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| Baicalein — Baicalein is a polyphenolic flavone aglycone found primarily in Scutellaria baicalensis and related botanicals, and is the active unconjugated counterpart of baicalin after intestinal/microbial deconjugation and re-conjugation cycling. It is formally classified as a small-molecule natural-product flavonoid with pleiotropic signaling, redox, metabolic, and enzyme-modulatory activity. Standard abbreviations include Ba or BE. In cancer literature it is best characterized as a multi-target preclinical anticancer scaffold rather than an established oncology drug, with relatively strong mechanistic support for apoptosis induction, survival-pathway suppression, anti-invasive signaling, and 12-lipoxygenase inhibition, but with major translational constraints from poor aqueous solubility, extensive first-pass glucuronidation/sulfation, transporter-enzyme interactions, and the likelihood that many in-vitro exposure levels exceed typical systemic aglycone exposure. Primary mechanisms (ranked):
Bioavailability / PK relevance: Oral translation is constrained by very low water solubility and extensive intestinal/hepatic phase-II metabolism to glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. Human phase-I data show rapid absorption of tablet formulations with peak plasma levels around 2 hours, steady state after repeated dosing, and major circulating/excreted metabolite burden rather than sustained high parent-aglycone exposure. Microbiota, UGT-dependent reconjugation, and transporter/CYP interactions are clinically relevant variables. Intestinal microbiota are mechanistically relevant because baicalin is converted to baicalein before absorption. Poor translational PK is reinforced by very low aqueous solubility, reported around 16.82 μg/mL, and by formulation studies showing large exposure gains after cocrystal/nanodelivery approaches. In-vitro vs systemic exposure relevance: Many anticancer cell studies use roughly 10–50 μM and sometimes higher. That generally exceeds typical reported average human plasma exposure for parent baicalein after oral dosing, so direct translation of higher-concentration in-vitro effects should be treated cautiously unless formulation enhancement, local delivery, tissue enrichment, conjugate deconjugation, or combination use is specifically justified. Clinical evidence status: Strong preclinical evidence across multiple tumor models; limited animal efficacy support; human clinical experience is mainly phase-I safety/PK and non-oncology development contexts. There is no established cancer indication or mainstream regulatory oncology deployment as of March 12, 2026. Here are some of the key pathways and mechanisms implicated in its anticancer effects:-Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Regulation -Reactive Oxygen Species ROS↑ Generation and Oxidative Stress (Context and dose dependent) - ROS↑ related: MMP↓">MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, Ca+2↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspase-3↑, Caspase-9↑, DNA damage↑, -Baicalein’s effects on ROS are context-dependent. In some cancer cells, it promotes ROS production to a degree that overwhelms the antioxidant defenses. Elevated ROS levels can damage cellular components and promote apoptosis, essentially tipping the balance toward cell death. -Conversely, in normal cells, baicalein may exhibit antioxidant properties and reduce ROS↓ under conditions of oxidative stress, highlighting its dual role. - May Lowers AntiOxidant defense in Cancer Cells: NRF2↓, GSH↓, HO-1↓ - Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑, HO-1↑, -MAPK, ERK Pathway: -PI3K/Akt Pathway: Inhibition of the PI3K, Akt pathway by baicalein. -NF-κB Pathway: Baicalein can inhibit -Inhibition of Metastasis and Invasion: Baicalein can downregulate MMPs">MMPs, MMP2">MMP2, MMP9">MMP9 -Angiogenesis Suppression: VEGF -Baicalein is a well-known inhibitor of 12-lipoxygenase -inhibitor of Glycolysis↓ and HIF-1α↓, PKM2↓, cMyc↓, PDK1↓, GLUT1↓, LDHA↓, HK2↓ - promoting PTEN -chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, cardioProtective, - Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells -low bioavailability but liposomal may improve bioavailability In summary, baicalein affects cancer cells by modulating multiple pathways—promoting apoptosis, causing cell cycle arrest, generating or modulating ROS levels, inhibiting survival and proliferative signaling (such as MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB pathways), and reducing angiogenesis and metastasis. Many animal studies, doses have been reported in the range of approximately 10 to 200 mg/kg body weight. For example, some studies exploring anticancer or anti-inflammatory effects in rodent models have used doses around 50–100 mg/kg. However, these doses do not directly translate to human dosages. Some human studies or formulations (where they are used as nutraceuticals or supplements) may suggest dosing in the range of a few hundred milligrams per day of the extract, but it is often not standardized to a specific amount of baicalein or baicalin. -mix with oil? -ic50 cancer cells 10-30uM, normal cells 50-100uM -Animal studies, 10 to 100 mg/kg. -Reported to induce apoptosis, cause cell cycle arrest, inhibit angiogenesis, and modulate various signaling pathways (e.g., STAT3, NF-κB, MAPK). Mechanistic table
