Research On The Pharmacokinetics In Cerebral Neuclei And Influences On Brain Function Of Baicalin From Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi

Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin), the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, was a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for antifebrile and detoxification. Baicalin,the main ingredient in Scutellariae Radix, had been revealed to antibacterial, anti-virus, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and anticancer. Recent studies have also proved baicalin exhibited sedation, protection cerebral function from ischemia and anxiolytic-like effects. That baicalin could be detectable in the spinal fluid in the rabbit model of brain edema indicated baicalin could pass through brain blood barrier (BBB) when edema occurred. However, whether baicalin could pass through BBB under normal condition and how it distributed into the cerebral nuclei after passed though BBB if could as well as its direct influences on cerebral functions were not elucidated yet. All these data should be of great significance to full clarification of Scutellariae Radix and baicalin on cerebral functions and the mechanism. It was equally valuable to the intensive research and application of traditional Chinese medicine resources. Based on the references we prepared the baicalin-enriched total flavanoids from Scutellariae Radix, in which the concentration of baicalin was 81.27%. The total flavanoids used here could represent not only the simplicity of the ingredients but also the co-effects of all the ingredients. It realized the character of the traditional Chinese medication to a certain degree.In the experiments, we primarily determined the concentration of baicalin both in blood and cerebral nuclei (hippocampus, striatum, cortex, thalamus and brain stem) after intravenous administration of total flavanoids from Scutellariae Radix. With the same experimental scheme we investigated the influence of total flavaloids from Scutellariae Radix on cerebral nuclei monoamines and their metabolites. The activities of the monoamine anabolic related enzymes were also determined in order to find out the mechanism. Based on the finding of monoamines we applied typical animal model to valuate the antidepressant effects of total flavanoids from Scutellariae Radix comprehensively.