RESEARCH ARTICLE
Baicalein Reduces Airway Injury in Allergen and IL-13 Induced Airway Inflammation
Abstract
Background
Baicalein, a bioflavone present in the dry roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is known to reduce eotaxin production in human fibroblasts. However, there are no reports of its anti-asthma activity or its effect on airway injury.
Methodology/Principal Findings
In a standard experimental asthma model, male Balb/c mice that were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA), treated with baicalein (10 mg/kg, ip) or a vehicle control, either during (preventive use) or after OVA challenge (therapeutic use). In an alternate model, baicalein was administered to male Balb/c mice which were given either IL-4 or IL-13 intranasally. Features of asthma were determined by estimating airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), histopathological changes and biochemical assays of key inflammatory molecules. Airway injury was determined with apoptotic assays, transmission electron microscopy and assessing key mitochondrial functions. Baicalein treatment reduced AHR and inflammation in both experimental models. TGF-β1, sub-epithelial fibrosis and goblet cell metaplasia, were also reduced. Furthermore, baicalein treatment significantly reduced 12/15-LOX activity, features of mitochondrial dysfunctions, and apoptosis of bronchial epithelia.
Conclusion/Significance
Our findings demonstrate that baicalein can attenuate important features of asthma, possibly through the reduction of airway injury and restoration of mitochondrial function.
Citation: Mabalirajan U, Ahmad T, Rehman R, Leishangthem GD, Dinda AK, et al. (2013) Baicalein Reduces Airway Injury in Allergen and IL-13 Induced Airway Inflammation. PLoS ONE 8(4): e62916. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0062916
Editor: Hong Wei Chu, National Jewish Health, United States of America
Received: October 12, 2012; Accepted: March 28, 2013; Published: April 30, 2013
Copyright: © 2013 Mabalirajan et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Funding: This work was supported by grants BSC 0116 and MLP 5502 from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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