| In vitro: |
| Cancer Lett. 2015 Mar 28;358(2):170-9. | | Baicalein upregulates DDIT4 expression which mediates mTOR inhibition and growth inhibition in cancer cells.[Pubmed: 25543165] | Baicalein is a natural flavone that exhibits anticancer properties. Using microarrays we found that DDIT4 was the highest transcript induced by baicalein in cancer cells.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
We confirmed in multiple cancer cell lines large, dose-related expression of DDIT4 by quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblot, which correlates with growth inhibition. Time course experiments demonstrate that DDIT4 is rapidly inducible, with high expression maintained for several days in vitro. Induction of DDIT4 expression is p53 independent based on evaluation of p53 knockout cells. Since DDIT4 is known to inhibit mTORC1 activity we confirmed that baicalein suppresses phosphorylation of mTORC1 targets. Using RNA interference we demonstrate that mTORC1 activity and growth inhibition by baicalein is attenuated by knockdown of DDIT4. We furthermore demonstrate suppression of established tumors by baicalein in a mouse model of breast cancer with increased DDIT4 expression in the tumors. Finally, we demonstrate that baicalein upregulates DDIT4 and causes mTORC1 and growth inhibition in platinum resistant cancer cells in marked contrast to platinum chemotherapy treatment.
CONCLUSIONS:
These studies demonstrate that baicalein inhibits mTORC1 through DDIT4 expression, and may be useful in cancer chemotherapy and chemoprevention. | | Biochem Pharmacol. 2014 Nov 15;92(2):251-65. | | Baicalein inhibits agonist- and tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation while suppressing pulmonary tumor metastasis via cAMP-mediated VASP phosphorylation along with impaired MAPKs and PI3K-Akt activation.[Pubmed: 25268843] | Recently, the importance of platelet activation in cancer metastasis has become generally accepted. As a result, the development of new platelet inhibitors with minimal adverse effects is now a promising area of targeted cancer therapy. Baicalein is a functional ingredient derived from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, a plant used intraditional medicine. The pharmacological effects of this compound including anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities have already been demonstrated. However, its effects on platelet activation are unknown. We therefore investigated the effects of baicalein on ligand-induced platelet aggregation and pulmonary cancer metastasis.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In the present study, baicalein inhibited agonist-induced platelet aggregation, granule secretion markers (P-selectin expression and ATP release), [Ca(2+)]i mobilization, and integrin αIIbβ3 expression. Additionally, baicalein attenuated ERK2, p38, and Akt activation, and enhanced VASP phosphorylation. Indeed, baicalein was shown to directly inhibit PI3K kinase activity. Moreover, baicalein attenuated the platelet aggregation induced by C6 rat glioma tumor cells in vitro and suppressed CT26 colon cancer metastasis in mice.
CONCLUSIONS:
These features indicate that baicalein is a potential therapeutic drug for the prevention of cancer metastasis. | | Phytother Res. 2014 Sep;28(9):1342-8. | | Anticancer effects of baicalein on hepatocellular carcinoma cells.[Pubmed: 24596136] | The therapeutic potential of baicalein against hepatoma cells was evaluated in vitro and in vivo.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In cell viability assays, baicalein showed significant cytotoxicity against the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines H22, Bel-7404, and Hep G2 and moderate cytotoxicity against immortalized human hepatocytes. Baicalein induced G0/G1-phase arrest in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, inhibited AKT, and promoted the degradation of β-catenin and cyclin D1 without activation of GSK-3β. Furthermore, baicalein significantly inhibited H22 xenograft tumor growth without causing obvious adverse effects on weight or liver and spleen weight indexes in ICR mice. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the inhibition of tumor growth in baicalein-treated mice was associated with decreased AKT, β-catenin, and cyclin D1 expression ex vivo. Our data indicate that baicalein might regulate cyclin D1 transcription via a β-catenin-dependent mechanism, leading to cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and impaired cancer cell proliferation.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that baicalein is a potential candidate for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. | | Anticancer Res. 2000 Sep-Oct;20(5A):2861-5. | | Antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects of baicalein, baicalin and wogonin.[Pubmed: 11062694] | Xanthine oxidase inhibitors are known to be therapeutically useful for the treatment of hepatitis and brain tumor. Baicalein, baicalin and wogonin, isolated from Scutellaria rivularis, have been reported to exhibit a strong activity on xanthine oxidase inhibition.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In this study, their antioxidant activity was evaluated by modified xanthine oxidase inhibition and cytochrome c reduced methods. The results showed that the order of activity on xanthine oxidase inhibition was baicalein > wogonin > baicalin, IC50 = 3.12, 157.38 and 215.19 microM, respectively, whereas the activity on cytochrome c reduction was baicalin > wogonin > baicalein (IC50 = 224.12, 300.10 and 370.33 microM, respectively). In another study, an electron spin resonance (ESR) technique was used to further confirm the direct free radical scavenging activity. Both baicalein and baicalin demonstrated a strong activity on eliminating the superoxide radical (.O2-) (baicalein: 7.31 x 10(4) u/g; baicalin: 1.19 x 10(5) u/g). The IC50 of baicalein was 2.8 fold higher than that of baicalin. However they had no significant effect on scavenging hydroxyl radical (.OH).
CONCLUSIONS:
The present results demonstrated that baicalein and baicalin posed a different pathological pathway. The antioxidant function of baicalin was mainly based on scavenging superoxide radical whilst baicalein was a good xanthine oxidase inhibitor. |
|
| In vivo: |
| Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2015 Jun;133:155-63. | | Ameliorative effects of baicalein in MPTP-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease: A microarray study.[Pubmed: 25895692 ] | Baicalein, a flavonoid from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to possess neuroprotective properties.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of baicalein on motor behavioral deficits and gene expression in N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mice model of Parkinson's disease (PD). The behavioral results showed that baicalein significantly improves the abnormal behaviors in MPTP-induced mice model of PD, as manifested by shortening the total time for climbing down the pole, prolonging the latent periods of rotarod, and increasing the vertical movements. Using cDNA microarray and subsequent bioinformatic analyses, it was found that baicalein significantly promotes the biological processes including neurogenesis, neuroblast proliferation, neurotrophin signaling pathway, walking and locomotor behaviors, and inhibits dopamine metabolic process through regulation of gene expressions. Based on analysis of gene co-expression networks, the results indicated that the regulation of genes such as LIMK1, SNCA and GLRA1 by baicalein might play central roles in the network.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results provide experimental evidence for the potential use of baicalein in the treatment of PD, and revealed gene expression profiles, biological processes and pathways influenced by baicalein in MPTP-treated mice. |
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