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Baicalin is a flavone glycoside, it is a flavonoid. It is the glucuronide of baicalein.
Baicalin is a flavonoid glycoside derived from plants in the genus Scutellaria. It has anxiolytic, anti-cancer and anti-viral properties, and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Baicalein and baicalin are chemically related, with baicalin being essentially a conjugated (sugar-attached) form of baicalein. This conjugation can modify their biological functions and impacts, making them distinct in certain aspects even though they share several pharmacological properties.
Baicalein appears to be antioxidant in normal cells (low Cu), but prooxidant in Cancer cells (higher Cu levels) (Applies to other plant polyphenols as well: Ex apigenin, luteolin, EGCG, and resveratrol).
Pathways:
Apoptosis Pathways (Intrinsic/Mitochondrial):
NF-κB Inhibition :
PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway downregulate :
MAPK/ERK and JNK Signaling Pathways:
STAT3 Signaling: (inhibit)
Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway: (suppress)
Other Pathways and Effects:
• Cell Cycle Arrests (commonly G0/G1 or G2/M)
• Anti-angiogenic Effects: By inhibitins VEGF
• Modulation of Oxidative Stress: Balancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cancer cells can also contribute to its antitumor effects.
• In normal cells or under conditions of oxidative stress, baicalin has been shown to act as an antioxidant.
• In cancer cells, baicalin may increase ROS levels, triggering apoptosis.
Lower doses of baicalin might favor antioxidant responses, whereas higher concentrations could lead to ROS accumulation in cancer cells.
• If copper levels are elevated in a cancer cell, the additional ROS generated via copper-mediated reactions may synergize with baicalin’s pro-oxidant effects (if observed at higher doses) to exceed the threshold for cancer cell survival.
• Conversely, in normal cells with tightly regulated copper levels, baicalin’s antioxidant properties may help in quenching excess ROS or maintaining redox balance.
-IC50 in cancer cell lines: Approximately 50–200 µM (with some variability depending on the cell type).
• IC50 in normal cell lines: Generally higher, often exceeding 200 µM, though values will vary with experimental conditions.