Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Oil is derived from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis, a plant native to East Asia that has been used in traditional herbal medicine for centuries. This oil is prized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, making it an excellent ingredient in skincare products aimed at calming irritated skin, protecting against environmental damage, and promoting overall skin health. Its rich composition and ability to nourish the skin make it ideal for sensitive, aging, and acne-prone skin.
Chemical Composition and Structure
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Oil contains a variety of bioactive compounds, including:
- Flavonoids: Baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin, which provide strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging effects.
- Triterpenoids: Known for their anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties.
- Essential Fatty Acids: Contribute to skin nourishment, moisture retention, and barrier reinforcement.
- Phenolic Acids: Help in providing the oil’s protective and rejuvenating effects.
Physical Properties
- Appearance: Pale yellow to amber oil.
- Odor: Herbal, slightly bitter.
- Solubility: Insoluble in water but soluble in oils and other lipid-based solvents.
- Stability: Stable under neutral to slightly acidic pH conditions; sensitive to heat and prolonged exposure to light.
Production Process
- Harvesting: The roots of Scutellaria baicalensis are harvested during the plant's peak growth period to ensure maximum bioactive content.
- Cold Pressing or Solvent Extraction: The roots are processed using cold pressing or solvent extraction to yield a concentrated oil rich in active compounds.
- Filtration and Purification: The oil is filtered and purified to remove impurities and ensure a high-quality product.
- Standardization: The final oil is standardized to ensure consistent levels of key bioactives, such as flavonoids and triterpenoids.
Applications
Medical Applications
- Anti-inflammatory Treatments: Used to alleviate redness, swelling, and irritation in various skin conditions.
- Antimicrobial Action: Helps prevent bacterial infections and promotes skin healing.
- Antioxidant Protection: Protects the skin from oxidative stress, supporting its natural defenses against aging.
Cosmetics
- Soothing and Calming: Reduces irritation and redness, particularly in sensitive or inflamed skin.
- Anti-aging: Helps fight signs of aging by reducing oxidative stress and stimulating collagen production.
- Antioxidant Protection: Shields the skin from environmental damage and oxidative stress, contributing to a youthful appearance.
- Hydration: Helps retain moisture and strengthens the skin’s protective barrier.
- Skin Nourishment: Rich in essential fatty acids, it provides nourishment to the skin, making it softer and smoother.
CAS 94279-99-9 EC number 304-845-9
Industrial Applications
- Used in natural and organic skincare products for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
- Commonly found in facial oils, serums, creams, and masks designed for aging, acne, and sensitive skin concerns.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
- Biodegradability: As a natural plant-derived oil, it is biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
- Safety Profile: Generally considered safe for cosmetic use within regulated concentrations. As with all plant-based oils, individuals with sensitivities to plants in the Lamiaceae family should exercise caution.
- Sustainability: Cultivated and harvested responsibly to minimize environmental impact, ensuring sustainable sourcing.
References__________________________________________________________________________
Chmiel M, Stompor-Gorący M. Promising Role of the Scutellaria baicalensis Root Hydroxyflavone-Baicalein in the Prevention and Treatment of Human Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 1;24(5):4732. doi: 10.3390/ijms24054732.
Abstract. Plant roots, due to a high content of natural antioxidants for many years, have been used in herbal medicine. It has been documented that the extract of Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) has hepatoprotective, calming, antiallergic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Flavonoid compounds found in the extract, including baicalein, have strong antiradical activity, which improves overall health and increases feelings of well-being. Plant-derived bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity have for a long time been used as an alternative source of medicines to treat oxidative stress-related diseases. In this review, we summarized the latest reports on one of the most important aglycones with respect to the pharmacological activity and high content in Baikal skullcap, which is 5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone (baicalein).
Wen Y, Wang Y, Zhao C, Zhao B, Wang J. The Pharmacological Efficacy of Baicalin in Inflammatory Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 26;24(11):9317. doi: 10.3390/ijms24119317.
Abstract. Baicalin is one of the most abundant flavonoids found in the dried roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SBG) belonging to the genus Scutellaria. While baicalin is demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects, its low hydrophilicity and lipophilicity limit the bioavailability and pharmacological functions. Therefore, an in-depth study of baicalin's bioavailability and pharmacokinetics contributes to laying the theoretical foundation for applied research in disease treatment. In this view, the physicochemical properties and anti-inflammatory activity of baicalin are summarized in terms of bioavailability, drug interaction, and inflammatory conditions.
Yu P, Li J, Luo Y, Sun J, Hu Y, Lin B, Meng X, Xiang L. Mechanistic Role of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in Breast Cancer Therapy. Am J Chin Med. 2023;51(2):279-308. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X23500155.
