Used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Scutellaria baicalensis contains over 200 compounds and more than 40 flavonoids (notably baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin) offering antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anticancer actions.
Baicalin inhibits the ACE2 receptor used by SARS-CoV-2 for cell entry and blocks viral replication via 3CLpro (main protease) inhibition. Scutellaria extracts also act against HIV, influenza, dengue, HBV, HTLV-I, and HSV-1 by enhancing innate immunity (increasing IFN-α, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12).
They inhibit coxsackievirus B3 (myocarditis), enterovirus 71 (hand-foot-mouth disease), and H1N1 influenza neuraminidase, showing anti-inflammatory effects via NF-κB and MAPK modulation. Their antioxidant protection suppresses iNOS, COX-2, and oxidative stress — making S. baicalensis a potent broad-spectrum antiviral and anti-inflammatory herb.