ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Predictive Toxicology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1607919
This article is part of the Research TopicShaping the Future of Predictive Toxicology: Addressing Challenges and New Approach MethodologiesView all 3 articles
Integrated Neurobehavioral and Organ-Specific Safety Profiling of Baicalin: Acute/Subacute Toxicity Studies
Provisionally accepted
- 1Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- 2Hebei Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
- 3Hospital of Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
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Abstract Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Baicalin, an extract derived from the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Huang Qin), has demonstrated neuroprotective properties. Nonetheless, the safety profile of baicalin has not yet been fully elucidated. Aim of the study: The objective was to characterize the acute and subacute toxicity profiles of baicalin across various organ systems, thereby establishing safe therapeutic windows for its clinical application in the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Materials and Methods: Acute toxicity was assessed at 4000 mg/kg (OECD 423), while subacute toxicity evaluated escalating doses (1000–4000 mg/kg; OECD 407). Endpoints included survival, general behaviours, behavioral alterations, hematological/biochemical parameters, organ coefficients, and histopathology of brain, liver, and kidney. Results: Acute exposure showed no mortality (LD50 >4000 mg/kg) or lasting physiological effects, with only transient gastrointestinal symptoms in one subject. Subacute administration caused temporary gastrointestinal issues and occasional compulsive behaviors, all resolving within 24 hours. Behavioral assessments indicated intact neurocognitive function and emotional stability. Hematological profiles revealed sex-specific responses, with males showing higher lymphocyte percentages and females demonstrating renal changes. Biochemical analyses indicated liver metabolic changes, including alkaline phosphatase suppression and reduced triglycerides, along with mild nephrotoxic signs. Histopathological evaluations confirmed non-necrotic liver stress and unchanged hippocampal structure. Conclusions: Baicalin showed high acute safety with an LD50 over 4000 mg/kg in mice, and a subacute no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of 2000 mg/kg, indicating its potential as a neuroprotective agent. However, 4000 mg/kg doses led to reversible hepatorenal toxicity and biochemical alterations, highlighting the need to monitor organ function during extended high-dose use.
Keywords: Baicalin1, Acute toxicity2, Subacute toxicity3, Behavioral tests4, Histopathology5, HematologyAbstract6
Received: 08 Apr 2025; Accepted: 14 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Yang, Chen, Zhang, Liu, Zhao, Ping, Lu, He and Pei. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Lin Pei, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
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