Mechanisms underlying attenuation of apoptosis of cortical neurons in the hypoxic brain by flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

Abstract

Flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, an antioxidant, markedly improve memory impairments and neuronal injuries. In the present study, primary cortical neurons of rats were exposed to potassium cyanide to establish a model of in vitro neural cell apoptosis. Inhibition of apoptosis by flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi at concentrations of 18.98, 37.36, and 75.92 μg/mL was detected using this model. These flavonoids dramatically increased cell survival, inhibited cell apoptosis and excessive production of malondialdehyde, and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and Na+-K+-ATPase in primary cortical neurons exposed to potassium cyanide. The flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi were originally found to have a polyhydric structure and to protect against cerebral hypoxia in in vitro and in vivo models, including hypoxia induced by potassium cyanide or cerebral ischemia. The present study suggests that flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi exert neuroprotective effects via modulation of oxidative stress, such as malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and Na+-K+-ATPase disorders induced by potassium cyanide.

Clinical and Preclinical Cognitive Function Improvement after Oral Treatment of a Botanical Composition Composed of Extracts fromScutellaria baicalensisandAcacia catechu

“…For example, these flavonoids have been found to improve spatial learning and memory in VaD rats which have a bilateral block of the common carotid artery that results in chronic cerebral ischemia resulting in vascular dementia [14]. When Sprague-Dawley-derived cortical cells were exposed to cyanide, inclusion of Scutellaria flavonoids attenuated oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of cortical neurons [15]. These antioxidant effects of Scutellaria flavonoids may also specifically prevent neuronal loss induced by amyloid beta-peptide.…”

The New Application of UHPLC-DAD-TOF/MS in Identification of Inhibitors on β-Amyloid Fibrillation From Scutellaria baicalensis

“…Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) (Huangqin) is a widely used TCM ( Mehlhorn et al, 2014 ), which was firstly described in “Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing” ( Yuan et al, 2015 ). Modern pharmacological studies have depicted its positive effects in neuroprotection ( Yune et al, 2009 ; Miao et al, 2014 ), anti-cancer ( Ye et al, 2002 ; Sato et al, 2013 ), anti-inflammation ( Huang et al, 2006 ; Kim et al, 2009 ; Yoon et al, 2009 ), anti-oxidation ( Gabrielska et al, 1997 ; Huang et al, 2006 ; Wang et al, 2014 ), anti-bacteria, and anti-virus ( Zandi et al, 2013 ; Shi et al, 2016 ). Flavonoids including baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A-7- O -glucuronopyranoside, and oroxylin A are the major chemical components in SB ( Lee et al, 2014 ).…”

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi stems and leaves flavonoids promote neuroregeneration and ameliorate memory loss in rats through cAMP-PKA-CREB signaling pathway based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis

“…In AD rat models, SSF is an anti-neurodegenerative Chinese herbal medicine [ [12] , [13] , [14] , 32 , 33 ]. However, the molecular mechanism by which SSF composites inhibit AD has not been determined.…”