MHCC-97H and SMMC-7721 in vitro and reduced tumor volume and weight in vivo. Increased microRNA (miR)-3,178 levels and decreased histone deacetylase 10 (HDAC10) expression were found in cells treated with baicalein and in patients' HCC tissues. HDAC10 was identified as a target gene of miR-3,178 by luciferase activity and western blot. Both baicalein treatment and overexpression of miR-3,178 could downregulate HDAC10 protein expression and inactivated AKT, MDM2/p53/Bcl2/Bax and FoxO3α/p27/CDK2/Cyclin E1 signal pathways. Not only that, knockdown of miR-3,178 could partly abolish the effects of baicalein and the restoration of HDAC10 could abated miR-3,178-mediated role in HCC cells. Collectively, baicalein inhibits cell viability, blocks cell cycle, and induces apoptosis in HCC cells by regulating the miR-3,178/HDAC10 pathway. This finding indicated that baicalein might be promising for treatment of HCC.

The Multifaceted Role of Baicalein in Cancer Management through Modulation of Cell Signalling Pathways

The roles of medicinal plants or their purified bioactive compounds have attracted attention in the field of health sciences due to their low toxicity and minimal side effects. Baicalein is an active polyphenolic compound, isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis, and plays a significant role in the management of different diseases. Epidemiologic studies have proven that there is an inverse association between baicalein consumption and disease severity. Baicalein is known to display anticancer activity through the inhibition of inflammation and cell proliferation. Additionally, the anticancer potential of baicalein is chiefly mediated through the modulation of various cell-signaling pathways, such as the induction of apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of angiogenesis, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and PI3K/Akt pathways, as well as the regulation of other molecular targets. Therefore, the current review aimed to explore the role of baicalein in different types of cancer along with mechanisms of action. Besides this, the synergistic effects with other anti-cancerous drugs and the nano-formulation based delivery of baicalein have also been discussed.

Advances in Anti-Cancer Activities of Flavonoids in Scutellariae radix: Perspectives on Mechanism

Despite encouraging progresses in the development of novel therapies, cancer remains the dominant cause of disease-related mortality and has become a leading economic and healthcare burden worldwide. Scutellariae radix (SR, Huangqin in Chinese) is a common herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, with a long history in treating a series of symptoms resulting from cancer, like dysregulated immune response and metabolic abnormalities. As major bioactive ingredients extracted from SR, flavonoids, including baicalein, wogonin, along with their glycosides (baicalin and wogonoside), represent promising pharmacological and anti-tumor activities and deserve extensive research attention. Emerging evidence has made great strides in elucidating the multi-targeting therapeutic mechanisms and key signaling pathways underlying the efficacious potential of flavonoids derived from SR in the field of cancer treatment. In this current review, we aim to summarize the pharmacological actions of flavonoids against various cancers in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, we also make a brief summarization of the endeavor in developing a drug delivery system or structural modification to enhance the bioavailability and biological activities of flavonoid monomers. Taken together, flavonoid components in SR have great potential to be developed as adjuvant or even primary therapies for the clinical management of cancers and have a promising prospect.

Inflammasome-targeting natural compounds in inflammatory bowel disease: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, seriously affects human health and causes substantial social and economic burden. The pathogenesis of IBD is still not fully elucidated, whereas recent studies have demonstrated that its development is associated with the dysfunction of intestinal immune system. Accumulating evidence have proven that inflammasomes such as NLRP3 and NLRP6 play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Thus, regulating the activation of inflammasomes have been considered to be a promising strategy in IBD treatment. A number of recent studies have provided evidence that blocking inflammasome related cytokine IL-1β can benefit a group of IBD patients with overactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome. However, therapies for targeting inflammasomes with high efficacy and safety are rare. Traditional medical practice provides numerous medical compounds that may have a role in treatment of various human diseases including IBD. Recent studies demonstrated that numerous medicinal herb derived compounds can efficiently prevent colon inflammation in animal models by targeting inflammasomes. Herein, we summarize the main findings of these studies focusing on the effects of traditional medicine derived compounds on colitis treatment and the underlying mechanisms in regulating the inflammasomes. On this basis, we provide a perspective for future studies regarding strategies to improve the efficacy, specificity and safety of available herbal compounds, and to discover new compounds using the emerging new technologies, which will improve our understanding about the roles and mechanisms of herbal compounds in the regulation of inflammasomes and treatment of IBD.

