Baicalein

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), an age-associated degenerative condition, significantly contributes to low back pain, thereby adversely affecting individual health and quality of life, while also imposing a substantial societal burden. Baicalein, a natural flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, demonstrates a range of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antibacterial properties. This positions it as a promising candidate for the treatment of IVDD through intradiscal drug delivery. However, local degenerative processes and the inherently low fluid exchange within the intervertebral disk are likely to affect drug retention. In this study, we developed baicalein-loaded porous silk fibroin microspheres to extend the drug release profile. Baicalein-loaded porous silk fibroin microspheres were prepared by electrostatic spraying. Subsequent characterization and evaluation of their intrinsic properties were conducted using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The findings of our study demonstrated that baicalein-loaded porous silk fibroin microspheres exhibited a sustained drug release profile. Consequently, these microspheres effectively inhibited the senescence of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), which induced by Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). Mechanistic investigation utilizing transcriptome sequencing revealed that the NF-κB signaling pathway is involved in the effects of baicalein-loaded porous silk fibroin microspheres. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that the microspheres exhibited excellent biocompatibility in rats subcutaneous implantation model. Collectively, we developed a promising biomaterial for the treatment of IVDD, warranting further systematic preclinical investigation.

Developing an accurate and ultrasensitive method for the simultaneous detection of baicalin and baicalein, two key flavonoid from Scutellaria baicalensis, is critical, particularly in the context of traditional Chinese medicine. This study focuses on an innovative electrochemical approach, utilizing a biochar (BC)/ZIF-67/MnCo₂O₄ composite, which was fabricated via a combination of ultrasonic, calcination, and hydrothermal treatments. The resulting BC/ZIF-67/MnCo₂O₄ electrode exhibits exceptional sensitivity, with linear response ranges of 0.01 μM-400 μM. The limits of detection (LOD) for baicalein and baicalin were as low as 0.056 nM and 0.49 nM, respectively. The practical evaluations in serum and Scutellaria baicalensis demonstrate high recovery rates of 93.65 %-95.25 % for baicalein and 98.23 %-101.52 % for baicalin, with relative standard deviations below 3.99 % and 2.92 %, respectively. This study not only presents a promising technique for quality control in traditional Chinese medicine but also expands the potential applications of BC/ZIF-67/MnCo₂O₄ composites in electrochemical sensing, paving the way for applications in food safety monitoring and herbal medicine standardization.