Current therapeutic role and medicinal potential of Scutellaria barbata in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western research

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Scutellaria barbata is a common herb in Traditional ChineseMedicine (TCM) most often used to treat cancer. S. barbata has been found to exhibit efficacy both in vitro and in vivo on a variety of cancer types. Similarly encouraging results have been shown in patients with metastatic breast cancer from Phase Ia and Ib clinical trials. This study aims to elucidate the current use of S. barbata by TCM practitioners and in current Western research. Materials and Methods:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen TCM practitioners in Beijing and Nanjing, China to understand their clinical use of S. barbata.Practitioners were also asked to comment on the future development of TCM using Western research methods and the potential for integration of the two types of medicine in clinical therapy. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare use of S. barbata by disease and in conjunction with other herbs.Results: Current Western research related to S. barbata is focused on cancer treatment, which corresponds to the most common use of S. barbata by TCM practitioners. Other common uses that practitioners reported included infection and inflammation, for which Beijing practitioners reported use of S. barbata more often than Nanjing practitioners (p < 0.05). Hedyotis diffusa was found to be the most commonly cited herb to pair with S. barbata for cancer treatment (p < 0.05).When compared to Western clinical trials of BZL101, an S. barbata extract, TCM practitioners reported using smaller doses of S. barbata in shorter durations, in combination with numerous other herbs with the goal to potentiate therapeutic efficacy and mitigate side effects. In addition, TCM practitioners repeatedly emphasized symptom differentiating as the key to achieving maximum therapeutic potential of S. barbata, a factor typically overlooked in Western research.

Anti-inflammatory effect and the effect on acute pharyngitis rats model of compound Lobelia oral liquid

“…compound Lobelia oral liquid is composed of Lobelia, Sculellaria barbata , Oldenlandia diffusa , etc. Lobelia has the functions of clearing heat and detoxify, dispersing blood stasis and reliving pain (Tao and Balunas, 2016); Sculellaria barbata and Oldenlandia diffusa all can clear heat and detoxify, and have more applications in the treatment of tumor, inflammation, and often in the form of drug pairs (Zheng et al, 2018, Fan et al, 2010, Peng et al, 2018). Combined with the indications and the composition of prescription of compound Lobelia injection, it is suggested that the oral liquid of compound Lobelia oral may have curative effect on acute pharyngitis.…”

Ruanjian Sanjie decoction exhibits antitumor activity by inducing cell apoptosis in breast cancer

“…For example, Huaier ( Trametes robiniophila Murr) sensitizes breast cancer cells to radiotherapy through the regulation of cell cycle and DNA repair pathways (7). In vitro and in vivo testing of Scutellaria barbata in breast cancer has led to an ongoing clinical trial (8); and a recent population-based study suggests that adjunctive TCM therapy may lower the risk of mortality in patients with advanced breast cancer (9). …”

Using the Chinese herb Scutellaria barbata against extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections: in vitro and in vivo studies

“…Recent studies in many animal models and small clinical trials have demonstrated the antitumour activity of S. barbata . The safety and efficacy of an aqueous extract of the aerial parts of S. barbata (Bezielle: BZL101) for breast cancer treatment have also been analysed in the Phase I clinical trial undertaken by Bionovo [ 32 – 34 ]. S. barbata and Hedyotis diffusa are the most commonly prescribed Chinese herbs for breast cancer and post-surgery colon cancer, as reported by Taiwanese nationwide surveys [ 35 , 36 ].…”