Effects of Origanum vulgare and Scutellaria baicalensis on the Physiological Activity and Biochemical Parameters of the Blood in Rats on a High-Fat Diet

The pharmacological effects of medicinal plants play a primary role in the mild correction of body weight in humans and animals, reducing the accumulation of fat in their bodies during a state of obesity. Origanum vulgare L. and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi are widely used as food additives and medicinal plants, but their comprehensive physiological evaluation in model animals in a state of obesity has not been carried out. In a 30-day laboratory experiment on male rats which had developed obesity through a hypercaloric diet, the effects of adding the dry crushed grass O. vulgare or dry crushed roots of S. baicalensis to their feed was evaluated. During the experiment, the rats fed with O. vulgare increased in body weight to only 105.5% of their initial weight, while the body weight of the control group increased to 111.5%, and that of animals fed on S. baicalensis increased to 124.0% of their initial body weight. The average daily increase in the rats’ body weight when O. vulgare was added to their diet decreased to 205 mg/day, and when S. baicalensis was added, on the contrary, it increased to 1417 mg/day, compared to 700 mg/day among the control group. Under the influence of O. vulgare, the lipid metabolism of the rats normalized: the atherogenic index decreased to 33.7%, compared with the values of the control group, due to an increase in the concentration of high-density lipoproteins from cholesterol. The concentration of triglycerides decreased, and the concentration of glucose decreased. The roots of S. baicalensis being added into the diet of rats increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase and decreased the concentration of urea. The atherogenic index also decreased (by up to 35.5% in the control group) and the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased, while the concentrations of triglycerides and glucose decreased. The physical activity of the rats showed a slight tendency to decrease when both O. vulgare and S. baicalensis were added to their diet. Both plant species contributed to a decrease in the emotional status of animals, which was most pronounced when the O. vulgare grass was added to the feed. The results of the study demonstrate the potential of the use of O. vulgare and S. baicalensis as herbal supplementations for the correction of hyperlipidemia and type-2 diabetes mellitus in overweight patients.

Two Novel Flavonoids with Lipid-Lowering Activity from Yi Medicine Shekaqi

Yi medicine Shekaqi is the most attractive traditional ethnic medicine due to its significant and diverse pharmacological activities. Two novel flavonoids, including 5,2'-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-7-decyloxyflavone and tenaxin II-7-O-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl acid butyl ester, along with six known flavonoids, were isolated from Yi medicine Shekaqi. Their structures were elucidated based on the analysis of their comprehensive spectral data. The in vitro lipid-lowering activities of the eight compounds showed that all the compounds significantly inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced increase in the total cholesterol (TC) level, while compounds 1, 4, 6, 7, and 8 significantly inhibited the LPS-induced increase in the triglyceride (TG) level.

Regulation of Cell Signaling Pathways and Non-Coding RNAs by Baicalein in Different Cancers

Landmark discoveries in molecular oncology have provided a wide-angle overview of the heterogenous and therapeutically challenging nature of cancer. The power of modern ‘omics’ technologies has enabled researchers to deeply and comprehensively characterize molecular mechanisms underlying cellular functions. Interestingly, high-throughput technologies have opened new horizons for the design and scientific fool-proof evaluation of the pharmacological properties of targeted chemical compounds to tactfully control the activities of the oncogenic protein networks. Groundbreaking discoveries have galvanized the expansion of the repertoire of available pharmacopoeia to therapeutically target a myriad of deregulated oncogenic pathways. Natural product research has undergone substantial broadening, and many of the drugs which constitute the backbone of modern pharmaceuticals have been derived from the natural cornucopia. Baicalein has gradually gained attention because of its unique ability to target different oncogenic signal transduction cascades in various cancers. We have partitioned this review into different sub-sections to provide a broader snapshot of the oncogenic pathways regulated by baicalein. In this review, we summarize baicalein-mediated targeting of WNT/β-catenin, AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT, MAPK, and NOTCH pathways. We also critically analyze how baicalein regulates non-coding RNAs (microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs) in different cancers. Finally, we conceptually interpret baicalein-mediated inhibition of primary and secondary growths in xenografted mice.

