Studies on Scutellariae Radix. V. Effects on Ethanol-induced Hyperlipemia and Lipolysis in Isolated Fat Cells

The effects of oral administration of flavonoid components of Scutellariae Radix on serum and liver lipid levels of rats treated with ethanol were investigated. It was found that wogonin reduced serum triglyceride level, and that baicalein and baicalin, the major components of the drug, decreased total cholesterol, free cholesterol and triglyceride contents in the liver. Baicalein increased high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-ch) in the serum of the ethanol-treated rats. In addition to these in vivo experiments, the actions of wogonin, baicalein and baicalin on catecholamine-induced lipolysis in isolated fat cells were investigated. It was found that the three flavones inhibited noradrenaline-induced lipolysis in isolated fat cells. The relationship between these in vivo and in vitro experiments is discussed.