Effectiveness of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi root in pregnancy-related diseases: A review / 中西医结合学报

The root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, also called Huangqin, is frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine. In ancient China, S. baicalensis root was used to clear heat, protect the fetus, and avoid a miscarriage for thousands of years. In modern times, pregnancy-related diseases can seriously affect maternal and fetal health, but few systematic studies have explored the mechanisms and potential targets of S. baicalensis root in the treatment of pregnancy-related diseases. Flavonoids (baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A) and flavonoid glycosides (baicalin and wogonoside) are the main chemical components in the root of S. baicalensis. This study presents the current understanding of the major chemical components in the root of S. baicalensis, focusing on their traditional uses, potential therapeutic effects and ethnopharmacological relevance to pregnancy-related disorders. The mechanisms, potential targets and experimental models of S. baicalensis root for ameliorating pregnancy-related diseases, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and gestational diabetes mellitus, are highlighted.

A genome-wide association study of important reproduction traits in large white pigs.

Augmenting the reproductive efficiency of sows remains the predominant challenge in the swine industry. This work was aimed at scrutinizing vital genetic markers for reproductive traits in this animal. This entailed probing of the records of vital attributes of Large White pigs (n = 695) inclusive of the total number of born (TNB), number of born alive (NBA), number of weaned pigs (NWP), number of healthy births (NHS), total litter weight of piglets born alive (BALWT), weaning litter weight (WNWT), and corrected litter weight at 21 days (W21). A genome-wide association study (GWAS) for the four litter traits and three traits of litter weight in the Denmark Large White population then ensued. We discovered seven significantly related SNPs and eleven potential candidate genes (e.g., TUSC3, THRB for TNB; STT3B for NBA). The subsequent functional enrichment analysis of these genes showed that the significant gene were associated with steroid hormone receptor activity. Our findings indicated that the genes TUSC3, THRB and STT3B probably contribute to litter traits in this population. This work reveals genetic mechanisms of reproduction traits and also supports ensuing genetic improvement employing marker-assisted selection in Large White pigs.