Scutellaria lateriflora
Encyclopedia
Scutellaria lateriflora, also known as Blue Skullcap, Hoodwort, Virginian Skullcap, Mad-dog Skullcap is a hardy perennial
herb
native to North America. It is a member of the mint family
. It has an upright habit
, growing 60 to 80 centimeters in maximum height. It is a wetland-loving
species and grows near marsh
es, meadows, and other wet habitat. The blue flowers are just under a centimeter long. Most of the flowers do not appear at the top of the main stem, but are produced along the length of side branches that grow from the leaf axils.
as a mild sedative and sleep promoter. Scutellaria
as a genus has numerous medicinal uses and various species of skullcap are used in similar ways. The traditional uses of Blue Skullcap should not be confused with those of other Skullcaps as there are over 350 different species of Skullcap and they are not all used in the same way. Blue Skullcap is used like Common Skullcap
(S. galericulata), Western Skullcap (S. canescens), and Southern Skullcap (S. cordifolia), all of which are genetically similar. Blue Skullcap and Common Skullcap are mainly known for their traditional use as an incense
and herbal tea.
Scutellaria lateriflora has been found in a small-scale double blind, placebo-controlled study to have anxiety-reducing
effects in 19 volunteers.
More than 295 chemical compounds have been isolated from Scutellaria, among them flavonoid
s and diterpene
s. Studies show that Scutellaria and its active principles possess wide pharmacological actions, such as antitumor
, anti-angiogenesis
, hepatoprotective, antioxidant
, anticonvulsant
, antibacterial and antiviral
activities.
β-Elemene
found in the herb has potential anti-cancer properties in vitro
, but studies in humans have not yet confirmed its effectiveness. In vitro, diterpene
s isolated from Scutellaria barbata showed cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines.
Scutellaria lindbergii exerts cytotoxic effects in different cancer cell lines.,
Scutellarin
is transformed by hydrolysis into scutellarein.
The principal phenolics in the leaves, stems, and roots of some Scutellaria species are baicalin
, baicalein
and wogonin
. Baicalin is known to be anti-inflammatory
and analgesic
. Another study identifies 5,6,7-trihydroxy-2'- methoxyflavone and its 7-0-glucuronide. A number of the flavones
found in S. lateriflora have been reported to selectively bind with high affinity to central benzodiazepine receptor sites, leading to the view that the flavones exert anxiolytic
and other benzodiazepine
effects in rats.
Blue Skullcap contains chrysin
glucuronide. This is found in many other plants, including wild carrot
, the Pelargonium
species (geraniums), the Passiflora or passion-flower species, which include tropical passionfruit; and in pine trees
. Chrysin is sold as a nutritional supplement for male body builders because of its possible action in inhibiting the conversions of androgens to estrogens.
The flavonoids are found throughout the plant but are more concentrated in the leaves, and the concentrations are found to decrease slightly as the plant matures. The dried leaf is reported to contain about 50 milligrams of flavonoid per gram. The flavonoids are readily extracted using hot water.
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
native to North America. It is a member of the mint family
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
. It has an upright habit
Habit (biology)
Habit, when used in the context of biology, refers to the instinctive actions of animals and the natural tendencies of plants.In zoology, this term most often refers to specific behavioral characteristics, even when directly related to physiology...
, growing 60 to 80 centimeters in maximum height. It is a wetland-loving
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
species and grows near marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es, meadows, and other wet habitat. The blue flowers are just under a centimeter long. Most of the flowers do not appear at the top of the main stem, but are produced along the length of side branches that grow from the leaf axils.
Medicinal uses
Scutellaria lateriflora is used in herbal medicineHerbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
as a mild sedative and sleep promoter. Scutellaria
Scutellaria
Scutellaria is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It contains about 300 species, which are commonly known as skullcaps...
as a genus has numerous medicinal uses and various species of skullcap are used in similar ways. The traditional uses of Blue Skullcap should not be confused with those of other Skullcaps as there are over 350 different species of Skullcap and they are not all used in the same way. Blue Skullcap is used like Common Skullcap
Scutellaria galericulata
Common Skullcap , also known as Marsh Skullcap or Hooded Skullcap, is a hardy perennial herb native to northern areas of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and much of North America. It is a member of the mint family...