Bioactive components of Banxia Xiexin Decoction for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases based on flavor-oriented analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXD) was first recorded in a Chinese medical classic, Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Miscellaneous Diseases, which was written in the Eastern Han dynasty of China. This ancient prescription consists of seven kinds of Chinese herbal medicine, namely, Pinellia ternata, Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix scutellariae, Rhizoma Zingiberis, Ginseng, Jujube, and Radix Glycyrrhizaepreparata. In clinic practice, its original application in China mainly has focused on the treatment of chronic gastritis for several hundred years. BXD is also effective in treating other gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs) in modern medical application. Despite available literature support and clinical experience, the treatment mechanisms or their relationships with the bioactive compounds in BXD responsible for its pharmacological actions, still need further explorations in more diversified channels. According to the analysis based on the five-flavor theory of TCM, BXD is traditionally viewed as the most representative prescription for pungent-dispersion, bitter-purgation and sweet-tonification. Consequently, based on the flavor-oriented analysis, the compositive herbs in BXD can be divided into three flavor groups, namely, the pungent, bitter, and sweet groups, each of which has specific active ingredients that are possibly relevant to GID treatment.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper summarized recent literatures on BXD and its bioactive components used in GID treatment, and provided the pharmacological or chemical basis for the further exploration of the ancient prescription and the relative components.

METHOD

ology: Relevant literature was collected from various electronic databases such as Pubmed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Citations were based on peer-reviewed articles published in English or Chinese during the last decade.

RESULTS

Multiple components were found in the pungent, bitter, and sweet groups in BXD. The corresponding bioactive components include gingerol, shogaol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol in the pungent group; berberine, palmatine, coptisine, baicalein, and baicalin in the bitter group; and ginsenosides, polysaccharides, liquiritin, and glycyrrhetinic acid in the sweet group. These components have been found directly or indirectly responsible for the remarkable effects of BXD on GID.

CONCLUSION

This review provided some valuable reference to further clarify BXD treatment for GID and their possible material basis, based on the perspective of the flavor-oriented analysis.

The interaction between phenylboronic acid derivatives and active ingredients with diphenol structure of traditional Chinese medicine

Many active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine with important pharmacological effects always have glycol or diphenol structure, which lays a foundation for the combination with phenylboronic acid (PBA) derivatives to form cyclic boronic esters compounds. Herein, four important pharmacological active ingredients, namely baicalein, baicalin, gallic acid and protocatechuic acid, were chosen to study the interaction with PBA derivatives. Five PBA derivatives of 3-aminophenylboronic acid monohydrate (APBA), 3-acrylaminophenylboronic acid (AAPBA), poly(3-acrylaminophenylboronic acid) (PAAPBA), poly([poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate-block-3-acrylaminophenylboronic acid]) (PEbPB), and poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate-random-3-acrylaminophenylboronic acid] (PErPB) were used. The interactions between five PBA derivatives and four active ingredients were explored by fluorescent spectrophotometer using the alizarin red (ARS) method. The fluorescent intensity of PBA derivative-ARS-active ingredient mixture was decreasing with the increasing concentrations of active ingredients. In comparison, the fluorescent intensity of PAAPBA, PEbPB, and PErPB showed an obviously decrease after active ingredients were added, while the fluorescent intensity of APBA and AAPBA showed a gradually decrease after active ingredients were added. These results indicated a stronger interaction between PBA polymers and active ingredients than that of APBA and AAPBA. Simultaneously, PEbPB and PErPB could enhance cellular uptake of baicalin in A549 cells. This research provided new strategies for improving the bioavailability and water solubility, extending the circulation time, and wider application of the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and therapy of diseases.

Baicalein Inhibits the SMYD2/RPS7 Signaling Pathway to Inhibit the Occurrence and Metastasis of Lung Cancer

Objective

This study investigated the potential effects of Baicalein on proliferation, migration, and invasion of human lung cancer A549 and NCI-H1299 cells and its possible mechanisms.

Methods

The effects of Baicalein on proliferation and invasion of A549 and NCI-H1299 cells were detected by MTT assay, clonogenesis assay, and Transwell assay. A subcutaneous transplanted tumor model was used to evaluate the effects of SMYD2 and Baicalein on the proliferation of lung cancer. Baicalein inhibited in SMYD2/RPS7 signaling pathway in tumor cells was also detected by qRT-PCR.

Results

Baicalein significantly inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells. In addition, Baicalein significantly reduced the rate of A549 and NCI-H1299 cell invasion and clone formation in a dose-dependent manner. Animal experiments showed that both SMYD2 and Baicalein treatments could inhibit lung cancer tumor proliferation. Mechanism studies suggest that Baicalein inhibits the SMYD2/RPS7 signaling pathway.

Conclusion

These results indicated that Baicalein could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LUNG cancer A549 and NCI-H1299 cells. Baicalein inhibits cell proliferation by downregulating the SMYD2/RPS7 signaling pathway.

Therapeutic Targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF-1) in Cancer: Cutting Gordian Knot of Cancer Cell Metabolism

Metabolic alterations are one of the hallmarks of cancer, which has recently gained great attention. Increased glucose absorption and lactate secretion in cancer cells are characterized by the Warburg effect, which is caused by the metabolic changes in the tumor tissue. Cancer cells switch from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to aerobic glycolysis due to changes in glucose degradation mechanisms, a process known as “metabolic reprogramming”. As a result, proteins involved in mediating the altered metabolic pathways identified in cancer cells pose novel therapeutic targets. Hypoxic tumor microenvironment (HTM) is anticipated to trigger and promote metabolic alterations, oncogene activation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and drug resistance, all of which are hallmarks of aggressive cancer behaviour. Angiogenesis, erythropoiesis, glycolysis regulation, glucose transport, acidosis regulators have all been orchestrated through the activation and stability of a transcription factor termed hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), hence altering crucial Warburg effect activities. Therefore, targeting HIF-1 as a cancer therapy seems like an extremely rational approach as it is directly involved in the shift of cancer tissue. In this mini-review, we present a brief overview of the function of HIF-1 in hypoxic glycolysis with a particular focus on novel therapeutic strategies currently available.

Baicalein mediates the anti-tumor activity in Osteosarcoma through lncRNA-NEF driven Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulatory axis

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common type of malignant bone tumor in adolescents with high risk of metastasis. However, the clinical management still remains unsatisfactory. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely considered as an alternative treatment, and their extracts have proved to possess great potential for drug discovery. Baicalein (BA), the active pharmaceutical ingredient of rhizoma coptidis, was proved to have anti-tumor properties in OS, but the mechanism remains poorly understood.

Methods

The potential anti-cancer effects on cell growth, cell cycle, apoptosis and migration were examined in OS cells. Moreover, the lncRNA-Neighboring Enhancer of FOXA2 (lncRNA-NEF) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling were detected by qPCR and Western blotting assays. The in vivo effect of GA on tumor growth was investigated using a xenograft mice model.

Results

In the present study, BA was found to significantly suppress tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. And it was also found to inhibit the invasion and metastasis as well. As for the mechanism investigation, lncRNA-NEF was obviously upregulated by BA in OS cells, and thus induced the inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Moreover, lncRNA-NEF knockdown partially reversed the BA-induced anti-cancer activities; and successfully compensated the suppressive effect on Wnt/β-catenin signaling. We therefore suggested that BA induced the inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling through promoting lncRNA-NEF expression.

Conclusions

In conclude, our results demonstrated that BA suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo through an lncRNA-NEF driven Wnt/β-catenin regulatory axis, in which lncRNA-NEF was upregulated by BA, and thus induced the inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

The Translational potential of this article

The findings derived from this study validates the anti-cancer activity of BA in OS and provides a novel underlying mechanism, which suggest that BA may be a potential candidate to develop the effective drug for OS patients.

Targeting Type I Collagen for Cancer Treatment

Collagen is the most abundant protein in animals. Interactions between tumor cells and collagen influence every step of tumor development. Type I collagen is the main fibrillar collagen in the extracellular matrix and is frequently up-regulated during tumorigenesis. The binding of type I collagen to its receptors on tumor cells promotes tumor cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastasis. Type I collagen also regulates the efficacy of tumor therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Furthermore, type I collagen fragments are diagnostic markers of metastatic tumors and have prognostic value. Inhibition of type I collagen synthesis has been reported to have anti-tumor effects in animal models. However, collagen has also been shown to possess anti-tumor activity. Therefore, the roles that type I collagen plays in tumor biology are complex and tumor type-dependent. In this review, we discuss the expression and regulation of synthesis of type I collagen, as well as the role up-regulated type I collagen plays in various stages of cancer progression. We also discuss the role of collagen in tumor therapy. Finally, we highlight several recent approaches targeting type I collagen for cancer treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Material for Multiple Myeloma: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by clonal expansion of plasma cells in bone marrow, leading to the overproduction of monoclonal immunoglobulins. The clinical manifestations resulting from monoclonal proteins and malignant cells include signs of end-organ damage, such as hypercalcemia, renal failure, anemia, and bone lesions. Despite improvement in the survival of MM patients with use of myeloma-targeted and immunomodulatory therapies, MM remains an incurable disease. Moreover, patients with relapsed or refractory MM show poor survival outcomes. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of traditional Chinese medicinal materials (TCMMs) for management of a wide spectrum of diseases. The bioactive ingredients derived from TCMMs hold great potential for the development of anticancer drugs. Here we summarize the evidence of the pharmacological effects of the active components in TCMMs on MM, including curcumin, resveratrol, baicalein, berberine, bufalin, cinobufagin, gambogic acid, ginsenoside, icariin, daidzin, formononetin, polysaccharides extracts from Hedyotis difus, and scutellarein. Available evidence indicates that the anti-MM effects of these bioactive ingredients are mediated via regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle, osteogenic differentiation, and drug resistance. In the future, the underlying mechanisms of the anti-MM effects of these components should be further investigated. Large-scale and well-designed clinical trials are also required to validate the efficacy of these bioactive constituents for MM.

