Baicalin protects thymus of rats with severe acute pancreatitis. Inflammation. 2010;33:157-165. [PMID: 19953313 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-009-9169-4]

Recent Advances in Biologically Active Ingredients from Natural Drugs for Sepsis Treatment

Sepsis refers to the dysregulated host response to infection; its incidence and mortality rates are high. It is a worldwide medical problem but there is no specific drug for it. In recent years, clinical and experimental studies have found that many monomer components of traditional Chinese medicine have certain effects on the treatment of sepsis. This paper reviews the advances in research on the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine involved in the treatment of sepsis in recent years according to their chemical structure; it could provide ideas and references for further research and development in Chinese materia medica for the treatment of sepsis.

Dysregulated B7H4/JAK2/STAT3 Pathway Involves in Hypertriglyceridemia Acute Pancreatitis and Is Attenuated by Baicalin

BACKGROUND

Patients with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) are prone to develop more severe acute pancreatitis (AP). However, the specific molecular mechanism still has not been elaborated clearly, and effective drugs for treating HTG-AP are not yet readily available. Baicalin is an ingredient isolated from a natural product that with potential to attenuate inflammation and pain in AP.

AIMS

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of baicalin on HTG-AP and the possible mechanism involved.

METHODS

A mouse model of HTG-AP was successfully established by administering Poloxamer 407 and L-arginine intraperitoneally. We analyzed pathological changes, and performed TUNEL staining, DHE staining, and western blot to detect apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and B7H4/JAK2/STAT3 signaling in the pancreas.

RESULTS

Treatment with baicalin decreased serum triglyceride, cholesterol, lipase, amylase levels, and attenuated pancreatic edema. After intervention with baicalin, apoptosis and inflammation in HTG-AP mice were alleviated, as indicated by the decrease of Bax, cleaved-caspase-3, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Baicalin also alleviated oxidative stress by decreasing NOX2, increasing SOD2 protein expression, and regulating Nrf2/Keap1 signaling in HTG-AP mice. Furthermore, baicalin decreased the upregulated B7H4/JAK2/STAT3 pathway in HTG-AP.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our data suggested that baicalin could attenuate HTG-AP, possibly through regulating B7H4/JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

Depletion of SENP1-mediated PPARγ SUMOylation exaggerates intermittent hypoxia-induced cognitive decline by aggravating microglia-mediated neuroinflammation

Intermittent hypoxia (IH)-associated cognition decline is related to the neuroinflammation of microglia. SUMOylation is a post-translational modification related to multiple human diseases, which can be reversed by SENP1. Studies showed that SENP1 and PPARγ play essential roles in restricting inflammation by blocking NF-κB activation. However, the mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the precise mechanism underlying SENP1 and PPARγ in cognitive decline after IH insult. Biochemical analysis results revealed that IH triggered the inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis, increased the SUMOylation of PPARγ, and decreased the level of PPARγ compared to that in the normoxia group. After SENP1 downregulation, the inflammatory response, neuronal apoptosis and the SUMOylation of PPARγ were enhanced, and the level of PPARγ was further decreased in vitro and in vivo. However, the application of PPARγ agonist, GW1929, abolished the enhancement of inflammation and neuronal apoptosis in vitro. The Morris Water Maze results showed that both IH groups mice exhibited longer latency and shorter dwell-time in the goal quadrant than normoxia groups. Notably, SENP1 downregulation aggravated these alterations. Overall, these results showed that SENP1 played an essential role in IH-associated cognitive dysfunction. SENP1 depletion aggravated neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis via promoting the SUMOylation of PPARγ, reducing the level of PPARγ, thus exaggerating IH-induced cognitive decline.

Baicalin inhibits C2C12 myoblast apoptosis and prevents against skeletal muscle injury