(S. galericulata), Western Skullcap (S. canescens), and Southern Skullcap (S. cordifolia), all of which are genetically similar. Blue Skullcap and Common Skullcap are mainly known for their traditional use as an incense
Incense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...
and herbal tea.
Scutellaria lateriflora has been found in a small-scale double blind, placebo-controlled study to have anxiety-reducing
Anxiolytic
An anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...
effects in 19 volunteers.
More than 295 chemical compounds have been isolated from Scutellaria, among them flavonoid
Flavonoid
Flavonoids , are a class of plant secondary metabolites....
s and diterpene
Diterpene
Diterpenes are a type of terpenes composed of four isoprene units. They derive from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. Diterpenes form the basis for biologically important compounds such as retinol, retinal, and phytol...
s. Studies show that Scutellaria and its active principles possess wide pharmacological actions, such as antitumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
, anti-angiogenesis
Angiogenesis
Angiogenesis is the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Though there has been some debate over terminology, vasculogenesis is the term used for spontaneous blood-vessel formation, and intussusception is the term for the formation of new blood...
, hepatoprotective, 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...
, anticonvulsant
Anticonvulsant
The anticonvulsants are a diverse group of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Anticonvulsants are also increasingly being used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, since many seem to act as mood stabilizers, and in the treatment of neuropathic pain. The goal of an...
, antibacterial and antiviral
Antiviral
Antiviral may refer to:*Antiviral drug*Antiviral protein*Antivirus software*Antiviral Therapy, an academic journal...
activities.
β-Elemene
Elemene
Elemenes are a group of closely related natural chemical compounds found in a variety of plants. The elemenes, which include α-, β-, γ-, and δ-elemene, are structural isomers of each other and are classified as sesquiterpenes...
found in the herb has potential anti-cancer properties in vitro
In vitro
In vitro refers to studies in experimental biology that are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological context in order to permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms. Colloquially, these experiments...
, but studies in humans have not yet confirmed its effectiveness. In vitro, diterpene
Diterpene
Diterpenes are a type of terpenes composed of four isoprene units. They derive from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. Diterpenes form the basis for biologically important compounds such as retinol, retinal, and phytol...
s isolated from Scutellaria barbata showed cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines.
Scutellaria lindbergii exerts cytotoxic effects in different cancer cell lines.,
Pharmacology
| Chemical | Concentration (mg/g) |
|---|---|
| alpha-cubebene Cubeb Cubeb , or tailed pepper, is a plant in genus Piper, cultivated for its fruit and essential oil. It is mostly grown in Java and Sumatra, hence sometimes called Java pepper. The fruits are gathered before they are ripe, and carefully dried... | 42 |
| alpha-humulene Humulene Humulene, also known as α-humulene or α-caryophyllene, is a naturally occurring monocyclic sesquiterpene, which is a terpenoid consisting of 3 isoprene units. It is found in the essential oils of Humulus lupulus from which it derives its name. It is an isomer of β-caryophyllene, and the two are... | 42 |
| beta-elemene Elemene Elemenes are a group of closely related natural chemical compounds found in a variety of plants. The elemenes, which include α-, β-, γ-, and δ-elemene, are structural isomers of each other and are classified as sesquiterpenes... | 92 |
| calamenene | 152 |
| delta-cadinene Cadinene Cadinene is the trivial chemical name of a number of isomeric hydrocarbons that occur in a wide variety of essential oil-producing plants. The name is derived from that of the Cade juniper , the wood of which yields an oil from which cadinene isomers were first isolated.Chemically, the cadinenes... | 270 |
| Chemical | Concentration (mg/g) |
|---|---|
| carbohydrates | 780 |
| ascorbic acid Ascorbic acid Ascorbic acid is a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties. It is a white solid, but impure samples can appear yellowish. It dissolves well in water to give mildly acidic solutions. Ascorbic acid is one form of vitamin C. The name is derived from a- and scorbutus , the... | 1 |
| baicalin Baicalin Baicalin is a flavone, a type of flavonoid. It is found in several species in the genus Scutellaria, including Scutellaria lateriflora . There are 10 mg/g baicalin in Scutellaria galericulata leaves... | 10 |
| 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... | |
| scutellarein Scutellarein Scutellarein is chemical organic compound. It is a flavone that can be found in Scutellaria lateriflora.-Glycosides:The scutellarin is transformed by hydrolysis into scutellarein.-External links:*... | |
| tannin Tannin A tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of... | 28-35 |
| wax Wax thumb|right|[[Cetyl palmitate]], a typical wax ester.Wax refers to a class of chemical compounds that are plastic near ambient temperatures. Characteristically, they melt above 45 °C to give a low viscosity liquid. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in organic, nonpolar solvents... | 12 |
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...
