Baikal Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis)
Also called Chinese skullcap, Scutellaria baicalensis, huang qin, Scutellariae radix, baicalin.
Best grade C across 6 graded outcomes Botanical Last checked
The short answer
From 15 sourcesBaikal skullcap root supplies the flavonoids baicalin and baicalein. Most human trials tested blends: a baicalin-catechin product matched naproxen for knee osteoarthritis but was later linked to acute liver injury, and FDA asked for its recall in 2017. One trial reported lower blood lipids with 500 mg of baicalin a day. Liver-injury reports are the main safety concern.
Every graded outcome on this page
6 rows · line = participants- CGrade CBlood lipids, hs-CRP and arthritis responseCholesterol & inflammationn 374
- CGrade CKnee osteoarthritis symptoms (WOMAC, timed walk)Osteoarthritisn 220
- DGrade DMild-to-moderate depressive symptomsStress & moodn 180
- DGrade DKnee osteoarthritis discomfort and global responseOsteoarthritisn 103
- DGrade DMood, anxiety and cognition under stressStress & moodn 35
- ∅No effectCognitive function in healthy adultsCognitionn 85
- 3 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- Versus naproxen
- A baicalin-catechin blend (flavocoxid) at 500 mg twice daily performed like naproxen 500 mg twice daily over 12 weeks in 220 people with knee osteoarthritis1
- Liver injury
- 4 cases of acute liver injury from flavocoxid in a US drug-induced liver injury network, all recovered after stopping; in December 2017 FDA asked the maker to recall all Limbrel (flavocoxid) products711
- Joint blend cases
- Two cases of liver toxicity attributed to Chinese skullcap in the joint supplement Move Free Advanced8
- Baicalin lipids trial
- 500 mg/day baicalin for 12 weeks lowered triglycerides, total cholesterol and hs-CRP versus placebo in 374 people with coronary disease and rheumatoid arthritis3
- Absorption
- Oral baicalein reached peak blood levels within 2 hours; 200–600 mg doses were well tolerated in 36 healthy volunteers6
What it is
Baikal skullcap is the root of Scutellaria baicalensis (huang qin), rich in baicalin and baicalein; it is not American skullcap.
How it works
ProposedBaicalin and baicalein are flavones from the root. Flavocoxid, which combines baicalin with catechins from Acacia catechu, was described as inhibiting the peroxidase activity of COX-1 and COX-2 and 5-lipoxygenase, enzymes that make inflammatory mediators. Effects of the whole root in people are less defined.1710
Forms, side by side
3 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Baikal Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) forms compared
3 forms| 3 forms | Root extract or powder | Baicalin (isolated flavone glycoside) | Baicalein tablets (investigational) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | Not reported for the whole root in the cited abstracts.4 | Not reported in the trial abstract.3 | Rapidly absorbed, with peak plasma levels within 2 hours after repeated doses.6 |
| GI tolerance | Some participants had raised liver enzymes after 3.52 g/day of S. baicalensis for 8 weeks.4 | Reported over 12 weeks at 500 mg/day without safety signals in the abstract.3 | 200–600 mg doses were generally safe and well tolerated over 10 days; adverse events were mild.6 |
| Studied for | Glucose tolerance with metformin; stress blends | Blood lipids and inflammation markers | Safety and pharmacokinetics |
- Root extract or powder
- Baicalin (isolated flavone glycoside)
- Baicalein tablets (investigational)
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
6 graded outcomes, largest study first6 graded outcomes: 5 improved, 1 no effect. The largest, a 2018 randomized trial of 374 people on blood lipids, hs-CRP and arthritis response, found an improvement.
1Blood lipids, hs-CRP and arthritis response
Improved · Grade C · RCT, 374 people, 2018
Patients with both coronary artery disease and rheumatoid arthritis
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood lipids, hs-CRP and arthritis response | Improved | 374 | Grade C · RCT, 2018 | Patients with both coronary artery disease and rheumatoid arthritis |
| Knee osteoarthritis symptoms (WOMAC, timed walk) | Improved | 220 | Grade C · RCT, 2010 | Adults with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis |
| Mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms | Improved | 180 | Grade D · RCT, 2025 | Adults with mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms, split across four arms (scutellaria, saffron, both, placebo) |
| Knee osteoarthritis discomfort and global response | Improved | 103 | Grade D · Pilot RCT, 2009 | Adults with moderate knee osteoarthritis |
| Cognitive function in healthy adults | No effect | 85 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2025 | Healthy adults (26 men, 59 women; mean age 43) |
| Mood, anxiety and cognition under stress | Improved | 35 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2025 | Subjectively stressed but healthy adults aged 18–75 (43 enrolled, 35 analysed) |
Every graded row
6 rowsShowing 6 of 6 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CBlood lipids, hs-CRP and arthritis responseCholesterol & inflammationImprovedRCT
n 374 · 2018
Improved Versus placebo, triglycerides (1.12 vs 1.87 mmol/L), total cholesterol (2.87 vs 3.22 mmol/L) and hs-CRP (1.64 vs 3.9 mg/dL) were lower, and more patients had a good or moderate EULAR response (71% vs 53%).