Targets and Potential Mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis in Treatment of Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Bioinformatics Analysis

Objective

To analyze the target and potential mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) in the treatment of HCC based on bioinformatics, so as to provide suggestions for the diagnosis, treatment, and drug development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

The regulated gene targets of SB were screened by gene expression pattern clustering and differential analysis of gene expression data of HepG2 cells treated with SB at 0 h, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. The module genes related to HCC were identified by the weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). KEGG and GO enrichment were used to analyze the molecular function and structure of the module, and GSEA was used to evaluate the different functional pathways between normal people and patients with HCC. Then, the module gene was used for univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis to build a prognostic model. The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was used to analyze the core genes regulated by SB (CGRSB) of the module, and the survival curve revealed the CGRSB impact on patient survival. The CIBERSORT algorithm combined with correlation analysis to explore the relationship between CGRSB and immune infiltration. Finally, the single-cell sequencing technique was used to analyze the distribution of CGRSB at the cellular level.

Results

SB could regulate 903 genes, of which 234 were related to the occurrence of HCC. The prognosis model constructed by these genes has a good effect in evaluating the survival of patients. KEGG and GO enrichment analysis showed that the regulation of SB on HCC mainly focused on some cell proliferation, apoptosis, and immune-related functions. GSEA enrichment analysis showed that these functions are related to the occurrence of HCC. A total of 24 CGRSB were obtained after screening, of which 13 were significantly related to survival, and most of them were unfavorable factors for patient survival. The correlation analysis of gene expression showed that most of CGRSB was significantly correlated with T cells, macrophages, and other functions. The results of single-cell analysis showed that the distribution of CGRSB in macrophages was the most.

Conclusion

SB has high credibility in the treatment of HCC, such as CDK2, AURKB, RRM2, CENPE, ESR1, and PRIM2. These targets can be used as potential biomarkers for clinical diagnosis. The research also shows that the p53 signal pathway, MAPK signal pathway, apoptosis pathway, T cell receptor pathway, and macrophage-mediated tumor immunity play the most important role in the mechanism of SB in treating HCC.

The pharmaceutical excipient PEG400 affect the absorption of baicalein in Caco-2 monolayer model by interacting with UDP-glucuronosyltransferases and efflux transport proteins

The bioavailability of drugs is often related to intestinal metabolism and transport mechanisms. In previous studies, pharmaceutical excipients were recognized as inert substances in clinical safety evaluations. However, a large number of studies have shown that pharmaceutical excipients regulate the metabolism and transport of drugs in the body and improve the bioavailability. The pharmaceutical excipient polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) as a good solubilizer and surfactant has the potential to improve the bioavailability of drugs. The combined action of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) and efflux transport proteins is responsible for the intestinal disposition and poor bioavailability of baicalein. Our aim is to study the effect of PEG400 on the absorption of baicalein on the Caco-2 monolayer, and confirm the interaction of PEG400 with UGTs (UGT1A8 and UGT1A9) and efflux transports. We initially found that baicalein in the Caco-2 monolayer would be metabolized into glucuronide conjugates BG and B6G under the action of UGT1A8 and UGT1A9 on the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and then mainly excreted to different sides by acting of MRP and BCRP. The addition of PEG400 significantly accelerated the metabolism of B in Caco-2 cells and increased the penetration of BG and B6G. Furthermore, PEG400 also significantly decreased the efflux ratio of BG and B6G, which was the evidence of the interaction with the efflux transporters. In the in vitro intestinal microsome regeneration system, low concentration PEG400 decreased the K_m value of UGT1A8 and UGT1A9 (key enzymes that mediate the production of BG and B6G); high concentration PEG400 enhanced the V_max value of UGT1A8 and UGT1A9. In conclusion, our results determined that PEG400 interacted with some UGTs and efflux transporters, which were the main factors affecting the absorption of baicalein.

