title: Baicalein reduces airway injury in allergen and IL-13 induced airway inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Baicalein, a bioflavone present in the dry roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is known to reduce eotaxin production in human fibroblasts. However, there are no reports of its anti-asthma activity or its effect on airway injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a standard experimental asthma model, male Balb/c mice that were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA), treated with baicalein (10 mg/kg, ip) or a vehicle control, either during (preventive use) or after OVA challenge (therapeutic use). In an alternate model, baicalein was administered to male Balb/c mice which were given either IL-4 or IL-13 intranasally. Features of asthma were determined by estimating airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), histopathological changes and biochemical assays of key inflammatory molecules. Airway injury was determined with apoptotic assays, transmission electron microscopy and assessing key mitochondrial functions. Baicalein treatment reduced AHR and inflammation in both experimental models. TGF-β₁, sub-epithelial fibrosis and goblet cell metaplasia, were also reduced. Furthermore, baicalein treatment significantly reduced 12/15-LOX activity, features of mitochondrial dysfunctions, and apoptosis of bronchial epithelia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate that baicalein can attenuate important features of asthma, possibly through the reduction of airway injury and restoration of mitochondrial function.
authors: Molecular Immunogenetics Laboratory, and Centre of Excellence for Translational Research in Asthma & Lung Disease, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, Delhi, India. um.rajan@igib.res.in
authors: Ulaganathan
authors: U
authors: Mabalirajan
authors: Tanveer
authors: T
authors: Ahmad
authors: Rakhshinda
authors: R
authors: Rehman
authors: Geeta Devi
authors: GD
authors: Leishangthem
authors: Amit Kumar
authors: AK
authors: Dinda
authors: Anurag
authors: A
authors: Agrawal
authors: Balaram
authors: B
authors: Ghosh
authors: Surendra Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Sharma
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001093:Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D053454:Caspase 12 / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D044950:Flavanones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D044950:Flavanones; D018793:Interleukin-13; C006680:baicalein; D001093:Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D053454:Caspase 12; D053148:Caspase 3
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