# Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis)

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/scutellaria-baicalensis/  
OnCo record `scutellaria-baicalensis` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Baikal skullcap is a Chinese herb used for hepatitis, infections and cancer, and was one of the herbs in PC-SPES. Its compounds kill cancer cells in the laboratory, but it has not been tested as a cancer treatment in people, and formulas containing it have caused acute liver injury. It lowered statin levels in healthy volunteers.

## Summary

Scutellaria baicalensis root is used in traditional Chinese medicine, often in combinations such as PC-SPES and sho-saiko-to. Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs summary reports that its compounds cause apoptosis in cancer cells and protect against doxorubicin heart toxicity in preclinical work, but that the root and its main flavonoid baicalin have dose-dependent pro- and anti-angiogenic effects. Human studies are limited to a preliminary diabetes study with metformin and an osteoarthritis supplement containing the herb; none tests it in cancer. MSK lists hepatotoxicity and pneumonitis as adverse reactions, with case reports of acute liver injury in people with arthritis taking baicalin-containing formulas. In healthy volunteers baicalin decreased blood levels of statins; it may add to anticoagulants and inhibits CYP1A2, CYP2C19 and drug-uptake transporters in vitro, of unknown clinical relevance.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: concept
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: Huang qin; Chinese skullcap; Baicalin
- Tags: complementary; supportive-care; evidence:insufficient
- Principle: Flavones baicalin, baicalein and wogonin are anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic in cell culture, with effects on blood vessel growth that change direction with dose.
- Strengths: Long traditional use; laboratory activity
- Limitations: No cancer trials; Acute liver injury and pneumonitis reported; Lowers statin levels

## Sources

- MSK About Herbs: Scutellaria baicalensis (page last updated 10 February 2022): https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/scutellaria-baicalensis

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- fronts: [Supportive Care & Survivorship](https://onco.cc/fronts/supportive-care/)
- bottlenecks: [Misinformation and unproven therapies](https://onco.cc/bottlenecks/b-misinformation/)

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