A Mixture of Baicalein, Wogonin, and Oroxylin-A Inhibits EMT in the A549 Cell Line via the PI3K/AKT-TWIST1-Glycolysis Pathway

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a worldwide disease with a high morbidity and mortality rate, which is most derived from its metastasis. Some studies show that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process promotes lung cancer cell migration and invasion, leading to NSCLC metastasis. Total flavonoid aglycones extract (TFAE) isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis was reported to inhibit tumor growth and induce apoptosis. In this study, we found that baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin-A were the active compounds of TFAE. After reconstructing with these three compounds [baicalein (65.8%), wogonin (21.2%), and oroxylin-A (13.0%)], the reconstructed TFAE (reTFAE) inhibited the EMT process of A549 cells. Then, bioinformatic technology was employed to elucidate the potential pharmacodynamic mechanism network of reTFAE. We identified the relationship between reTFAE and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, with TWIST1 as the key protein. LY294002, the inhibitor of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and knock-down TWIST1 could significantly enhance the efficacy of reTFAE, with increasing expression of epithelial markers and decreasing expression of mesenchymal markers in A549 cells at the same time. Furthermore, stable isotope dimethyl-labeled proteomics technology was conducted to complement the follow-up mechanism that the EMT-inhibition process may be realized through the glycolysis pathway. In conclusion, we claim that TWIST1-targeted flavonoids could provide a new strategy to inhibit EMT progress for the treatment of NSCLC.

A Preliminary Inquiry Into the Potential Mechanism of Huang-Lian-Jie-Du Decoction in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis via Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du decoction (HLJDD) has been widely applied to treat inflammation-associated diseases for thousands of years in China. However, the concrete molecular mechanism of HLJDD in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. In this work, network pharmacology and molecular docking were applied to preliminarily analyze the potential active ingredients, drug targets, and related pathways of HLJDD on treating RA. A total of 102 active compounds with corresponding 189 targets were identified from HLJDD, and 41 common targets were further identified by intersecting with RA-related targets. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to screen the biological pathways associated with RA. Ten hub targets were further identified through constructing the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of common targets, which were mainly enriched in the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Furthermore, a complex botanical drugs-ingredients-hub-targets-disease network was successfully constructed. The molecular docking results exhibited that these vital ingredients of HLJDD had a stable binding to the hub targets. Among these ingredients, quercetin (MOL000098) was the most common molecule with stable binding to all the targets, and PTGS2 was considered the most important target with multiple regulations by the most active ingredients. In vitro, we successfully validated the inhibitory role of quercetin in the cellular proliferation of human RA fibroblast-like synoviocyte cell line (MH7A cells). These findings indicated that the potential mechanisms of HLJDD for RA treatment might be attributed to inhibiting the immune-inflammatory response, reducing the release of chemokines, and alleviating the destruction of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the synovial compartment.

Baicalein Inhibits Metastatic Phenotypes in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells via a Focal Adhesion Protein Integrin β8

Baicalein, a prominent flavonoid from the indigenous herbal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, possesses broad-spectrum anticancer activities. However, the biological effects of baicalein on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its underlying mechanisms remain unclarified. Thus, in this study, we examined the effects of baicalein on NPC cell lines and investigated the corresponding molecular mechanism through transcriptome profiling. In the study, four NPC cell lines were treated with various concentrations of baicalein at different time points. Cellular toxicity and proliferative inhibition of baicalein were examined by MTT assay. Metastatic phenotypes of NPC cells were investigated by wound healing, transwell, and adhesion assays. Additionally, microarray experiments were performed to determine the cellular pathways affected by baicalein. The expression and localization of the integrin β8 were validated by western immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Our results revealed that baicalein exhibited its cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activity on all tested NPC cell lines. It also significantly inhibited metastatic phenotypes at sub-lethal concentrations. Transcriptomic analysis showed that baicalein significantly affected the focal adhesion pathway in NPC, where integrin β8 was greatly diminished. Thus, the present study results suggested that baicalein inhibits the metastatic phenotypes of NPC cells by modulating integrin β8, one of the major molecules in a focal adhesion pathway.