2. Academic Validation
  3. Flavones Isolated from Scutellariae radix Suppress Propionibacterium Acnes-Induced Cytokine Production In Vitro and In Vivo

Flavones Isolated from Scutellariae radix Suppress Propionibacterium Acnes-Induced Cytokine Production In Vitro and In Vivo

  • Molecules. 2015 Dec 24;21(1):E15. doi: 10.3390/molecules21010015.
Po-Jung Tsai 1,  Wen-Cheng Huang 2,  Ming-Chi Hsieh 3,  Ping-Jyun Sung 4 5,  Yueh-Hsiung Kuo 6 7,  Wen-Huey Wu 8
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Human Development and Family Studies, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 106, Taiwan. pjtsai@ntnu.edu.tw.
  • 2 Department of Human Development and Family Studies, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 106, Taiwan. tim810481@yahoo.com.tw.
  • 3 Department of Human Development and Family Studies, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 106, Taiwan. lillianhsieh11@gmail.com.
  • 4 National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung 944, Taiwan. pjsung@nmmba.gov.tw.
  • 5 Graduate Institute of Marine Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Pingtung 944, Taiwan. pjsung@nmmba.gov.tw.
  • 6 Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan. kuoyh@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
  • 7 Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung 413, Taiwan. kuoyh@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
  • 8 Department of Human Development and Family Studies, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 106, Taiwan. t10005@ntnu.edu.tw.
PMID: 26712724 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21010015
Abstract

Scutellariae radix, the root of Scutellaria baicalensis, has long been applied in traditional formulations and modern herbal medications. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) in follicles can trigger inflammation and lead to the symptom of inflammatory acnes vulgaris. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of Scutellariae radix extract and purified components isolated from it on inflammation induced by P. acnes in vitro and in vivo. The results showed the ethyl acetate (EA) soluble fraction from the partition of crude ethanolic extract from Scutellariae radix inhibited P. acnes-induced interleukin IL-8 and IL-1β production in human monocytic THP-1 cells. Seven Flavones were isolated from the EA fraction by repeated chromatographies, and identified as 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone (FL1, oroxylin), 5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone (FL2, wogonin), 5-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavone (FL3, 7-O-methylwogonin), 5,6'-dihydroxy-6,7,8,2'-tetramethoxy flavone (FL4, skullcapflavone II), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone (FL5), 5,2',6'-trihydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavone (FL6, viscidulin II), and 5,7,2',5'-tetrahydroxy-8,6'-dimethoxyflavone (FL7, ganhuangenin). They all significantly suppressed P. acnes-induced IL-8 and IL-1β production in THP-1 cells, and FL2 exerted the strongest effect with half maximal inhibition (IC50) values of 8.7 and 4.9 μM, respectively. Concomitant intradermal injection of each of the seven Flavones (20 μg) with P. acnes effectively attenuated P. acnes-induced ear swelling, and decreased the production of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in ear homogenates. Our results suggested that all the seven Flavones can be potential therapeutic agents against P. acnes-induced skin inflammation.

Keywords

Chinese herb; Propionibacterium acnes; Scutellariae radix; anti-inflammation; flavone.

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