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| Destruction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, which is widely regarded as one of the earliest events in the process of cell apoptosis. Mitochondria are organelles within eukaryotic cells that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy molecule used by the cell. For this reason, the mitochondrion is sometimes referred to as “the powerhouse of the cell”. Mitochondria produce ATP through process of cellular respiration—specifically, aerobic respiration, which requires oxygen. The citric acid cycle, or Krebs cycle, takes place in the mitochondria. The mitochondrial membrane potential is widely used in assessing mitochondrial function as it relates to the mitochondrial capacity of ATP generation by oxidative phosphorylation. The mitochondrial membrane potential is a reliable indicator of mitochondrial health. In cancer cells, ΔΨm is often decreased, which can lead to changes in cellular metabolism, increased glycolysis, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and altered cell death pathways. The membrane of malignant mitochondria is hyperpolarized (−220 mV) in comparison to their healthy counterparts (−160 mV), which facilitates the penetration of positively charged molecules to the cancer cells mitochondria. The MMP is a critical indicator of mitochondrial function, directly reflecting the organelle's capacity to generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. |
| 2617- | Ba, | Potential of baicalein in the prevention and treatment of cancer: A scientometric analyses based review |
| - | Review, | Var, | NA |
| 5502- | Ba, | An overview of pharmacological activities of baicalin and its aglycone baicalein: New insights into molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways |
| - | Review, | Var, | NA |
| 5501- | Ba, | Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action of Baicalein on stomach cancer: a comprehensive systematic literature review |
| - | Review, | GC, | NA |
| 5250- | Ba, | Exploring baicalein: A natural flavonoid for enhancing cancer prevention and treatment |
| - | Review, | Var, | NA |
| 5248- | Ba, | BA, | doxoR, | Baicalin and Baicalein Enhance Cytotoxicity, Proapoptotic Activity, and Genotoxicity of Doxorubicin and Docetaxel in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells |
| - | in-vitro, | BC, | MCF-7 | - | in-vitro, | Nor, | HUVECs |
| 1533- | Ba, | Baicalein, as a Prooxidant, Triggers Mitochondrial Apoptosis in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells Through Mobilization of Intracellular Copper and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation |
| - | in-vitro, | BrCC, | MCF-7 | - | in-vitro, | Nor, | MCF10 |
| 1532- | Ba, | Baicalein as Promising Anticancer Agent: A Comprehensive Analysis on Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives |
| - | Review, | NA, | NA |
| 1524- | Ba, | Baicalein Induces Caspase‐dependent Apoptosis Associated with the Generation of ROS and the Activation of AMPK in Human Lung Carcinoma A549 Cells |
| - | in-vitro, | Lung, | A549 |
| 1521- | Ba, | Baicalein induces apoptosis via ROS-dependent activation of caspases in human bladder cancer 5637 cells |
| - | in-vitro, | Bladder, | 5637 |
| 1288- | Ba, | The Traditional Chinese Medicine Baicalein Potently Inhibits Gastric Cancer Cells |
| - | in-vitro, | GC, | SGC-7901 |
| 2476- | Ba, | Baicalein Induces Caspase-dependent Apoptosis Associated with the Generation of ROS and the Activation of AMPK in Human Lung Carcinoma A549 Cells |
| - | in-vitro, | Lung, | A549 |
| 2599- | Ba, | Baicalein induces apoptosis and autophagy of breast cancer cells via inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway in vivo and vitro |
| - | in-vitro, | BC, | MCF-7 | - | in-vitro, | BC, | MDA-MB-231 | - | in-vivo, | NA, | NA |
| 2477- | Ba, | Baicalein induces apoptosis via a mitochondrial-dependent caspase activation pathway in T24 bladder cancer cells |
| - | in-vitro, | CRC, | T24/HTB-9 |
| 2296- | Ba, | The most recent progress of baicalein in its anti-neoplastic effects and mechanisms |
| - | Review, | Var, | NA |
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers. Such Conditions may include : -low or high Dose -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations -different cell line effects -synergies with other products -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
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