- Design
- RCT, n = 374, 2018
- Population
- Patients with both coronary artery disease and rheumatoid arthritis
- Form
- Baicalin vs placebo
- Dose
- 500 mg/day
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 29935544 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CKnee osteoarthritis symptoms (WOMAC, timed walk)OsteoarthritisImprovedRCT
n 220 · 2010
Improved More than 90% in both groups reported significant symptom reduction, with no significant efficacy difference between flavocoxid and naproxen. Flavocoxid had fewer upper-gut and oedema adverse events.
- Design
- RCT, n = 220, 2010
- Population
- Adults with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis
- Form
- Flavocoxid (baicalin + catechin blend) vs naproxen
- Dose
- 500 mg twice daily
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 1 · PubMed 20845002 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DMild-to-moderate depressive symptomsStress & moodMood helped (no figures)RCT
n 180 · 2025
Improved The scutellaria extract alone had a positive effect on mood regulation (the abstract gives no figures); the scutellaria-saffron combination improved depressive and anxious symptoms and emotional well-being vs placebo. Adverse effects were minimal.
- Design
- RCT, n = 180, 2025
- Population
- Adults with mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms, split across four arms (scutellaria, saffron, both, placebo)
- Form
- S. baicalensis extract (SCUTELL'UP), alone or with saffron
- Dose
- Not stated in the abstract
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Source
- Reference 13 · PubMed 40077679 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DKnee osteoarthritis discomfort and global responseOsteoarthritisImprovedPilot RCT
n 103 · 2009
Improved Both groups improved significantly (P ≤ .001), with no detectable differences between flavocoxid and naproxen in outcomes or adverse events.
- Design
- Pilot RCT, n = 103, 2009
- Population
- Adults with moderate knee osteoarthritis
- Form
- Flavocoxid (baicalin + catechin blend) vs naproxen
- Dose
- 500 mg twice daily
- Duration
- 1 month
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 19555810 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DMood, anxiety and cognition under stressStress & moodImprovedCrossover RCT
n 35 · 2025
Improved Chronic use reduced total mood disturbance, anger/hostility and trait anxiety; working memory improved during a multitasking stressor. Cognitive effects were less consistent without the stressor. No serious adverse effects.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 35, 2025
- Population
- Subjectively stressed but healthy adults aged 18–75 (43 enrolled, 35 analysed)
- Form
- Tablet combining S. baicalensis, hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata), magnesium and chromium vs placebo
- Dose
- Two tablets (component amounts not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 15 days
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 41194549 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectCognitive function in healthy adultsCognitionNo benefit vs placeboRCT
n 85 · 2025
No effect Cognitive scores improved over time in both groups with no difference from placebo; BDNF, CRP and safety blood markers did not differ, and no adverse events were reported.
- Design
- RCT, n = 85, 2025
- Population
- Healthy adults (26 men, 59 women; mean age 43)
- Form
- S. baicalensis stem extract + Acacia catechu heartwood extract (UP326)
- Dose
- 240 mg S. baicalensis + 51 mg Acacia catechu a day
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 12 · PubMed 39701593 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
The best data are on a blend
Liver reports recur across products
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Baikal Skullcap meets
4 cited rows 3 tested togetherMedicines 4
Supplements and foods 3
- Measured in a human study
- Tested together in a graded trial
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited: 3 tested together
Bupropion (CYP2B6)
PK studyMeasured in a human study
Bupropion (CYP2B6), for example Bupropion: In 17 healthy men, daily baicalin raised levels of bupropion's metabolite hydroxybupropion (peak +73%, AUC +87%), a sign that it induces the CYP2B6 enzyme; the authors call for study of other CYP2B6 drugs.
Source 15, Eur J Clin Pharmacol (2009)
Metformin
RCTMeasured in a human study
Metformin, for example Metformin for type 2 diabetes: In an 8-week crossover trial, adding 3.52 g/day S. baicalensis to metformin improved glucose tolerance versus placebo, and some participants had raised liver enzymes.
Source 4, Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab (2020)
Rosuvastatin
PK studyMeasured in a human study
Rosuvastatin, for example Rosuvastatin (carried into the liver by the OATP1B1 transporter): In 18 healthy volunteers, baicalin 50 mg three times daily for 14 days lowered rosuvastatin blood levels (AUC) by 47%, 21% or 9% depending on OATP1B1 genotype; the smallest change was not significant.