Anti‑apoptotic and anti‑inflammatory treatments are imperative for skeletal muscle regeneration following injury. Baicalin is well known and has previously been investigated for its role in the treatment of injury and inflammatory diseases. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of baicalin in inhibiting apoptosis of C2C12 myoblasts and preventing skeletal muscle injury. A cell counting kit‑8 (CCK‑8) assay and Annexin V/PI staining were initially performed to measure cell viability and apoptosis under conditions of H2O2 exposure with or without baicalin. Subsequently, oxidative activity, mitochondrial function, mitochondrial apoptogenic factors and caspase proteins were analyzed to examine the mechanism underlying the effect of baicalin on inhibiting apoptosis in C2C12 myoblasts. Furthermore, BALB/C mice with skeletal muscle injuries were established, and the potential application of baicalin for anti‑apoptotic and anti‑inflammatory effects was examined via small animal β‑2‑[18F]‑fluoro‑2‑deoxy‑D‑glucose (18F‑FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and pathological examination. The CCK‑8 assay and Annexin V/PI staining revealed cell death in the C2C12 myoblasts induced by H2O2, which was apoptotic, and this was effectively reversed by treatment with baicalin. H2O2 increased the reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels in C2C12 myoblasts, which was caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased expression of cytochrome c and apoptosis‑inducing factor from cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions, and activated expression of caspase‑3 and caspase‑9; however, treatment with baicalin reversed these effects. In addition, small animal PET imaging revealed that treatment with baicalin decreased the accumulation of FDG by ~65.9% in the injured skeletal muscle induced by H2O2. These pathological results also confirmed the protective effect of baicalin on injured skeletal muscle. Taken together, the results of the present study indicated that baicalin effectively inhibited the apoptosis of C2C12 myoblasts and protected skeletal muscle from injury, which may have potential therapeutic benefits for patients in a clinical setting.

Perspectives of traditional Chinese medicine in pancreas protection for acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common diseases. AP is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but it lacks specific and effective therapies. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the most popular complementary and alternative medicine modalities worldwide for the treatment of AP. The current evidence from basic research and clinical studies has shown that TCM has good therapeutic effects on AP. This review summarizes the widely used formulas, single herbs and monomers that are used to treat AP and the potential underlying mechanisms of TCM. Because of the abundance, low cost, and safety of TCM as well as its ability to target various aspects of the pathogenesis, TCM provides potential clinical benefits and a new avenue with tremendous potential for the future treatment of AP.

Chinese Herbal Medicines Attenuate Acute Pancreatitis: Pharmacological Activities and Mechanisms

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a commonly occurring gastrointestinal disorder. An increase in the annual incidence of AP has been observed, and it causes acute hospitalization and high mortality. The diagnosis and treatment guidelines for AP recommend conservative medical treatments focused on reducing pancreatic secretion and secondary injury, as a primary therapeutic approach. Unfortunately, the existing treatment options have limited impact on the incidence and severity of AP due to the complex and multifaceted pathological process of this disease. In recent decades, Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been used as efficient therapeutic agents to attenuate AP in Asian countries. Despite early cell culture, animal models, and clinical trials, CHMs are capable of interacting with numerous molecular targets participating in the pathogenesis of AP; however, comprehensive, up-to-date communication in this field is not yet available. This review focuses on the pharmacological activities of CHMs against AP in vitro and in vivo and the underlying mechanisms. A computational prediction of few selected and promising plant-derived molecules (emodin, baicalin, resveratrol, curcumin, ligustrazine, and honokiol) to target numerous proteins or networks involved in AP was initially established based on a network pharmacology simulation. Moreover, we also summarized some potential toxic natural products for pancreas in order to more safe and reasonable medication. These breakthrough findings may have important implications for innovative drug research and the future development of treatments for AP.

Baicalin, a component of Scutellaria baicalensis, alleviates anorexia and inhibits skeletal muscle atrophy in experimental cancer cachexia

Inflammatory responses are key contributors to cancer cachexia and foster a complex cascade of biological outcomes. Baicalin is a natural compound derived from Scutellaria baicalensis that possesses anti-inflammatory properties in many diseases; therefore, the aim of this study was to verify whether baicalin could ameliorate cachexia in a CT26 adenocarcinoma-induced model. Tumour-bearing and control mice were injected with CT26 adenocarcinoma cells and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), respectively, and baicalin was administered intraperitoneally for 15 days. During the study, food intake, body weight, major organ weight, gastrocnemius muscle weight, tibialis muscle weight, epididymal fat weight and serum cytokine levels were measured and evaluated. Additionally, the expression of two E3 ubiquitin ligases and NF-κB pathway proteins were detected by Western blot. The total food intake in tumour-bearing mice receiving baicalin from days 1-16, as well as the average food intake on days 10-16, were less than normal but were significantly higher than in vehicle-treated tumour-bearing mice. Loss of tumour-free body mass in vehicle-treated tumour-bearing mice was significantly increased compared with control mice and tumour-bearing mice receiving baicalin. Serum cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were lowered in tumour-bearing mice treated with baicalin. Gastrocnemius muscle, epididymal fat, heart and kidney weight were significantly greater in the baicalin treatment groups compared with the vehicle-treated tumour-bearing mice. In addition, the expression of two E3 ubiquitin ligases, as well as phospho-p65, was significantly downregulated, whereas the expression of IκBα was up-regulated in tumour-bearing mice treated with baicalin, as determined by Western blotting. The present study demonstrates that baicalin effectively ameliorates anorexia by inhibiting cytokine expression and prevents skeletal muscle atrophy most likely by inhibiting activation of NF-κB in an experimental cancer cachexia model, suggesting that baicalin represents a promising natural medicine for treating cancer-induced cachexia.

