It is also a constituent of Oroxylum indicum (Indian trumpetflower) and thyme.

Baicalein, along with its glucuronide baicalin, is a positive allosteric modulator of the benzodiazepine site and a non-benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor, but with an affinity over 250× lower than diazepam.

[3][4][5] It displays subtype selectivity for α2 and α3 subunit-containing GABAA receptors.

[7] Baicalein is an inhibitor of CYP2C9,[8] an enzyme of the cytochrome P450 system that metabolizes drugs in the body.

A derivative of baicalin is a known prolyl endopeptidase inhibitor.