The Flavone Baicalein and Its Use in Gastrointestinal Disease

Abstract Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which involves the use of herbal medicinal products and supplements, has been practiced for thousands of years in China and other Asian countries. Baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone), the major bioactive flavone in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Huang Qin in Chinese), is one of the most commonly used herbal products in TCM. Baicalein and its active metabolite baicalin exhibit a range of chemical activities in the regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation response, cell differentiation, and cell death. Because of these properties, baicalein is used widely for the prevention and treatment of various human diseases including cancers, autoimmune disorders, neurological disorders, and inflammatory diseases. The current chapter summarizes the pharmacological effects of baicalein and its use in gastrointestinal disease.