Effects of Baicalin on Airway Remodeling in Asthmatic Mice

Airway remodeling is an important characteristic of asthma, linking inflammation with airway hyperresponsiveness. Baicalin, a major active component, was isolated from Radix Scutellariae. Many studies show that baicalin has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-allergic effects. Here we investigate the influence of baicalin on asthmatic airway remodeling and the mechanism underlining the anti-remodeling effect in vivo. Asthmatic airway remodelingmice model was established by ovalbumin exposure. Seventy female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to seven experimental groups: blank, ovalbumin, hexadecadrol, control, and baicalin (25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg) groups. Pulmonary function was measured using a whole-body plethysmograph in conscious and unrestrained mice. The lung pathology was observed and measured. The production of cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum was measured using enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay kits, and the expression levels of transforming growth factor-beta(1) and vascular endothelial growth factor were detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein expression levels of transforming growth factor-beta(1), vascular endothelial growth factor, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and p21ras were measured using Western blot. The results show that ovalbumin exposure significantly increased the expression of interleukin-13 in BALF and serum, and transforming growth factor-beta(1), vascular endothelial growth factor, extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p21ras expressions in the lungs. Baicalin attenuated the effects of ovalbumin significantly. It can be concluded that baicalin has significant anti-remodeling effect on ovalbumin-induced asthmatic airway remodeling mice model by decreasing expression of transforming growth factor-beta(1), interleukin-13, and vascular endothelial growth factor and inhibiting the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.