Babchi

What is babchi?

Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia) is a plant whose seeds have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, mostly for skin pigment problems and as a general tonic. The seeds contain several active compounds, including psoralen and isopsoralen (furocoumarins that make skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light) and bakuchiol, a meroterpene that has become popular in modern skincare as a gentler alternative to retinol.

It is important to separate these two uses. Bakuchiol is usually purified and applied to the skin in creams and serums. Babchi powder taken by mouth delivers a mixture of all the seed’s compounds, including the psoralens.

What the research says

For topical use, the evidence is encouraging but early. A 2022 systematic review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology identified 30 articles on bakuchiol and skin, including seven clinical studies. In those small studies, bakuchiol applied to the skin, alone or with other ingredients, reduced signs of photodamage, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles and acne, with results the authors described as comparable to topical retinoids. Only one adverse event, a case of contact dermatitis, was reported. The authors called for more research.

For oral use, we found no good human trials showing that eating babchi improves skin appearance or digestion. Instead, the oral literature contains safety signals. A 2017 study in Phytotherapy Research notes that there are concerns about liver toxicity caused by constituents such as psoralens and bakuchiol, and found that bakuchiol given to rats for six weeks at high doses caused changes consistent with cholestatic liver injury. Animal doses do not translate directly to humans, and the amount in a gummy is likely small, but these findings are a reason for caution rather than enthusiasm.

We rate the evidence as preliminary: promising for bakuchiol applied to the skin, and unsupported for babchi taken by mouth.

How it’s used in supplements

In the US, babchi appears mainly in Ayurvedic powders and a small number of multi-ingredient supplements, while purified bakuchiol is common in skincare. There is no established oral dose for skin benefits. In PrimeBiome, babchi powder is one of nine ingredients in a 430 mg proprietary blend, so the actual amount is unknown and likely small.

If your goal is the skin effect associated with bakuchiol, the research supports topical products, not oral ones. If you do take a supplement containing babchi, be cautious with sun exposure, avoid it if you have liver disease or take medications that affect the liver, and stop and contact a doctor if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, unusual fatigue or abdominal pain. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid oral babchi, since its safety has not been established.