Baicalin Administered Orally After Ischemia/Reperfusion Alleviated Brain Injury in Mice by Inhibiting Inflammation and Edema
Baicalin is a natural product isolated from Scutellaria genus and has been reported to have many different pharmacological activities, which include anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effects. We investigated the effects of baicalin administered after I/R-induced brain injury in a mouse model. I/R-induced brain injury was induced by MCAO for 2 h. Baicalin was orally administered to mice once daily for 2 consecutive days after 2 h of reperfusion. Single daily oral administrations of baicalin at 10, 30, or 100 mg/kg/day for 2 consecutively days after I/R significantly reduced infarct volumes, edema indices, and water contents in mouse brains, serum levels of AQP-4. IL-1β, TNF-α, and ROS, and lipid peroxidation levels in brain ipsilateral hemispheres were suppressed by baicalin. This result is believed to be due to the anti-inflammatory effect of baicalin and its downregulation of AQP-4 protein expression in affected brain tissues after I/R-induced brain injury in mice.