Baicalin inhibits TLR2/4 signaling pathway in rat brain following permanent cerebral ischemia

Recent work from our laboratory demonstrated that baicalin attenuates inflammatory reaction and cerebral ischemia injury in rats. Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 (TLR2/4) and the downstream nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, which mediate the inflammatory reaction, are involved in the pathophysiological processes of cerebral ischemia. In this study, we investigated whether baicalin inhibits TLR2/4 signaling pathway in a rat model of permanent focal cerebral ischemia. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Baicalin was administered by intraperitoneally injected twice at 2 and 12 h after the onset of ischemia. Cerebral infarct area and infarct volume were measured 24 h after MCAO. Expression of TLR2/4, NF-κB, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined by RT-PCR or western blot. NO and PGE2 production in rat brain were measured 24 h after MCAO. Serum content of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were detected by ELISA. Baicalin reduced cerebral infarct area and infarct volume. Baicalin reduced the expression of TLR2/4 and NF-κB, decreased the expression and activity of iNOS and COX-2 in rat brain. Baicalin also attenuated the serum content of TNF-α and IL-1β. Our results suggest that baicalin inhibits the TLR2/4 signaling pathway in cerebral ischemia, which may be a mechanism underlying the baicalin's neuroprotection.

Study of dexamethasone, baicalin and octreotide on brain injury of rats with severe acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protecting effects of dexamethasone (DXM), baicalin and octreotide on brain injury of rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and explore their underlying mechanism.

METHODS

This experiment was divided into two different parts: (1) In the first part, 90 SAP rats were randomly divided into a model control group and a DXM treated group (n = 45, respectively). (2) In the second part, 135 SAP rats were randomly divided into a model control group, a baicalin treated group and an octreotide treated group (n = 45, respectively). In two different experiments, the same number of normal rats were considered as the sham-operated group (n = 45, respectively). At 3, 6 and 12 h after operation, the pathological changes in the brain were observed. The expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were detected and apoptosis indexes were calculated, using brain tissue microarray section.

RESULTS

(1) First part: The expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were significantly higher in the DXM treated group than those in the model control group at different time points, while the content of NF-κB protein and pathological changes were significantly lower in the treated group than those in the model control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 or P < 0.001). But the apoptotic indexes of brain tissue were not significantly different at different time points (P > 0.05). (2) Second part: At all time points after operation, the expression levels of NF-κB in the brain of treated groups were, to varying degrees, significantly lower than those in the model control group while the expression levels of Bcl-2 protein in baicalin and octreotide group were significantly higher than those in model control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). At 12 h after operation, the expression level of Bax protein in baicalin treated group was significantly higher than those in model control group and octreotide treated group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Dexamethasone, baicalin and octreotide can exert protective effects against brain injury in SAP rats mainly through inhibiting the expression of NF-κB protein.

PPARγ activation by baicalin suppresses NF-κB-mediated inflammation in aged rat kidney

Baicalin, a herb-derived flavonoid compound, has beneficial activities, including the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation. Nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays an important role in regulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-induced age-related inflammation. We investigated the anti-inflammatory action of baicalin, which depends on its ability to activate PPARγ, and subsequently to suppress NF-κB. We examined baicalin-treated kidney tissue from 24-month-old Fischer 344 aged rats (10 or 20 mg/kg/day for 10 days) and baicalin-fed mice (10 mg/kg/day for 3 days) for in vivo investigations, and used endothelial YPEN-1 cells for in vitro studies. In the baicalin-fed aged rats, there was a marked enhancement of both nuclear protein levels and DNA binding activity of PPARγ, and a decreased expression of NF-κB target genes (VCAM-1, IL-1β, and IL-6) compared with non-baicalin-fed aged rats. Furthermore, to confirm the anti-inflammatory action of PPARγ activated by baicalin, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated cells and mice. The results showed that baicalin induced PPARγ-selective activation in YPEN-1 cells, and that the effects of baicalin were blocked by the PPARγ receptor antagonist, GW9662. In addition, baicalin treatment prevented RS generation, NF-κB activation and the expression of pro-inflammatory genes, whereas it increased PPARγ expression in LPS-treated cells and mouse kidney. Our data suggest that baicalin-induced PPARγ expression reduced age-related inflammation through blocking pro-inflammatory NF-κB activation. These results indicate that baicalin is a novel PPARγ activator and that this agent may have the potential to minimize inflammation.