Research progress on baicalin in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown special therapeutic effects for HCC. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi has antipyretic and hepatoprotective effects, and baicalin, the main active compound of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been widely reported for the treatment of HCC in recent years. The mechanisms of baicalin for inhibition of liver cancer growth involve inducing cancer cell apoptosis and differentiation, inhibiting protein synthesis and cancer cell migration, interfering with intercellular communication, reversing tumor drug resistance and so on. In addition, baicalin combined with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs or other anti-cancer TCMs has been demonstrated to exert good synergistic activity for HCC treatment. Based on the in vivo absorption characteristics and molecular structure of baicalin, researchers have developed solid lipid nanoparticles and metal-ion complexes of baicalin, which provides new insights into the use of baicalin in targeted therapy and improves anti-cancer effects. In this paper, we will review the recent advances in research of baicalin in the treatment of baicalin.