Source 14, Clin Pharmacol Ther (2008)
Warfarin and aspirin
PK studyMeasured in a human study
Warfarin and aspirin, for example Warfarin, aspirin: In studies run by flavocoxid's maker, the baicalin-catechin blend did not increase bleeding time in healthy volunteers or change the anticoagulant effect (INR) of warfarin in people already taking it; the combination with aspirin was tested only in mice.
Source 10, Adv Ther (2010)
ChromiumChromium page
Tested together
Mood, anxiety and cognition under stress. Graded on the Baikal Skullcap page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
HawthornHawthorn page
Tested together
Mood, anxiety and cognition under stress. Graded on the Baikal Skullcap page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
MagnesiumMagnesium page
Tested together
Mood, anxiety and cognition under stress. Graded on the Baikal Skullcap page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Interactions
4 agents| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines4 | ||
| Metformine.g. Metformin for type 2 diabetes | In an 8-week crossover trial, adding 3.52 g/day S. baicalensis to metformin improved glucose tolerance versus placebo, and some participants had raised liver enzymes.4 | RCT |
| Warfarin and aspirine.g. Warfarin, aspirin | In studies run by flavocoxid's maker, the baicalin-catechin blend did not increase bleeding time in healthy volunteers or change the anticoagulant effect (INR) of warfarin in people already taking it; the combination with aspirin was tested only in mice.10 | PK study |
| Rosuvastatine.g. Rosuvastatin (carried into the liver by the OATP1B1 transporter) | In 18 healthy volunteers, baicalin 50 mg three times daily for 14 days lowered rosuvastatin blood levels (AUC) by 47%, 21% or 9% depending on OATP1B1 genotype; the smallest change was not significant.14 | PK study |
| Bupropion (CYP2B6)e.g. Bupropion | In 17 healthy men, daily baicalin raised levels of bupropion's metabolite hydroxybupropion (peak +73%, AUC +87%), a sign that it induces the CYP2B6 enzyme; the authors call for study of other CYP2B6 drugs.15 | PK study |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Baikal Skullcap and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Baikal Skullcap.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
4 groups- People with liver disease or past herb-related liver injury
- Acute liver injury has been reported with the baicalin-catechin product flavocoxid, which FDA asked to be recalled in 2017, and with Chinese skullcap in a joint supplement; injuries resolved after stopping.7811
- People with type 2 diabetes on medication
- Adding the root to metformin changed glucose tolerance and raised liver enzymes in some participants, so effects add to existing therapy.4
Liver injury
5 notesThe main safety signal, from case series.
- LiverTox rating
- LiverTox rates skullcap B, a very likely but rare cause of clinically apparent liver injury. Its entry covers North American skullcap (S. lateriflora) and notes several reports of acute liver injury 1 to 3 months after starting products containing Chinese skullcap (S. baicalensis).9
- Flavocoxid
- Among 877 patients in a US liver-injury network, 4 women aged 57–68 had injury suspected from flavocoxid, starting 1–3 months after the first dose; all recovered within 3–12 weeks of stopping.7
- FDA recall request
- In December 2017 FDA asked the maker to recall all Limbrel (flavocoxid) products. It cited 194 adverse event reports received from 2007 to November 2017 that showed a close relationship with drug-induced liver injury, pancreatitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a lung condition, and called the products unapproved new drugs.11
- Joint supplement
- Two patients developed liver toxicity on Move Free Advanced, which contains Chinese skullcap; it resolved after stopping, and the authors judged skullcap the most likely cause.8
- Whole root
- Some participants had raised liver enzymes after 8 weeks of 3.52 g/day S. baicalensis with metformin.4
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
2 checksBaikal skullcap vs American skullcap
'Skullcap' sold for anxiety, stress and sleep is a Native American plant, which LiverTox has linked to liver injury, usually in combination with other botanicals. Check the Latin name: Baikal skullcap is Scutellaria baicalensis.9
Hidden in joint formulas
Chinese skullcap can appear inside joint products under a proprietary extract name; in Move Free Advanced it was part of 'Uniflex' with black catechu.8
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
6 answersDoes it help joint pain?
Can it affect the liver?
Does baicalin lower cholesterol?
One 12-week trial of 500 mg/day in people with coronary disease and rheumatoid arthritis reported lower triglycerides and total cholesterol; it has not been repeated.3
Does Baikal skullcap interact with statins?
Baicalin, a main flavone in the root, lowered rosuvastatin blood levels by up to 47% in 18 healthy volunteers over 14 days, depending on genotype. Other statins were not tested in that study.14
Does it interact with blood thinners?
