The Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Mechanisms of Baicalin on Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic autoimmune disease clinically, with persistent synovial inflammation as its core pathological feature. However, current treatment strategies often face limitations in efficacy and significant side effects. Baicalin, the main active flavonoid component of the traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria baicalensis, possesses various pharmacological activities, including but not limited to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. This article focuses on exploring how the anti-inflammatory effect of baicalin plays a role in the treatment of RA, systematically discussing the molecular mechanism of baicalin from the perspectives of NF-κB and TLR signaling pathways and their synergistic regulatory effects, and showcasing the research progress of baicalin in current treatment. Studies have shown that baicalin can significantly downregulate the expression and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β by inhibiting the activation of TLR2 and TLR4 receptors and blocking the TLR and NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, baicalin can inhibit the abnormal proliferation of synovial fibroblasts, induce their apoptosis, alleviate synovial inflammation and pannus formation, and delay the pathological progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, the main problem facing baicalin is its low bioavailability. In the future, priority should be given to researching its drug delivery system and conducting high-quality clinical trials to facilitate the clinical translation and application of baicalin in the treatment of RA.