Baicalin alleviates diabetes-associated cognitive deficits via modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and apoptosis

Abstract

Baicalin is an important active component of the medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and has shown a variety of pharmacological actions. The present study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of baicalin against diabetes‑associated cognitive deficits (DACD) in rats and to elucidate the potential molecular mechanisms of action. A rat model of diabetes mellitus was prepared by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. After the successful establishment of the diabetic rat model, baicalin (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) or vehicle was administrated for seven weeks. Learning and memory function were assessed using the Morris water maze test. At the end of the experiment, the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline acetylase (ChAT) were determined using commercial kits. Furthermore, the expression of proteins involved in mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades [extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (ERK), c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (JNK) and p38], brain‑derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and apoptosis‑associated proteins [caspase‑3, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)] were detected by western blot analysis. Caspase‑3 activity was also analyzed using a commercial kit. The results demonstrated that diabetic rats exhibited decreases in body weight, decreases in the percentage of time spent in the target quadrant and the number of times of crossing the platform in the water maze test, as well as decreases in neuronal survival, ChAT, phosphorylated (p)ERK, BDNF and Bcl‑2. Furthermore, diabetic rats showed increases in escape latency and mean path length in the water maze test, increases in the levels of hippocampal AChE, p‑JNK, p‑p38, caspase‑3 and Bax as well as plasma glucose. However, in diabetic rats treated with baicalin, all of the abovementioned observations were obviously reversed. The findings suggested that baicalin exerts neuroprotective effects against DACD via modulation of MAPK cascades, BDNF and apoptosis.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of four active components on normal and diabetic rats after oral administration of Gandi capsules

“…1A-D), were reported to be the main bioactive constituents in Gandi capsule, 3 and have anti-inammatory, 4,5 anti-tumor, 6À9 antioxidant activities [10][11][12] and especially have the potential for the treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications. [13][14][15][16][17] A comprehensive characterization of pharmacokinetic characteristic of TCM is vital not only to gaining insight into its in vivo action and mechanism but also to carrying out further clinical studies. The analysis of mono ingredients or single herbs may not represent the in vivo process of the whole composite prescription.…”

Efficacy of traditional Chinese medication Tangminling pill in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes

“…Citrus aurantium L Naringenin/hesperetin -antioxidant [47]; -antiatherogenic [48] and antidepressant [46] -increasing expression of BDNF [46]; -activating PPAR; -up-regulating adiponectin expression [48] Cell cultures; rodent models…”

“…It also had a protective effect on T2DM via improving islet β-cell function [44]. Furthermore, wogonin alleviated diabetic cardiomyopathy, diabetes-related cognitive deficits, and metabolic syndrome [45][46][47]. Wogonin improved peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α (PPAR-α) activity in adipocytes and type 1 diabetic mice [48].…”

Potential Antidepressant Effects of Scutellaria baicalensis, Hericium erinaceus and Rhodiola rosea

“…In the present manuscript we focus on three neuroprotective herbs which appear effective in mitigating anxiety or depression with favourable risk-benefit profiles, namely Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis) [5][6][7][8][9], Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus) [10][11][12][13][14] and Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea) [15][16][17][18][19][20]. We chose these specific herbs in order to analyse both their overlapping and complementary properties, posing the provocative issue of whether their combined administration may yield synergistic antidepressant-like effects.…”

“…We chose these specific herbs in order to analyse both their overlapping and complementary properties, posing the provocative issue of whether their combined administration may yield synergistic antidepressant-like effects. The general health-promoting effects of S. baicalensis, H. erinaceus and R. rosea in humans and animals are mainly attributable to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [6][7][8][16][17][18][19][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31].…”