Work

The biological functions of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts and their application prospects in livestock and poultry production

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: With the continuous advancement of green and healthy livestock farming, antibiotic-alternative plant-derived additives have become a research hotspot in livestock and poultry production. Among them, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts have attracted increasing attention in the field of healthy livestock and poultry farming due to its diverse bioactivities. Scutellaria baicalensis extracts are natural bioactive products isolated and purified from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, mainly containing flavonoids, volatile oils, polysaccharides, and other core functional components. Existing studies have demonstrated that they possess multiple biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. In recent years, some studies at home and abroad have explored the application potential of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts in livestock and poultry production, confirming that they can effectively improve growth performance, enhance disease resistance, and optimize meat and egg quality by alleviating oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammatory responses, regulating gut microbiota, and enhancing immune function. They can also significantly mitigate heat stress and cellular oxidative damage commonly encountered in farming practices. However, current research findings are relatively fragmented, and few studies have integrated the characteristics of their active components and mechanisms of action with their application effects in livestock and poultry farming. Therefore, this review summarizes recent research on Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts, outline their main active component characteristics, core biological functions, and the latest application progress in livestock and poultry production, and analyze their mechanisms and application advantages in healthy farming, as well as current research deficiencies and developmental limitations. This review aims to improve the research framework of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts in the field of livestock and poultry production, providing theoretical basis and practical reference for subsequent in-depth mechanistic exploration, optimization of industrial processes, and large-scale application in green farming.

Source: Frontiers in Veterinary Science

DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1966515

Authors: Guohui Zhang, Xin Du, Yongqiang Li, Xue Ma, Huan Leng, Yang Gao