A new study published online ahead of print in the journal Pharmacology and Pulmonology Therapeutics demonstrates the effectiveness of the Chinese herb known as scutellaria root in reducing airway inflammation caused by cigarette smoke exposure.
Scutellaria root, also known as Chinese Skull Cap, contains an extract called baicalin. According to the study’s authors, baicalin has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties in a number of other studies. However, the study authors note that baicalin has never been previously evaluated in relation to its impact on inflammation caused by cigarette smoke among COPD patients. (Lixuan Z, et al, Baicalin attenuates inflammation by inhibiting NF-kB activation in cigarette smoke induced inflammatory models, Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2010, doi:10.1016/j.pupt.2010.05.004)
Therefore, the research team set out to evaluate baicalin’s ability to reduce airway inflammation caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. The study was based on a “rat model” which simply means the researchers used laboratory rats instead of human subjects (this is a common practice for many dietary supplement studies because it is easier to control external variables in laboratory animals in comparison human subjects and such a study is less expensive to undertake). So while the results of the study are promising, more research will be required (preferably using live human subjects) before a wide cross section of pulmonology professionals will support the conclusions. Nevertheless, the results of the study are worth your attention in our opinion.
To begin, the study authors describe the impact of cigarette smoke on the lungs as follows: “Smoking is one of the main causes of COPD. CS (cigarette smoke) directly damages airway epithelium (lining of lung tissue) and activates macrophages and lymphocytes (white blood cells) to generate pre-inflammatory cytokines TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-8 (cytokines are proteins that signal the production of other white blood cells). It then activates neutrophils (white blood cells) leading to chronic bronchial inflammation and emphysema.” In other words, cigarette smoke triggers production of cytokines and neutrophils and the higher the level of cytokines and neutrophils, the higher the level of airway inflammation.
So in the study, the authors sought to evaluate the impact of varying dosages of baicalin on these immune response components (white blood cells and proteins that signal their production), and in turn determine baicalin’s impact on lung tissue inflammation.
The research team used 36 rats in the study and divided them into a control group which was not exposed to cigarette smoke and five other groups that were exposed to cigarette smoke over the 5 week study period (one group exposed to cigarette smoke with no treatment, another group given a prescription drug known to reduce inflammation called DMX or dexamethasone, a group given 20 milligrams of baicalin per 1 kilogram of body weight, a group given 40mg/1kg of baicalin, and the final group provided 80mg/1kg of baicalin).
After the 5 week period the rats were euthanized and their tissues were evaluated for the presence of inflammation and the specific immune response components mentioned above. They discovered that in every component measured, baicalin markedly reduced the precursors of inflammation and by extension the inflammation itself.
As the authors explained, “Our COPD rat models showed characteristic pathological changes of chronic bronchitis in the trachea and bronchi and the alveolar type of emphysema. These pathological changes in rats are consistent with human chronic bronchitis and obstructive pulmonary disease. Percentage of neutrophils of CS group was significantly higher than Control group. It indicated that CS exposure can induce a significant increase of neutrophil percentage. In addition, the difference of neutrophil percentage is the largest in the differential leukocyte counting items. Thus the COPD inflammation is mainly caused by neutrophil inflammation. According to Table 1, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg dosage baicalin reduced total leukocyte count by 33%, 47% and 54% respectively. It revealed that baicalin has substantial anti-inflammatory effect on rats with COPD.”
There are no human dosage level recommendations available today for smokers and COPD patients but hopefully other researchers will follow up this research with human studies that provide better direction.
In the interim, there are some Chinese Skullcap dietary supplements available online and in health food retail stores. The most common dosage range we’ve seen advertised is between 100-200mg daily dosage. Be sure to look at the supplement facts box to ensure the formula contains the extract baicalin. Also be aware that just because a supplement facts box says there is 200mg of scutellaria root it does not mean that it has 200mg of the active ingredient baicalin. This is a common trick among supplement marketers to make it appear they have more of a particular herbal ingredient than is really present in the formula. Look for formulas which indicate the concentration of baicalin (such a label would say something like 200mg of scutellaria root, baicalin 20% concentration - meaning that there is actually only 40mg of baicalin in the formula). At least you will know the manufacturers of such products are being open and honest about what is in their product if they describe the baicalin concentration in the supplement facts box. Also, as always, please make sure you consult with your physician before taking any dietary supplement to ensure that there are no counter indications with your current medications or particular situation.
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