Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action of Baicalein on stomach cancer: a comprehensive systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND

Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer (GC), is a major global health problem characterized by the malignant proliferation of cells in the gastrointestinal lining. Recent studies have highlighted the potential therapeutic effects of natural compounds, including baicalein (BC), a flavonoid derived from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of action of BC in stomach cancer.

METHOD: The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to March 2025.

RESULTS

The review demonstrated that BC exerts therapeutic effects on GC through multiple biochemical mechanisms. BC plays an important role in inducing apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, and suppressing metastasis in GC cells. It also modulates several signaling pathways, including phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), leading to the downregulation of oncogenes.

CONCLUSION

Given its effects on GC progression, BC may serve as a potential adjuvant therapy. However, to confirm its clinical benefits, well-designed human studies in GC patients are required.