Scutellaria barbata is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...

. Other names include ban zhi lian , scullcap or skullcap, barbat skullcap, skute barbata, or herba scutellariae barbatae.

Chemical constituents

A substance with potential antineoplastic activity has been isolated from the plant. Herba scutellariae barbatae containing the antioxidant

Antioxidant

An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When...

 flavonoid

Flavonoid

Flavonoids , are a class of plant secondary metabolites....

, scutellarin

Scutellarin

Scutellarin is a chemical compound that can be found in Scutellaria barbata and S. lateriflora. The determination of the structure of scutellarin took Guido Goldschmiedt many years: after the first publication on that topic in 1901, only in 1910 he managed to obtain enough starting material for...

, has been shown to induce apoptosis

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...

 of ovarian and breast tumor cells in vitro. (NCI Thesaurus)

Medicinal uses

Often used in herbal sleeping remedies.

It is a nervous restorative and can be used to alleviate anxiety

Anxiety

Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...

, migraine

Migraine

Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by moderate to severe headaches, and nausea...

s, and depression

Depression (mood)

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...

.

Bionovo

Bionovo

Bionovo is an American biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of botanically derived treatments for women's health and cancer based in Emeryville, California. The company currently has two drug candidates in U.S...

 is testing its use as a treatment for advanced breast cancer

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...

 and pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...

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External links

• http://botanicum.com/singles/banzhilian.htm
• http://www.itmonline.org/arts/pcspes.htm ..... The whole plant of a related herb, Scutellaria barbata (banzhilian) is frequently used as an anticancer plant, but usually only in heavy doses of 30-60 grams per day.
• http://www.kalyx.com/store/proddetail.cfm/ItemID/16244.0/CategoryID/1000.0/SubCatID/10.0/file.htm
• http://www.fzrm.com/plantextracts/Barbated_Skullcup_Herb_extract.htm
• http://www.fzrm.com/anticancer%20herbs/Dosage_of_anticancer_herbal/Scutellaria_barbata_D._Don.htm
• http://www.cancerdecisions.com/081504_page.html
• http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancer.gov/CDR0000285728.html#REF_12.1
• http://www.itmonline.org/arts/oldenlandia.htm
• Can Ancient Herbs Treat Cancer?http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1671684,00.html