Baicalin attenuated metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation via the p62-Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway in db/db mice

Therapeutic potential of Baicalin against experimental obsessive compulsive disorder: Evidence from CSF, blood plasma, and brain analysis

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a complex neuropsychiatric condition characterized by recurrent obsessions and compulsions, significantly impacting an individual's functionality and quality of life. This study aimed to explore the neuroprotective and therapeutic potential of baicalin, a flavonoid with known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neurotropic properties, in an animal model of OCD induced by 8-OH-DPAT (8HPAT). The research utilized in silico docking studies and in vivo experiments to assess baicalin's interactions with key intracellular targets: SIRT-1, Nrf2, HO-1, and PPAR-gamma, and its effects on neurochemical, neurobehavioral, and histopathological parameters. In silico results indicated a strong binding affinity of baicalin for SIRT-1, Nrf2, HO-1, and PPAR-gamma, suggesting potential regulatory roles in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways. In-vivo findings demonstrated that baicalin, administered at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, significantly alleviated OCD-like behaviours, including excessive lever pressing, marble burying, and compulsive checking. Baicalin treatment normalized serotonin and dopamine levels and reduced glutamate levels in the brain, restoring neurotransmitter balance. Furthermore, baicalin decreased inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta), improved complete blood count profile, and gross morphological and histopathological alterations by restoring neuronal density and cellular integrity in affected brain regions. Combining baicalin with fluvoxamine (10 mg/kg) showed synergistic effects, further enhancing neuroprotective outcomes. These results suggest that baicalin holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent for OCD, warranting further clinical investigation to explore its efficacy and underlying mechanisms in human subjects. The findings underscore the importance of targeting intracellular pathways and neurotransmitter systems in developing effective treatments for OCD and related neuropsychiatric disorders.

Baicalin mitigates alcoholic-associated liver disease via SOCS1-driven reprogramming of macrophages

BACKGROUNDS

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a consequence of excessive alcohol consumption, is characterized by high incidence and mortality rates. Presently, there are no effective pharmacological interventions available for the treatment of ALD. Baicalin (BA), a natural flavonoid derived from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis, has exhibited notable hepatoprotective effects. Nevertheless, the mechanisms through which BA influences the interaction between suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and macrophages during hepatic immune development remain insufficiently understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study seeks to examine the regulatory effects of BA on ALD and to elucidate the relationship between SOCS1 and macrophage differentiation. Our experimental methodology involves the novel application of zebrafish as an in vivo model for ALD. To further investigate the underlying mechanisms, we employed gene knockout and overexpression techniques.

RESULTS

The study demonstrates that BA substantially alleviates ALD in both in vivo and in vitro settings by upregulating SOCS1 expression in macrophages. Furthermore, we elucidated the association between SOCS1 and macrophage reprogramming. Specifically, SOCS1 knockdown led to the downregulation of CD86, CD80, and iNOS expression, whereas SOCS1 overexpression enhanced the expression of CD206, CD163, IL-4, and IL-10.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our findings suggest that BA attenuates ALD via the modulation of SOCS1-mediated macrophage reprogramming.

Gut Microbiota and Bile Acid Metabolism in the Mechanism of Ginsenoside Re Against Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism play crucial roles in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Early evidence demonstrates that Ginsenoside Re (Re) possesses pharmacological effects on NAFLD, but its mechanisms of action are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the hepatic protective effects of Re in NAFLD and elucidate relevant mechanisms. The effects of Re treatments (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg) against high-fat diet-induced NAFLD were initially tested on male C57BL/6 mice. Then, a separate mouse group received Re with or without antibiotics to confirm the regulatory role of microbiota in the effect of Re. Finally, another group of mice received fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from the initial experiment of NAFLD mice to further investigate the mechanistic role of gut microbiota. Re significantly improved liver function by reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, injury and hepatocyte steatosis, and inflammation. The liver protection was mediated by the regulation of gut microbiota as evidenced by restored intestinal barrier integrity, normalized Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio, enhanced abundances of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens , and reduced Faecalibaculum rodentium. Following that, Re reduced total and primary bile acids and downregulated bile acid synthesis genes and proteins such as farnesoid X receptor and cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1. The co-administration of antibiotic cocktail counteracted the effect of Re against NAFLD. Further, the results obtained from the FMT animal study confirmed that Re's liver protective effects were at least partly driven by the regulation of gut microbiota. Re modulated bile salt hydrolase-related microbial genera to alter bile acid synthesis pathways, thereby inhibiting NAFLD progression.

Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of Baicalein, Galangin, and Isorhamnetin in Chronic Liver Diseases: A Narrative Review

Chronic liver diseases (CLDs), including fatty liver disease, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, pose significant global health challenges due to the limitedness of therapeutic options. Flavonoids, a class of polyphenolic compounds mainly contained in natural sources and in the foods of the Mediterranean diet, have emerged as potential candidates for liver protection due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic properties. Baicalein, derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, exhibits hepatoprotective effects by attenuating oxidative stress, inhibiting fibrogenesis, and modulating lipid metabolism. Galangin, a flavonoid derived from Alpinia officinarum, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties, while isorhamnetin, a methylated flavonoid found in various fruits and herbs, has been shown to possess hepatoprotective qualities, as it reduces oxidative stress and mitigates inflammation in CLDs. This narrative review highlights the preventive and therapeutic potential of these three flavonoids, emphasizing their role as promising agents for managing CLDs and guiding future research.

Baicalin nanoemulsion mitigates cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity by alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation, and restoring cellular integrity

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, but its clinical utility is limited by side effects affecting different systems and organs, including hepatotoxicity in some cases. Baicalin, a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties, but its low bioavailability limits its therapeutic use. This study aimed to investigate whether a nanoemulsion formulation of baicalin could enhance its efficacy against cisplatin-induced hepatic injury in rats. Rats were orally treated daily with baicalin either in nanoformulation (10 or 20 mg/kg body weight per day) or conventional form (100 mg/kg body weight per day) for 12 days. Cisplatin (10 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally on day six and day twelve to induce hepatic injury. Samples were collected on day thirteen. Serum markers, oxidative stress parameters, inflammatory markers, cellular energy status, histopathology, and other endpoints were evaluated. Results revealed that cisplatin caused elevated serum enzymes, oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, depleted cellular energy levels, and induced severe hepatic histological changes. The baicalin nanoemulsion especially the higher 20 mg/kg dose, significantly ameliorated cisplatin-induced abnormalities across the various parameters. The conventional baicalin suspension also provided protection, albeit to a lesser degree than the nanoemulsion. In conclusion, administering baicalin as a nanoemulsion potentiated its hepatoprotective effects against cisplatin toxicity. The nanoemulsion formulation strategy was proven promising for enhancing baicalin's therapeutic utility.

The Effect of Quercetin on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and the Role of Beclin1, P62, and LC3: An Experimental Study

Background/Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major metabolic disorder with no established pharmacotherapy. Quercetin, a polyphenolic flavonoid, demonstrates potential hepatoprotective effects but has limited bioavailability. This study evaluates the impact of quercetin on NAFLD and assesses the roles of autophagy-related proteins in disease progression. Methods: Forty-seven male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks to induce NAFLD, followed by quercetin treatment for 4 weeks. Mice were divided into baseline, control, and two quercetin groups, receiving low (10 mg/kg) and high (50 mg/kg) doses. Liver histology was scored using the NAFLD Activity Score (NAS). Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were performed to analyze autophagy markers. Results: Quercetin-treated groups showed significant reductions in NAS compared to controls (p = 0.011), mainly in steatosis and steatohepatitis. Immunohistochemistry indicated increased expression of autophagy markers LCA and p62 in quercetin groups. Western blot analysis revealed significant elevations in LC3A in the treated groups, suggesting improved autophagic activity and lipid degradation. Conclusions: Quercetin effectively reduces NAFLD severity and modulates autophagy-related proteins. These findings suggest that quercetin enhances autophagic flux, supporting its therapeutic potential for NAFLD. Additional research is needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms of quercetin and to determine the optimal dosing for clinical application.

Uncovering the protective mechanism of baicalin in treatment of fatty liver based on network pharmacology and cell model of NAFLD

Excessive nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) impair cellular metabolism and will induce fatty liver formation in dairy cows during the periparturient. Baicalin, an active flavonoid, has great potential efficacy in alleviating lipid accumulation and ameliorating the development of fatty liver disease. Nevertheless, its mechanism remains unclear. Here, the potential mechanism of baicalin on system levels was explored using network pharmacology and in vitro experiments. Firstly, the target of baicalin and fatty liver disease was predicted, and then the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. In addition, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) (q-value) pathway enrichment is performed through the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) server. Finally, the results of the network analysis of the in vitro treatment of bovine hepatocytes by NEFA were confirmed. The results showed that 33 relevant targets of baicalin in the treatment of liver fatty were predicted by network pharmacology, and the top 20 relevant pathways were extracted by KEGG database. Baicalin treatment can reduce triglyceride (TAG) content and lipid droplet accumulation in NEFA-treated bovine hepatocytes, and the mechanism is related to inhibiting lipid synthesis and promoting lipid oxidation. The alleviating effect of baicalin on fatty liver may be related to the up-regulation of solute vector family member 4 (SLC2A4), Down-regulated AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) were associated. These results suggested that baicalin may modulate key inflammatory markers, and lipogenesis processes to prevent fatty liver development in dairy cows.

Natural products: A potential immunomodulators against inflammatory-related diseases

The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory-related diseases (IRDs) are increasing worldwide. Current approved treatments for IRDs in the clinic are combat against inhibiting the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Though significant development in the treatment in the IRDs has been achieved, the severe side effects and inefficiency of currently practicing treatments are endless challenge. Drug discovery from natural sources is efficacious over a resurgence and also natural products are leading than the synthetic molecules in both clinical trials and market. The use of natural products against IRDs is a conventional therapeutic approach since it is a reservoir of unique structural chemistry, accessibility and bioactivities with reduced side effects and low toxicity. In this review, we discuss the cause of IRDs, treatment of options for IRDs and the impact and adverse effects of currently practicing clinical drugs. As well, the significant role of natural products against various IRDs, the limitations in the clinical development of natural products and thus pave the way for development of natural products as immunomodulators against IRDs are also discussed.

Protective effects of Huang-Qi-Ge-Gen decoction against diabetic liver injury through regulating PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 pathway and metabolic profiling

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Huang-Qi-Ge-Gen decoction (HGD) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription that has been used for centuries to treat "Xiaoke" (the name of diabetes mellitus in ancient China). However, the ameliorating effects of HGD on diabetic liver injury (DLI) and its mechanisms are not yet fully understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the ameliorative effect of HGD on DLI and explore its material basis and potential hepatoprotective mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A diabetic mice model was induced by feeding a high-fat diet and injecting intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (40 mg kg-1) for five days. After the animals were in confirmed diabetic condition, they were given HGD (3 or 12 g kg-1, i. g.) for 14 weeks. The effectiveness of HGD in treating DLI mice was evaluated by monitoring blood glucose and blood lipid levels, liver function, and pathological conditions. Furthermore, UPLC-MS/MS was used to identify the chemical component profile in HGD and absorption components in HGD-treated plasma. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were performed to predict the potential pathway of HGD intervention in DLI. Then, the results of network pharmacology were validated by examining biochemical parameters and using western blotting. Lastly, urine metabolites were analyzed by metabolomics strategy to explore the effect of HGD on the metabolic profile of DLI mice.

RESULTS

HGD exerted therapeutic potential against the disorders of glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism, liver dysfunction, liver steatosis, and fibrosis in a DLI model mice induced by HFD/STZ. A total of 108 chemical components in HGD and 18 absorption components in HGD-treated plasma were preliminarily identified. Network pharmacology and molecular docking results of the absorbed components in plasma indicated PI3K/AKT as a potential pathway for HGD to intervene in DLI mice. Further experiments verified that HGD markedly reduced liver oxidative stress in DLI mice by modulating the PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway. Moreover, 19 differential metabolites between normal and DLI mice were detected in urine, and seven metabolites could be significantly modulated back by HGD.

CONCLUSIONS

HGD could ameliorate diabetic liver injury by modulating the PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway and urinary metabolic profile.

Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verifications to Discover Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi's Effects on Joint Inflammation, Destruction, and Pain in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, characterized by joint pain and a decline in physiological function. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SB) is potentially effective against osteoarthritis because of its wide range of anti-inflammatory pharmacological activities. This study aimed to identify the mode of action of SB against osteoarthritis using network pharmacology prediction and experimental verification. Networks were constructed to key compounds, hub targets, and pathways essential for SB's effectiveness against osteoarthritis. Additionally, in vivo and in vitro tests were performed, including investigations on weight bearing in hind limbs, the acetic acid-induced writhing response, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, and serum cytokine responses. We identified 15 active compounds and 14 hub targets, supporting the anti-osteoarthritis effects of SB. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated that fluid shear stress, atherosclerosis, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt signaling, and cellular senescence pathways were important. SB showed substantial anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and joint tissue-protective effects against osteoarthritis. Our study shows that SB has the potential value to be further investigated as a candidate material for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the future.

Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking Analysis and Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Scutellaria baicalensis in the Treatment of Liver Fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria Baicalensis (SB), one of the clinical firstline heat-clearing drugs, has obvious symptomatic advantages for hepatic fibrosis with dampness-heat stasis as its syndrome. We aim to predict and validate the potential mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis active ingredients against liver fibrosis more scientifically and effectively.

