描述
Baicalein, also known as 5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone or baicalein (old), is a member of the class of compounds known as flavones. Flavones are flavonoids with a structure based on the backbone of 2-phenylchromen-4-one (2-phenyl-1-benzopyran-4-one). Thus, baicalein is considered to be a flavonoid lipid molecule. Baicalein is practically insoluble (in water) and a very weakly acidic compound (based on its pKa). Baicalein can be found in welsh onion, which makes baicalein a potential biomarker for the consumption of this food product. Baicalein, along with its analogue baicalin, is a positive allosteric modulator of the benzodiazepine site and/or a non-benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor. It displays subtype selectivity for α2 and α3 subunit-containing GABAA receptors. In accordance, baicalein shows anxiolytic effects in mice without incidence of sedation or myorelaxation. It is thought that baicalein, along with other flavonoids, may underlie the anxiolytic effects of S. baicalensis and S. lateriflora. Baicalein is also an antagonist of the estrogen receptor, or an antiestrogen .