Exploring Bioactive Constituents and Pharmacological Effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi: A Review

Abstract

Scutellaria baicalensis, commonly known as Chinese Skullcap, is a traditional herb with a long history of cultural use in Chinese medicines. This review focuses on a comprehensive summary of the morphological description, bioactive compounds, drug-herb interactions, and pharmacological activities of Scutellaria baicalensis, as well as its therapeutic applications. A wide-ranging search using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and advanced search on the Web was conducted for data collection from prior studies. The plant root contains major active constituents including flavonoids and flavo-glycosides such as wogonin, baicalein, baicalin, oroxylin A, scutellarein, and norwogonin. These compounds have demonstrated a variety of pharmacological activities, combating inflammation, oxidative stress, cancer, neuronal disorders, and liver disorders. Chinese Skullcap represents a promising avenue for potential pharmacotherapeutic formulation advancement, emphasizing the need for further scientific exploration and clinical trials.