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Planta Med 2013; 79(03/04): 199-206
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328197
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Baicalin on Airway Remodeling in Asthmatic Mice

Jing Sun
1   Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
2   Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
,
LuLu Li
1   Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
2   Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
,
JinFeng Wu
1   Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
2   Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
,
BaoJun Liu
1   Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
2   Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
,
WeiYi Gong
1   Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
2   Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
,
YuBao Lv
1   Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
2   Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
,
QingLi Luo
1   Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
2   Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
,
XiaoHong Duan
1   Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
2   Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
,
JingCheng Dong
1   Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
2   Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 15 February 2012
revised 29 December 2012

accepted 09 January 2013

Publication Date:
01 February 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Airway remodeling is an important characteristic of asthma, linking inflammation with airway hyperresponsiveness. Baicalin, a major active component, was isolated from Radix Scutellariae. Many studies show that baicalin has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-allergic effects. Here we investigate the influence of baicalin on asthmatic airway remodeling and the mechanism underlining the anti-remodeling effect in vivo.

Asthmatic airway remodeling mice model was established by ovalbumin exposure. Seventy female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to seven experimental groups: blank, ovalbumin, hexadecadrol, control, and baicalin (25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg) groups. Pulmonary function was measured using a whole-body plethysmograph in conscious and unrestrained mice. The lung pathology was observed and measured. The production of cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum was measured using enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay kits, and the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor were detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein expression levels of transforming growth factor-β 1, vascular endothelial growth factor, extracellular signal–regulated kinase, and p21ras were measured using Western blot. The results show that ovalbumin exposure significantly increased the expression of interleukin-13 in BALF and serum, and transforming growth factor-β 1, vascular endothelial growth factor, extracellular signal–regulated kinase and p21ras expressions in the lungs. Baicalin attenuated the effects of ovalbumin significantly.

It can be concluded that baicalin has significant anti-remodeling effect on ovalbumin-induced asthmatic airway remodeling mice model by decreasing expression of transforming growth factor-β 1, interleukin-13, and vascular endothelial growth factor and inhibiting the activation of the extracellular signal–regulated kinase pathway.

Key words

baicalin - airway remodeling - TGF-β 1 - VEGF - IL-13 - ERK