Production of Cytokines and Stimulation of Resistance to Viral Infection in Human Leukocytes by Scutellaria baicalensis Flavones

Abstract

Extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis display a wide spectrum of antiviral activity. It was of great interest to check the effect of baicalein and wogonin preparations on two important mechanisms of innate immunity: the secretion of cytokines and the natural resistance of human leukocytes to viral infection. To study the effect of S. baicalensis extracts on interferons (IFNs), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin (IL) production and virus replication, uninfected and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-infected human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) were used. Four pulverized preparations obtained from roots of Scutellaria and a Sigma-Aldrich preparation of purified baicalein were used in the study. RPMI extracts containing different amounts of baicalein and wogonin were used to study the effect on VSV replication in PBLs. PBLs express ex vivo individually differentiated cytokine-dependent resistance/innate immunity to viral infections. The degree of resistance was estimated on the basis of VSV replication in PBLs. The results obtained indicate that baicalein- and wogonin-containing extracts modulate cytokine production, that is inhibit IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma and stimulate TNF-alpha and IL (IL-12, IL-10) production. They also augment the resistance of PBLs to VSV. Extract from S. baicalensis containing baicalein and wogonin regulates the innate antiviral immunity by modulation of cytokine production and stimulation of human leukocyte resistance.

In vitro effects of aqueous extracts of Astragalus membranaceus and Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI on Toxoplasma gondii

“…Astragalus polysaccharides and astragalosides showed strong promoting effects on the phagocytosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and on the secretion of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by activated macrophages from mice (Xu et al 2007). The major constituents of S. baicalensis are flavonoids -baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, wogonoside, and skullcapflavone -which have been associated with various properties in inducing a broad spectrum of antiviral (Błach-Olszewska et al 2008), antiinflammatory (Hsieh et al 2007), and anticancer actions (Li-Weber 2009). The crude drug ingredients of S. baicalensis showed powerful anti-trypanosomal (Yabu et al 1998) and antibacterial activities (Yang et al 2005).…”

Treatment Methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Toxoplasmosis

“…The major constituents of S. baicalensis are flavonoids: baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, wogonoside, and skullcapflavone, which have been associated with various properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, antibacterial, antiviral (Broncel 2007;Hsieh et al 2007;Błach-Olszewska et al 2008), and anticancer (Li-Weber 2009). The crude drug ingredients of S. baicalensis showed powerful antitrypanosomal (Yabu et al 1998).…”

Effects of S/B Remedy Containing Scutellaria baicalensis and Bupleurum scorzonerifolfium on Hepatic Interleukin-6 Related Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Activation in Mice through Cell-Cell Interaction

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that Sb extracts containing different amounts of baicalein and wogonin modulate cytokine productions such as TNF-alpha and IL (IL-12, IL-10) production in peripheral blood leukocytes and transforming growth factor b1 (TGF-b1) in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line. 24,25) A large number of studies have shown the anti-inflammatory effect of Sb and its active compounds was through suppression of IL-6, NF-kB or AP-1 signaling pathways in many disease models. [26][27][28] However, under the situation of liver regeneration, cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and IL-6 are the key factors in priming the hepatocytes and subsequently stimulating the growth of hepatocytes.…”