Antimicrobial Activity, Mechanism, and Future Prospects of Baicalin as an Antimicrobial Agent and Adjuvant

Baicalin is a bioactive flavonoid compound extracted from plants of the Scutellaria genus, such as Scutellaria baicalensis, and exhibits a wide range of pharmacological effects. Studies have shown that it has antibacterial activity against a variety of clinically common pathogens. Meanwhile, it can inhibit the development of antimicrobial resistance, thereby enhancing the antibacterial activity of traditional antibiotics. This highlights the potential of baicalin as an antimicrobial agent and antibiotic adjuvant. This review systematically summarizes the antibacterial activity, antibiofilm effects, beneficial properties, and underlying mechanisms of baicalin, both when used alone and in combination with antibiotics, in in vitro and in vivo models. At the same time, the pharmacokinetic properties and cytotoxicity studies of baicalin were also reviewed. Given its relatively low bioavailability in vivo, the development of baicalin-based nanoformulations and other dosage forms has been highlighted as a promising strategy to enhance its bioavailability and expand its potential applications. Finally, this article discusses the limitations and shortcomings of current research and outlines future research directions. We emphasize the need to evaluate the medication strategies, clinical efficacy, and safety of baicalin in the treatment of microbial infections through higher-quality research. This review aims to provide new insights and references for the further development and clinical application of baicalin.