Studies run by the maker of the flavocoxid blend found no change in bleeding time in healthy volunteers or in warfarin's effect; the aspirin combination was tested only in mice, and the whole root has not been studied this way.10
Is it the same as skullcap tea for anxiety?
No. Skullcap sold for anxiety, stress and sleep is a Native American plant, different from Scutellaria baicalensis root.9
Sources
15 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
15 sources- 1Efficacy and safety of flavocoxid, a novel therapeutic, compared with naproxen: a randomized multicenter controlled trial in subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee.RCT Adv Ther, 2010 · PMID 20845002
- 2Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized, double-blind pilot study.Pilot RCT Nutr Res, 2009 · PMID 19555810
- 3Baicalin reduces blood lipids and inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease and rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.RCT Lipids Health Dis, 2018 · PMID 29935544
- 4Combined effects of Scutellaria baicalensis with metformin on glucose tolerance of patients with type 2 diabetes via gut microbiota modulation.Crossover RCT Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 2020 · PMID 31770016
- 5Effects of a Scutellaria baicalensis/Crataegus laevigata, magnesium and chromium supplement on stressed individuals: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.Crossover RCT J Psychopharmacol, 2025 · PMID 41194549
- 6Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of oral baicalein tablets in healthy Chinese subjects: A single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multiple-ascending-dose study.PK study Clin Transl Sci, 2021 · PMID 34156161
- 7Acute liver injury due to flavocoxid (Limbrel), a medical food for osteoarthritis: a case series.Observational Ann Intern Med, 2012 · PMID 22711078
- 8Hepatotoxicity associated with chinese skullcap contained in Move Free Advanced dietary supplement: two case reports and review of the literature.Observational Pharmacotherapy, 2010 · PMID 20586134
- 9Skullcap.Database LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury (NIDDK; entry updated 2020), 2012 · PMID 31644066
- 10Flavocoxid, an anti-inflammatory agent of botanical origin, does not affect coagulation or interact with anticoagulation therapies.PK study Adv Ther, 2010 · PMID 20556559
- 11FDA Requested Recall: Primus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Limbrel/flavocoxid), December 18, 2017Safety communication U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2017 · fda.gov
- 12Effects of Acacia catechu and Scutellaria baicalensis extract on cognitive function in a healthy adult population: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.RCT Nutr Neurosci, 2025 · PMID 39701593
- 13The Effects of Combined Scutellaria and Saffron Supplementation on Mood Regulation in Participants with Mild-to-Moderate Depressive Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.RCT Nutrients, 2025 · PMID 40077679
- 14The effect of herbal medicine baicalin on pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin, substrate of organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1.PK study Clin Pharmacol Ther, 2008 · PMID 17851565
- 15Induction of cytochrome P450 2B6 activity by the herbal medicine baicalin as measured by bupropion hydroxylation.PK study Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 2009 · PMID 19066872
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
4 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence; interactions; key facts; who should be careful; liver safety; FAQ; questions; related | Searched PubMed for Scutellaria baicalensis, baicalin, baicalein and flavocoxid trials, meta-analyses and pharmacokinetic studies through 2026. Added two 2025 graded rows: a skullcap stem + Acacia catechu blend (UP326) with no cognitive benefit over placebo in 85 adults, and a four-arm scutellaria/saffron mood trial (180 people; grade D, the scutellaria-alone result has no figures). Added two documented drug interactions from healthy-volunteer studies (baicalin lowered rosuvastatin levels by up to 47% by genotype; induced CYP2B6 metabolism of bupropion) and a matching caution, the LiverTox likelihood score (B) in the liver section, a statin FAQ in place of the 'What is' item that repeated an auto-generated question, page questions and goal-hub links. Pregnancy note now records that LactMed has no entry. No meta-analysis of human trials on skullcap alone was found; the remaining reviews were preclinical or of multi-herb formulas. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| Goals | Added the Brain & focus goal (focus): the page already has a graded human row on a memory or thinking outcome (“Mood, anxiety and cognition under stress”, Grade D). No evidence row, grade or text changed. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: Update |
| all | Independent adversarial review: added FDA's December 2017 recall request for Limbrel (flavocoxid), citing 194 adverse event reports including liver injury, pancreatitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis; narrowed the blood-thinner interaction (the aspirin combination was tested only in mice) and noted these were maker-run studies; flagged the maker ties of the flavocoxid trials and the stress-blend trial; noted the lipid trial's internally inconsistent LDL figures; reworded the whole-root insight from liver injury to raised liver enzymes. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: review |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review (first draft). Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (titles and years taken from the record, none retracted) and the abstract read for each cited row. Studied doses are reported as research doses, not dosing advice. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.