Looking for materials from Scutellaria baicalensis to improve oral inflammation and eliminate bad breath led to one new compound, 5,7,2',5'-tetrahydroxy-6'-methoxyflavone (1) and 32 known ones. Among of them, 3 flavones (11, 17, 18), 2 dihydroflavones (23, 25), 2 flavone glucosides (30, 32), and a chalcone (26) could inhibit oral anaerobic bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus mutans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Compounds 3, 14, 18 could inhibit oral bacterial Staphylococcus aureus. Compounds 5, 8, 13 and 21 exhibited strong inhibitory NO production. Additionally, 14 and 26 showed good COX-1/2 inhibitory effects. These results indicated S. baicalensis has potential oral health benefits.
Keywords: NO; Scutellaria baicalensis; anaerobes COX; flavonoids; oral health promotion.