wogonin and Atherosclerosis

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of protein kinase enzymes that can phosphorylate other proteins and influence their functions, such as signal transduction, cell survival, and death. Increased diacylglycerol (DAG) concentrations, which are typically observed raised in hyperglycemic situations such as diabetes mellitus, can also activate PKC enzymes (DM). On the other hand, PKC isomers have been shown to play an essential role in diabetes and many hyperglycemic complications, most importantly atherosclerosis and diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). As a result, blocking PKC activation via DAG can prevent hyperglycemia and related consequences, such as DCM. Wogonin is a herbal medicine which has anti-inflammatory properties, and investigations show that it scavenge oxidative radicals, attenuate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity, inhibit several essential cell cycle regulatory genes, block nitric oxide (NO) and suppress cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX-2). Furthermore, several investigations show that wogonin also attenuates diacylglycerol DAG levels in diabetic mice. Since the DAG-PKC pathway is linked with hyperglycemia and its complications, Wogonin-mediated DAG-PKC attenuation can help treat hyperglycemia and its complications.

Topics: Animals; Atherosclerosis; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies; Diglycerides; Flavanones; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Protein Kinase C

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (S. baicalensis) is a widely used herb in traditional medical systems of China and Japan. The major constituents of S. baicalensis are flavonoids: baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, which have been associated with various properties, for example: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, antibacterial, antiviral. Atherosclerosis is a multiple factors disease, in which the main roles play oxidant stress, endothelium dysfunction and disorders ofhemostasis. It is supposed that flavonoids from S. baicalensis roots in the nearest future could be use in the primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerosis.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Anticoagulants; Antioxidants; Atherosclerosis; China; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flavanones; Flavones; Flavonoids; Free Radical Scavengers; Humans; Japan; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; Scutellaria baicalensis