Effect of baicalein from Scutellaria baicalensis on prevention of noise-induced hearing loss

• Published in: Neuroscience letters 2010-01, Vol.469 (3), p.298-302
• Main Authors: Kang, Tong Ho, Hong, Bin Na, Park, Channy, Kim, Se Young, Park, Raekil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation; Animals; Auditory; Auditory Perception - drug effects; Auditory Threshold - drug effects; Baicalein; Biological and medical sciences; Cochlea - drug effects; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; Flavanones - administration & dosage; Flavanones - chemistry; Flavanones - pharmacology; Flavonoids - administration & dosage; Flavonoids - chemistry; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - drug therapy; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - prevention & control; Hearing Tests; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Mouse; Neuroprotective Agents - administration & dosage; Neuroprotective Agents - chemistry; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Noise-induced hearing loss; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Scutellaria baicalensis; Scutellaria baicalensis - chemistry; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.12.009

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) has been thought to primarily involve damage to the sensory hair cells of the cochlea via mechanical and metabolic mechanisms. This study examined the effects of baicalin, baicalein, and Scutellaria baicalensis ( SB) extract against NIHL in a mouse model. Mice received oral treatment with SB, baicalin, baicalein beginning 30 min prior to noise exposure and continuing once daily throughout the study. Hearing threshold shift was assessed by auditory brain stem responses for 35 days following noise exposure. Central auditory function was evaluated by auditory middle latency responses. Cochlear function was determined based on transient evoked otoacoustic emissions. SB significantly reduced threshold shift, central auditory function damage, and cochlear function deficits, suggesting that SB may protect auditory function in NIHL and that the active constituent may be a flavonoid, baicalein.