The flavonoid baicalein (in Chinese: Huangqin) has long been used as a popular antibacterial and antiviral agent.293 Near the end of the last century, Afanas’ev et al. reported that baicalein exerts its protective role against oxidative damage by inhibiting the iron-catalyzed Fenton reaction.294 In addition, baicalein is a specific antagonist of ALOX12 and was shown to protect against I/R-induced heart injury in mice.295 Subsequently, Leyen et al. proposed that baicalein may also protect against I/R-induced brain injury by inhibiting ALOX12/15 (ref. 296). This evidence concerns the gene ALOX12 and brain injury.