Medicinal Plants Classification Biosynthesis and ... - Index of

In: Medicinal Plants: Classification, Biosynthesis... ISBN: 978-1-60876-027-5
Editor: Alejandro Varela and Jasiah Ibañez © 2009 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Chapter 4
Biosyntheses and Bioactivities of
Flavonoids in the Medicinal Plant
Scutellaria Baicalensis
Hua-Bin Li 1,2* , Dan Li 1 , Ren-You Gan 1 , Feng-Lin Song 1 ,
Lei Kuang 1 and Feng Chen 2
1 School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
2 Department of Botany, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Abstract
Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is one of the most widely used medicinal plants, and
is officially listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Its roots have been used for antiinflammation,
anticancer, decreasing blood pressures, reducing the total cholesterol level,
treating bacterial and viral infections of the respiratory and the gastrointestinal tract,
cleaning away heat, moistening aridity, purging fire and detoxifying toxicosis. This plant
also possesses cholagogic, diuretic, and cathartic actions. Some concentrated composite
herbal preparations containing Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi as a major ingredient in
their prescriptions are widely used in oriental countries. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi
contains a variety of flavones, phenylethanoids, amino acids, sterols and essential oils. Its
dried roots contain over 30 kinds of flavonoids, such as baicalin, baicalein, wogonin,
wogonin 7-O-glucuronide and oroxylin A. The flavonoids are the main active
components in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. This chapter provides up-to-date coverage
of this class of flavonoids in regard to chemical structures, natural resources,
biosyntheses, analytical methods and biological activities. Special attention is paid to
both biosyntheses and biological activities including antioxidant and free radical
scavenging, anti-inflammation, anticancer, antibacterium, anti-HIV, anti-hepatitis B
virus, anti-respiratory syncytial virus and anti-SARS coronavirus properties. The
*Corresponding author: Tel.: 86-20-87332391; Fax: 86-20-87330446; E-mail: hbli2000@yahoo.com.
Reviewed by Professor Feng Chen in Department of Botany, The University of Hong Kong.