As baicalin is a

flavone Flavone is an organic compound with the formula . A white solid, flavone is a derivative of chromone with a phenyl (Ph) substituent adjacent to the ether group. The compound is of little direct practical importance, but susbstituted derivatives, t ...

glycoside, it is a

flavonoid Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids; from the Latin word ''flavus'', meaning yellow, their color in nature) are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, and thus commonly consumed in the diets of humans. Chemically, flavonoids ...

. It is the glucuronide of baicalein.

Natural occurrences

Baicalin is found in several species in the genus ''Scutellaria'', including '' Scutellaria baicalensis'', and '' Scutellaria lateriflora''. There are 10 mg/g baicalin in ''

Scutellaria galericulata ''Scutellaria galericulata'', the common skullcap, marsh skullcap or hooded skullcap, is a hardy perennial herb native to northern areas of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and almost all of Canada. It is a member of the mint fam ...

'' leaves.P.H. and Horhammer, L., Hager's Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, Vols. 2-6, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1969-1979 It is also present in the bark isolate of the ''

Oroxylum indicum ''Oroxylum indicum'' is a species of flowering plant belonging to the monotypic genus ''Oroxylum'' and the family Bignoniaceae, and is commonly called Indian trumpet tree, oroxylum, Indian trumpet flower, broken bones, Indian caper, scythe tree o ...

'' tree.

Medical uses

Baicalin is one of the chemical ingredients of at least two herbal supplements: Shuanghuanglian and Sho-Saiko-To, which is a

Chinese classic herbal formula Chinese classic herbal formulas () are combinations of herbs used in Chinese herbology for supposed greater efficiency in comparison to individual herbs. They are the basic herbal formulas that students of Traditional Chinese medicine learn. Later t ...

, and listed in Japan as Kampo medicine. Baicalin, along with its aglycone baicalein, is a positive allosteric modulator of the benzodiazepine site and/or a non-benzodiazepine site of the GABA_A receptor. In mice, baicalin produces anxiolytic effects without

sedative A sedative or tranquilliser is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement. They are CNS depressants and interact with brain activity causing its deceleration. Various kinds of sedatives can be distinguished, but t ...

or myorelaxant effects. It is thought that baicalin, along with other flavonoids, may underlie the anxiolytic effects of ''S. baicalensis'' and ''S. lateriflora''. Baicalin is a known prolyl endopeptidase inhibitor. It induces

apoptosis Apoptosis (from grc, ἀπόπτωσις, apóptōsis, 'falling off') is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes (morphology) and death. These changes incl ...

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of t ...

cells.

References

{{GABAAR PAMs Anxiolytics Flavone glycosides Flavonoid glucuronides Glucuronide esters GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators