Wogonin

Wogonin is a naturally occurring flavonoid, specifically an O-methylated flavone with the chemical name 5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone ^[1]. It is one of the principal bioactive constituents of the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis, a plant known as Chinese skullcap or Baikal skullcap that has long featured in traditional East Asian herbal formulas; its glycoside oroxindin also occurs in Oroxylum indicum ^[1]. Wogonin sits among the flavones that give Scutellaria radix its pharmacological reputation, alongside related compounds such as baicalein and baicalin ^[1].

Much of the interest in wogonin comes from laboratory pharmacology. In animal and cell studies it has shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-tumor activities, and it has been examined as an anxiolytic and anticonvulsant that acts on the central nervous system ^[1][2][3]. In behavioral tests, orally administered wogonin produced anti-anxiety effects comparable to a benzodiazepine but without the accompanying sedation or muscle relaxation, and a benzodiazepine-site antagonist blocked the effect, pointing to action at the GABA-A receptor ^[2]. Separate work reported that wogonin suppressed chemically and electrically induced seizures in rodents through a GABAergic mechanism ^[3].

Wogonin also appears as a component of some traditional multi-herb preparations, including the Japanese Kampo formula Sho-saiko-to, which is built around Scutellaria and other herbs ^[1]. Acute toxicity in mice is low ^[1][2]. Despite an extensive preclinical literature, wogonin has not been developed into an approved pharmaceutical and remains a subject of experimental study; the great majority of findings come from cell cultures and animal models rather than controlled human trials ^[1].

Human safety data for isolated wogonin is limited. As part of skullcap it is generally used without major issues, but skullcap products have occasionally been linked to liver concerns, sometimes from adulteration. Caution if combining with sedatives given the GABA activity.