Research progress on pharmacological effects and new dosage forms of baicalin

BACKGROUND: As a kind of flavonoid, baicalin (C(21)H(18)O(11)) is extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, the extract of which can be added to animal feed in China. OBJECTIVES: The present review will describe the current understanding of the pharmacological effects of baicalin in the regulation of inflammation, oxidative stress anti‐virus and anti‐tumour responses. METHODS: We highlight emerging literature that the application in livestock health and performance, the biological activities, the molecular mechanisms and the dosage forms of baicalin by analysing and summarising the main points of the cited literatures. RESULTS: It is found that baicalin can improve the functions of multiple physiological systems. Baicalin has a strong anti‐inflammatory effect by regulating TLR4‐NFκB‐MAPK signalling pathway; it also can reduce oxidative stress by regulating Nrf2–Keap1 pathway; it can inhabit many kinds of virus such as influenza virus, respiratory virus, hepacivirus and others; it can also inhibit the growth of tumour cells by blocking the cell cycle or inducing apoptosis; and new dosage forms such as cationic solid lipid nanoparticles, cyclodextrin inclusion complexes or nanocrystalline can be applied to improve the deficiency of baicalin. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, these studies have elucidated a comprehensive report on the anti‐inflammatory, anti‐oxidant, anti‐virus and anti‐tumour of baicalin, these findings thus indicated that baicalin can be used effectively to the field of animal production in future when the appropriate dosage form is determined.