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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Nov;91(13):706-729.
doi: 10.1055/a-2615-8249. Epub 2025 Jul 24.

Preclinical Evaluation of Baicalin for the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hengtong An #  1 , Luyao Liu #  1 , Tongtong He #  1 , Xiaohan Chen  1 , Xiaofei Jin  1   2 , Xiaohong Zhou  1   2 , Weijuan Gao  1   2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Preclinical Evaluation of Baicalin for the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hengtong An et al. Planta Med. 2025 Nov.

Abstract

Scutellaria baicalensis, a widely used medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine, is frequently employed in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Its primary active constituent, baicalin, has shown significant therapeutic potential in animal models of DN; however, no comprehensive and systematic evaluation of its therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms in DN has yet been conducted. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of baicalin in DN treatment and elucidate its pharmacological mechanisms. Relevant studies were retrieved from databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VPCS, covering the literature up to November 2024. Study quality was evaluated using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool, and statistical analyses were performed with STATA 12. Primary outcomes included blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCR), and fasting blood glucose (FBG), while secondary outcomes encompassed urinary protein (UP), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), inflammatory markers, fibrosis indicators, and oxidative stress parameters. Subgroup analyses, publication bias assessments, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure result reliability. A total of 14 studies involving 221 rodents met the inclusion criteria. Baicalin significantly reduced BUN, SCR, FBG, TG, TC, UP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), and fibronectin (FN) levels while enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. These findings suggest that baicalin improves kidney function, reduces proteinuria, corrects lipid metabolism, and alleviates inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. This meta-analysis concludes that baicalin exhibits significant therapeutic potential in DN models, acting via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrotic mechanisms.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The chemical structure of baicalin.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Selection of studies for the meta-analysis.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Risk of bias graph.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on BUN level ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Forest plot: impact of Baicalin on SCR level ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on FBG level ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on UP level ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on TG level ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on TC level ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on IL-6 level ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 11
Fig. 11
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on IL-1 β level ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 12
Fig. 12
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on TNF- α level ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 13
Fig. 13
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on FN level ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 14
Fig. 14
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on MDA level ,  ,  ,  ,  .
Fig. 15
Fig. 15
Forest plot: impact of baicalin on SOD level ,  ,  .
Fig. 16
Fig. 16
Funnel plot for ( a ) BUN, ( b ) SCR, ( c ) FBG.
Fig. 17
Fig. 17
Eggerʼs publication bias plot for ( a ) BUN, ( b ) SCR, ( c ) FBG.
Fig. 18
Fig. 18
Trim-and-fill analysis for ( a ) BUN, ( b ) SCR, ( c ) FBG.
Fig. 19
Fig. 19
Dose–time–response plot of baicalin on ( a ) BUN, ( b ) SCR, ( c ) FBG. Each bubble represents a treatment subgroup with statistically significant improvement (P < 0.05). Bubble size corresponds to effect magnitude; x-axis indicates dose (mg/kg), and y-axis represents intervention duration (weeks).
Fig. 20
Fig. 20
Inflammatory Pathway Diagram. TLR4, Toll-like receptor 4; NLRP3, NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3; caspase-1, cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1; TNF- α , tumor necrosis factor-alpha; IL-6, Interleukin-6; IL-1 β , Interleukin-1 beta; Pro-IL-1 β , Pro-interleukin-1 beta; NF- κ B, Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells.
Fig. 21
Fig. 21
Fibrosis Mechanism Diagram. TGF- β , Transforming Growth Factor Beta; Smad3, Mothers Against Decapentaplegic Homolog 3; Smurf1, SMAD Ubiquitination Regulatory Factor 1; Smurf2, SMAD Ubiquitination Regulatory Factor 2; Smad7, SMAD Family Member 7; IL-37, Interleukin-37; CPT1A, Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1A; FAO, Fatty Acid Oxidation.
Fig. 22
Fig. 22
Oxidative Stress Mechanism Diagram. TGF- β , Transforming Growth Factor Beta; NF- κ B, Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; Smad3, Mothers Against Decapentaplegic Homolog 3; EPK1/2, Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2; NOX4, NADPH oxidase 4; SIRT, Silent Information Regulator; Nrf2, Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2.
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