METHODS

The underlying mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis in inhibiting hepatic fibrosis was studied by applying network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. Expression levels of markers in activated Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSC) after administration of three Scutellaria baicalensis extracts were determined by Western blot and Real-time PCR, respectively, in order to verify the anti-fibrosis effect of the active ingredients Results: There are 164 common targets of drugs and diseases screened and 115 signaling pathways obtained, which were mainly associated with protein phosphorylation, senescence and negative regulation of the apoptotic process. Western blot and Real-time PCR showed that Scutellaria baicalensis extracts could reduce the expression of HSC activation markers, and Oroxylin A had the strongest inhibitory effect on it. Molecular docking results showed that Oroxylin A had high binding activity to target proteins. Molecular dynamics simulation demonstrates promising stability of the Oroxylin A-AKT1 complex over the simulated MD time of 200 ns.

CONCLUSION

Scutellaria baicalensis active ingredients may inhibit HSC proliferation, reduce the generation of pro-inflammatory factors and block the anti-inflammatory effect of inflammatory signal transduction by inducing HSC apoptosis and senescence, thus achieving the effect of anti-fibrosis.

Baicalein alleviates palmitic acid-induced endothelial cell dysfunction via inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress

OBJECTIVE

Endothelial cells play a critical role in maintaining vascular function and kinetic homeostasis, but excessive accumulation of palmitic acid (PA) may lead to endoplasmic reticulum stress and trigger endothelial cell dysfunction. Baicalin (BCL), a natural plant extract, has received widespread attention for its biological activities in anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress. However, the mechanism of BCL on PA-induced endothelial cell dysfunction is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether BCL could inhibit PA-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and thus attenuate endothelial cell dysfunction.

METHODS

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were divided into Control, PA, PA + BCL-10 μM, PA + BCL-20 μM, and PA + BCL-50 μM groups. The PA group was treated with PA (200 μM), while the PA + BCL groups were co-treated with different concentrations of BCL (10 μM, 20 μM, 50 μM) for 24 hours. Cell viability was detected by MTT. Cell migration ability was determined by Transwell assay, apoptosis level by flow cytometry, and tube formation ability by tube formation assay. Finally, the levels of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3) and angiogenesis-related proteins (VEGFA and FGF2) were detected by western blot, MMP-9, as well as the protein levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress biomarkers (GRP78, CHOP, PERK, and ATF4).

RESULTS

The results at the cellular level showed that cell viability, migration ability and tube formation ability of PA-induced HUVECs were significantly reduced, while apoptosis level was significantly increased. However, administration of different concentrations of BCL significantly enhanced PA-induced cell viability, migration ability and tube formation ability of HUVECs while inhibiting apoptosis. The results of protein levels showed that the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were observably up-regulated in the cells of the PA group, while the protein level of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated; compared with the PA group, the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were much lower and the Bcl-2 protein level was much higher in the PA + BCL group. Additionally, the protein levels of VEGFA, FGF2 and MMP-9 were raised and those of GRP78, CHOP, PERK and ATF4 were lowered in the PA + BCL group of cells in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

BCL significantly attenuates PA-induced endothelial cell dysfunction by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Baicalin inhibits apoptosis and enhances chondrocyte proliferation in thiram-induced tibial dyschondroplasia in chickens by regulating Bcl-2/Caspase-9 and Sox-9/Collagen-II expressions

Avian tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a skeletal disease affecting fast growing chickens, resulting in non-mineralized avascular cartilage. This metabolic disorder is characterized by lameness and reduced growth performance causing economic losses. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of baicalin against TD caused by thiram exposure. A total of two hundred and forty (n = 240) one day-old broiler chickens were uniformly and randomly allocated into three different groups (n = 80) viz. control, TD, and baicalin groups. All chickens received standard feed, however, to induce TD, the TD and baicalin groups received thiram (tetramethylthiuram disulfide) at a rate of 50 mg/kg feed from days 4-7. The thiram induction in TD and baicalin groups resulted in lameness, high mortality, and enlarged growth-plate, poor production performance, reduction in ALP, GSH-Px, SOD, and T-AOC levels, and increased AST and ALT, and MDA levels. Furthermore, histopathological results showed less vascularization, and mRNA and protein expression levels of Sox-9, Col-II, and Bcl-2 showed significant downward trend, while caspase-9 displayed significant up-regulation in TD-affected chickens. After the TD induction, the baicalin group was orally administered with baicalin at a rate of 200 mg/kg from days 8-18. Baicalin administration increased the vascularization, and chondrocytes with intact nuclei, alleviated lameness, decreased GP size, increased productive capacity, and restored the liver antioxidant enzymes and serum biochemical levels. Furthermore, baicalin significantly up-regulated the gene and protein expressions of Sox-9, Col-II, and Bcl-2, and significantly down-regulated the expression of caspase-9 (p < 0.05). Therefore, the obtained results suggest that baicalin could be a possible choice in thiram toxicity alleviation by regulating apoptosis and chondrocyte proliferation in thiram-induced tibial dyschondroplasia.