Propylene Glycol Improves Stability of the Anti-Inflammatory Compounds in Scutellaria baicalensis Extract

Tseng-Ting Kao,Ming-Chao Wang,Yi-Hsuan Chen,Yu-Tung Chung,Pai-An Hwang

doi:10.3390/pr9050894

Tseng-Ting Kao, Ming-Chao Wang + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9050894

Copy DOI

Abstract

Scutellaria baicalensis root extracts have been useful for external skin care and have been commercialized for years. Here, a comprehensive study was conducted to investigate the difference between 20% propylene glycol (PG) and water used as the storage solvent for a time course analysis of their remaining biological activities and ingredient compositions versus their freshly prepared conditions. Of the four major components in the 20% PG solvent, more than 80% of the components were retained after storage for two months, but in water only baicalin and wogonin were retained. The relative antibacterial activities, antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory activities of the 20% PG solvent group were better than those of the water solvent group. Taken together, we demonstrated that these activities improved when PG, a common solvent used in many product formulas, was used as the storage solvent for the S. baicalensis extract.

Highlights

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Huang-qin in Chinese) is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines and is officially listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia
In Taiwan, S. baicalensis has been introduced as a medicinal plant [1] and is planted under the Taiwan Good Agriculture
The plant material S. baicalensis used in this study was cultivated and produced by following Taiwan Good Agricultural Practice (TGAP) guidance

Summary

Introduction

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Huang-qin in Chinese) is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines and is officially listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. This plant is widely distributed, especially in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and India, and it is found in Far East Russia, Siberia and Mongolia. S. baicalensis contains various bioactive flavonoid components, and the four major bioactive components are baicalin, its aglycone baicalein, wogonoside and its aglycone wogonin [2]. These flavonoids have a wide variety of physiological activities, whether they are taken internally or externally. S. baicalensis extracts have attracted interest worldwide for their external skin care and cosmeceutical benefits

Methods

Results

Conclusion