title: Chemical and pharmacological evaluations on the extract of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Huang-Qin) prepared by various extraction methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study reported a comprehensive approach (comparing the extraction yields, chemical profiles, antioxidant properties and CYP450-inhibitory effects) to evaluated the effectiveness of various extraction methods [microwave-assisted extraction using water (MAE-W), heat reflux extraction using water (HRE-W), ultrasonic extraction using 70 % ethanol and ultrasonic extraction using ethanol (UE-E)] for Huang-Qin (HQ), the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HQ extraction efficiency by MAE-W was the best. The chemical profiles of extracts obtained using HRE-W and MAE-W were similar; whereas more flavones but less flavone glycosides were detected in the UE-E extract. There was no difference in the antioxidant properties among different extracts. In vitro human liver microsome assays illustrated that all extracts possessed herb-drug interaction potentials but the UE-E extract are shown with a potent interaction with CYP3A4-metabolized drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MAE-W is a favorable method for the preparation of HQ extracts based on extraction yield, pharmacological properties and safety.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Xuelin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
authors.forename: Pou Seng
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Penelope M Y
authors.initials: PMY
authors.lastname: Or
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
authors.forename: Pui Man
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hoi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
authors.forename: Simon M Y
authors.initials: SMY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: George P H
authors.initials: GPH
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Sai Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ngai
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Siu Kai
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Ho Pui
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Melody Y M
authors.initials: MYM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.|Department of Food and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Shun Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: John H K
authors.initials: JHK
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Yiu Wa
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kwan
keywords: Antioxidant properties; Extraction efficiency; Herb–drug interaction; Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi