黄芩,由古籍里走进现代生活的药用植物

Huang Qin, an Medicinal Plant Recorded in Ancient Books and Used in Modern Times

黄芩作为传统的药用植物,以其根部入药,主治呼吸道感染、腹泻、痢疾、肝脏疾病等,在中国已有数千年的使用历史。本文综述了药用植物黄芩的古代文献记载及使用历史、活性成分及其药理作用现代研究。黄芩的活性成分主要为黄酮类,如黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷及其苷配基黄芩素、汉黄芩素,这些化合物具有抗癌、护肝、抗病毒等多种药理作用。本文也介绍了黄芩相关生物技术及黄芩黄酮的代谢生物学研究进展,探讨了黄芩生物学研究方面的发展趋势,以期为相关研究的未来发展方向提供一定的参考。

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, or Huang qin, has been widely used in China during its long history as a kind of herb. Its dried root has been used in the treatment of respiratory infections, diarrhea, dysentery and liver problems, etc. In this paper, we reviewed the history of the utilization of Huang qin and its active components and their pharmacological properties in the treatment of diseases. The bioactive compounds in Huang qin were baicalin, wogonoside and baicaleinand wogonin. These flavones performed various pharmacological activities, including anti-cancer, hepatoprotection, antibacterial and antiviral, antioxidant, anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects. We also made the recent progresses on the investigations of biosynthesis of flavones in the plant and the biotechnologies involved, and discussed the developing trends in this area in hopes of providing references for related studies.