Inhibition of rat liver NAD(P)H:quinone acceptor oxidoreductase (DT-diaphorase) by flavonoids isolated from the Chinese herb scutellariae radix (Huang Qin).

The glucuronide conjugates of oroxylin A and two other flavones, baicalein, and wogonin, were isolated from the methanol extract of the herb scutellariae radix (Huang Qin) and were found to be inhibitors of rat liver NAD(P)H:quinone acceptor oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.99.2). Baicalin (baicalein 7-O-glucuronide) and oroxylin-A 7-O-glucuronide are approximately 50-fold more potent than wogonin 7-O-glucuronide. The enzyme kinetic analysis revealed that oroxylin-A 7-O-glucuronide is a competitive inhibitor with respect to NADH (the electron donor), with a Ki value of 63 nM. Considering the similarities of their structures and inhibition kinetics to those of dicoumarol, it is thought that oroxylin-A 7-O-glucuronide and the other two flavonoids bind to an identical site and inhibit this quinone reductase in the same fashion as dicoumarol. The results also suggest that the inhibition of NAD(P)H:quinone acceptor oxidoreductase or another vitamin K reductase by oroxylin-A 7-O-glucuronide and the related flavonoids may be one of the steps associated with the anticoagulation action of the herb. These compounds are potentially useful anticoagulant drugs.