Study on the targeted regulation of Scutellaria baicalensis leaf on glutamine–glutamate metabolism and glutathione synthesis in the liver of d-gal ageing rats.

The article focuses on investigating the anti-ageing mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis leaf (SLE), the above-ground part of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, in the liver of D-galactose-induced ageing rats. Using non-targeted metabolomics combined with targeted quantitative and molecular biology analyses, the study identified that SLE ameliorates ageing-related metabolic disturbances primarily by regulating the glutamine–glutamate metabolic pathway and glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Additionally, SLE modulated key enzymes involved in these pathways and activated the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway, enhancing the expression of cytoprotective proteins such as Nrf2, GCLC, GCLM, HO-1, and NQO1, which are associated with antioxidant defense. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of SLE as a resource with potential anti-ageing effects linked to oxidative stress reduction and metabolic regulation in the liver.