Baicalin, a metabolite of baicalein with antiviral activity against dengue virus

• Authors: Ehsan Moghaddam, University of Malaya; Boon-Teong Teoh, University of Malaya; Sing-Sin Sam, University of Malaya; Rafidah Lani, University of Malaya; Pouya Hassandarvish, University of Malaya; Zamri Chik, University of Malaya; Andrew Yueh, National Health Research Institutes; Sazaly Abubakar, University of Malaya; Keivan Zandi, Emory University
• Journal Title: Scientific Reports
• Volume: Volume 4, Number 1
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group: Open Access Journals - Option C | 2014-06-26, Pages 5452-5452
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/srep05452
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Pharmacology; Biology, Microbiology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Science & Technology - Other Topics; IN-VITRO; FLAVONOIDS; TYPE-2; DISCOVERY; REPLICATION; CELLS

Abstract

Baicalin, a flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, is the main metabolite of baicalein released following administration in different animal models and human. We previously reported the antiviral activity of baicalein against dengue virus (DENV). Here, we examined the anti-DENV properties of baicalin in vitro, and described the inhibitory potentials of baicalin at different steps of DENV-2 (NGC strain) replication. Our in vitro antiviral experiments showed that baicalin inhibited virus replication at IC 50 = 13.5 ± 0.08 1/4g/ml with SI = 21.5 following virus internalization by Vero cells. Baicalin exhibited virucidal activity against DENV-2 extracellular particles at IC 50 = 8.74 ± 0.08â 1/4g/ml and showed anti-adsorption effect with IC 50 = 18.07 ± 0.2â 1/4g/ml. Our findings showed that baicalin as the main metabolite of baicalein exerting in vitro anti-DENV activity. Further investigations on baicalein and baicalin to deduce its antiviral therapeutic effects are warranted.