Abstract. Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women, and exhibits high metastasis, recurrence and fatality rates. Novel therapies for breast cancer are constantly emerging, such as targeted therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, and immunotherapy. Despite their potential, these new therapies are still in their infancy, and chemotherapy remains the standard treatment for breast cancer. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop safe and efficient treatment drugs or adjuvants for breast cancer treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long clinical history in China, in which Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi exhibits favorable antibreast cancer activities. We therefore conducted a systematic review of the available literature to better understand the molecular mechanisms of S. baicalensis in breast cancer treatment. S. baicalensis and its active components (baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, wogonoside, oroxylin A and scutellarin) exhibited promising antibreast cancer activity through proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction, invasion and metastasis blockading, and drug-resistance and non-coding RNA regulation. Additionally, senescence, autophagy, angiogenesis, and glycolysis mechanisms were observed to play a role in their antibreast cancer activity. Furthermore, multiple signaling pathways contributed to the antitumor effects of S. baicalensi, such as the NF-[Formula: see text]B, Wnt/[Formula: see text]-catenin, SATB1, Bcl2 family proteins, Caspase, PI3K/Akt, mTOR, ERK, p38-MAPK, TGF-[Formula: see text]/Smad, and Hippo/YAP pathways. This review provides valuable insights into the role of S. baicalensis as a breast cancer treatment and acts as a foundation for further investigations in this field.
Wu TH, Lin TY, Yang PM, Li WT, Yeh CT, Pan TL. Scutellaria baicalensis Induces Cell Apoptosis and Elicits Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition to Alleviate Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Modulating HSP90β. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Mar 6;25(5):3073. doi: 10.3390/ijms25053073.
Abstract. Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world and shows strong metastatic potential. Current medicine for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy is invalid, while Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi exhibits the pharmaceutical potential to treat liver diseases and liver cancer. Herein, we verified the inhibitory properties and the pivotal molecules regimented by Scutellaria baicalensis on advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. At first, the viability of SK-Hep-1 cells was significantly reduced under treatment of Scutellaria baicalensis extract in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the growth of normal hepatocyte. Scutellaria baicalensis extract application could remarkably cause apoptosis of SK-Hep-1 cells through p53/cytochrome C/poly-ADP ribose polymerase cascades and arrest the cell cycle at the G1/S phase by downregulating cyclin-dependent kinases. Meanwhile, administration of Scutellaria baicalensis extract remarkably attenuated the migration capability as well as suppressed matrix metalloproteinase activity of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The proteome profiles and network analysis particularly implied that exposure to Scutellaria baicalensis extract downregulated the expression of HSP90β, and the clinical stage of hepatocellular carcinoma is also positively correlated with the HSP90β level. Combined treatment of Scutellaria baicalensis extract and HSP90β siRNAs could markedly enhance the ubiquitination activity and the degradation of vimentin to subsequently inhibit the metastatic property of SK-Hep-1 cells. Moreover, application of Scutellaria baicalensis extract and HSP90β siRNAs depleted phosphorylation of AKT, which stimulated the expression of p53 and consecutively triggered cell apoptosis. These findings suggest that HSP90β may be a prospective target for the effective therapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma via accelerating apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and eliciting mesenchymal-epithelial transition with the administration of Scutellaria baicalensis extract.
Jo HG, Baek CY, Song HS, Lee D. Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verifications to Discover Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi's Effects on Joint Inflammation, Destruction, and Pain in Osteoarthritis. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Feb 9;25(4):2127. doi: 10.3390/ijms25042127.
Abstract. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, characterized by joint pain and a decline in physiological function. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SB) is potentially effective against osteoarthritis because of its wide range of anti-inflammatory pharmacological activities. This study aimed to identify the mode of action of SB against osteoarthritis using network pharmacology prediction and experimental verification. Networks were constructed to key compounds, hub targets, and pathways essential for SB's effectiveness against osteoarthritis. Additionally, in vivo and in vitro tests were performed, including investigations on weight bearing in hind limbs, the acetic acid-induced writhing response, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, and serum cytokine responses. We identified 15 active compounds and 14 hub targets, supporting the anti-osteoarthritis effects of SB. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated that fluid shear stress, atherosclerosis, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt signaling, and cellular senescence pathways were important. SB showed substantial anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and joint tissue-protective effects against osteoarthritis. Our study shows that SB has the potential value to be further investigated as a candidate material for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the future.
Wang PW, Lin TY, Yang PM, Fang JY, Li WT, Pan TL. Therapeutic efficacy of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi against psoriasis-like lesions via regulating the responses of keratinocyte and macrophage. Biomed Pharmacother. 2022 Nov;155:113798. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113798.
