Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Also known as Baikal skullcap root extract, Chinese skullcap root extract, Huang Qin extract, Scutellaria root extract
“CIR Expert Panel says: safe as used in cosmetics.”
The CIR Expert Panel concluded in its September 29, 2020 Final Report that Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract is Safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration. According to 2020 VCRP data, Root Extract is reported in 514 cosmetic products (419 leave-on, 95 rinse-off) at maximum use concentrations up to 0.5%. The Panel distinguished plant-part preparations: Root Extract and Root Powder were judged Safe, while the unspecified-preparation Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract (whole plant) and Sprout Extract were judged Insufficient — different verdicts within one assessment. A 2013 in vivo dermal safety study (PMID 23818268) reported that the aqueous root extract did not induce dermal irritation/corrosion in rabbits or skin sensitization in guinea pigs (Buhler test). A 2016 case report in Contact Dermatitis (PMID 27870097) documented one patch-test–positive reaction to a sunscreen containing 0.2% Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract — flagging it as a possible novel botanical allergen, though this is presently a single case and the CIR Panel reviewed it without altering the Safe verdict. A 2022 mouse model (PMID 36605189) showed topical Skullcapflavone II (a Scutellaria flavonoid) suppressed atopic dermatitis comparably to hydrocortisone, supporting the anti-inflammatory mechanistic rationale used in cosmetic marketing claims. Active constituents include the flavonoids baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, and wogonoside.
CIR-assessed Safe in cosmetic use under present practices of concentration (up to 0.5% leave-on per 2018-2019 Council survey data) per the 2020 Final Report
Negative dermal irritation/corrosion (rabbit) and negative skin sensitization (guinea pig Buhler test) on the aqueous root extract, supporting tolerability in topical leave-on formulations
Polyphenol-rich flavonoid content (baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, wogonoside) provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity used as cosmetic functional rationale; mechanistic in vivo support for Skullcapflavone II in atopic-dermatitis-like inflammation
Skin-Conditioning / Humectant function per CIR ingredient definition; widely used as a soothing-claim active in 514 cosmetic products as of 2020 VCRP data, including suntan products, eye area products (up to 0.07%), and moisturizers
Plant: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Lamiaceae family); roots traditionally used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Huang Qin. The CIR group assessment covers four INCI preparations of this species but ONLY the root-derived forms (Root Extract, Root Powder) carry the favorable verdict
Plant-part variance in CIR verdict: only the ROOT-derived preparations (Root Extract, Root Powder) are CIR-judged Safe; the whole-plant Extract and the Sprout Extract were judged Insufficient in the same 09/2020 assessment. Formulators substituting 'Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract' (whole plant) for Root Extract are NOT covered by the favorable verdict
Single published case report (PMID 27870097, Gallo et al., Contact Dermatitis 2016) of a positive patch-test reaction to Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract at 0.2% in a sunscreen formulation, with positive control patch tests confirming reactivity to the extract itself — flagging it as a potential novel botanical allergen. The CIR Panel reviewed this case in the 2020 assessment and did not alter the Safe verdict, but contact-dermatitis-clinic patch testing for unexplained sunscreen reactions may benefit from including Scutellaria
Composition varies substantially by extraction solvent (aqueous, 30% ethanol, 90% ethanol/butylene glycol, supercritical CO2); flavonoid profiles (baicalin, baicalein, wogonin ratios) and total phenolic content differ across preparations, with implications for both efficacy and the safety profile observed in any single trade-name mixture
QRT data-entry anomaly (informational, not safety-relevant): the September 2022 CIR Quick Reference Table appears to swap the Findings columns between 'Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract' (listed S) and 'Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract' (listed I) — a transcription mismatch with the underlying Final Report 09/2020 conclusion text, which states Root Extract is Safe and the whole-plant Extract is Insufficient. This packet cites the Final Report directly rather than the QRT to avoid propagating the QRT row error
Safety Assessment of Scutellaria baicalensis-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics — Final Report (CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingre…
“The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety concluded that Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract and Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Powder* are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment.”— scutel092020FR.pdf, p. 13 (CONCLUSION section)