Antifibrotic Effect of Baicalin on Arecoline Induced Human Oral Fibroblast: An In-Vitro Study.

Abstract

Baicalin is a flavonoid obtained from the Chinese herb Scutellaria baicalensis, which has a wide varieties of health benefits and scope to be studied for its therapeutic potential in oral fibrosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the antifibrotic effect of a Baicalin in arecoline induced human oral fibroblast in vitro setting. Arecoline and ethanolic extracts of Baicalin were commercially purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. Human oral fibroblasts were cultured and characterized with specific fibroblast markers, and cells were stimulated with arecoline. An MTT assay (3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) was executed to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of arecoline and Baicalin. Arecoline-induced cells (25µg/ml) were treated with a non-toxic dose of Baicalin (proliferative dose of 25µg/ml). Cytokine (CCL2, CXCL-8, IL17, IL-beta, and IL-6) and fibrotic marker genes were studied by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The inhibitory effect of Baicalin was studied to prove its antifibrotic properties. Arecoline significantly upregulated all inflammatory and fibrotic markers. On treatment with 25µg/ml of Baicalin, all inflammatory and fibrotic markers were inhibited. Arecoline affects fibroblast morphology, supporting the fact that arecoline is cytotoxic to cells. Baicalin can be used as an antifibrotic herb to treat OSMF.