Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Reviewed by Kate · Last updated 18 Aug 2026
Also known as: Chinese Skullcap, Baikal Skullcap, Huang-Qin
Offers antioxidant and soothing benefits for skin | Interrupts the creation and transfer of excess pigment
Addresses
EWG Safety Score
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What Is Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract?
Scutellaria baicalensis root extract comes from a flowering plant native to China, where it’s been used for years as one of the many herbal preparations within the field of Chinese medicine. In China, the extract is known as Huang-Qin or golden herb, because the root is a golden yellow color.
It’s primarily used in cosmetics for its promising ability to interrupt the creation and transfer of excess pigment; however, these scientific studies were done in vitro on skin cells, not intact skin on people struggling with dark spots, so what seems exciting in a lab setting may not hold as much promise for topical use. The other issue is the current lack of agreement on how much of this root extract is needed to visibly fade skin discolorations; some say 0.1% is enough, others recommend at least a 1% concentration is necessary, and some blends with this ingredient encourage amounts of 3-10% if the goal is visible improvement of skin color.
The root is more exciting because it contains baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A, all of which are flavones, a type of antioxidant that lend color to various plants and are known to be soothing. Scutellaria baicalensis root can help skin better withstand environmental aggressors that can worsen the look of many common skin concerns, so it certainly has value.
Testing on mouse, rabbit, and guinea pig skin revealed that a standardized extract of this ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing, even when the skin was compromised. The conclusion was that Scutellaria baicalensis is a viable option for sensitive skin struggling with signs of uneven skin tone or just in need of soothing.
Clinical Evidence & References
Published Research
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Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, September 2019, pages 1,353-1,369 [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jphp.13129]
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PLoS One, February 2017, ePublication [https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0171597]
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Science Bulletin Beijing, July 2016, pages 1,391-1,398 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209592731630238X]
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Planta Medica, June 2013, pages 959-962 [https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0032-1328383]
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The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, December 2011, pages 1,613-1,623 [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2042-7158.2011.01357.x]
Frequently Asked Questions
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Take the skin quizOther forms of Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
These appear on ingredients lists under different names but are the same substance. Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract is the common form.
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