is transformed by hydrolysis into scutellarein.
The principal phenolics in the leaves, stems, and roots of some Scutellaria species are baicalin
Baicalin
Baicalin is a flavone, a type of flavonoid. It is found in several species in the genus Scutellaria, including Scutellaria lateriflora . There are 10 mg/g baicalin in Scutellaria galericulata leaves...
, baicalein
Baicalein
Baicalein is a flavone, a type of flavonoid, originally isolated from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis. It is also reported in Oroxylum indicum or Indian trumpetflower...
and wogonin
Wogonin
Wogonin is an O-methylated flavone, a flavonoid-like chemical compound which was found in Scutellaria baicalensisThe glycosides of wogonin are known as wogonosides. For example, oroxindin is a wogonin glucuronide isolated from Oroxylum indicum...
. Baicalin is known to be anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs make up about half of analgesics, remedying pain by reducing inflammation as opposed to opioids, which affect the central nervous system....
and analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
. Another study identifies 5,6,7-trihydroxy-2'- methoxyflavone and its 7-0-glucuronide. A number of the flavones
Flavones
Flavones , are a class of flavonoids based on the backbone of 2-phenylchromen-4-one shown on the right....
found in S. lateriflora have been reported to selectively bind with high affinity to central benzodiazepine receptor sites, leading to the view that the flavones exert anxiolytic
Anxiolytic
An anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...
and other benzodiazepine
Benzodiazepine
A benzodiazepine is a psychoactive drug whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring...
effects in rats.
Blue Skullcap contains chrysin
Chrysin
Chrysin is a naturally occurring flavone chemically extracted from the blue passion flower . Honeycomb also contains small amounts. It is also reported in Oroxylum indicum or Indian trumpetflower.-Aromatase inhibition:...
glucuronide. This is found in many other plants, including wild carrot
Wild carrot
Daucus carota is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate regions of Europe, southwest Asia and naturalised to northeast North America and Australia; domesticated carrots are cultivars of a subspecies, Daucus carota subsp...
, the Pelargonium
Pelargonium
Pelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as scented geraniums or storksbills. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called Cranesbills. Both Geranium...
species (geraniums), the Passiflora or passion-flower species, which include tropical passionfruit; and in pine trees
Pinaceae
Pinaceae are trees or shrubs, including many of the well-known conifers of commercial importance such as cedars, firs, hemlocks, larches, pines and spruces. The family is included in the order Pinales, formerly known as Coniferales. Pinaceae are supported as monophyletic by its protein-type sieve...
. Chrysin is sold as a nutritional supplement for male body builders because of its possible action in inhibiting the conversions of androgens to estrogens.
The flavonoids are found throughout the plant but are more concentrated in the leaves, and the concentrations are found to decrease slightly as the plant matures. The dried leaf is reported to contain about 50 milligrams of flavonoid per gram. The flavonoids are readily extracted using hot water.
See also
- AnxietyAnxietyAnxiety 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,...
- AnxiolyticAnxiolyticAn anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...
- HerbalismHerbalismHerbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
- SedativeSedativeA sedative or tranquilizer is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement....
- Special Herbs, Vols. 4, 5 & 6Special Herbs, Vols. 4, 5 & 6Special Herbs, Vols. 4, 5 & 6 is an album of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile under the Metal Fingers moniker. As with the other installments of the Special Herbs series, each track is named for a herb or herbal preparation, with the exception of "Coffin Nails" which could refer either...
- Special Herbs, Vols. 5 & 6Special Herbs, Vols. 5 & 6Special Herbs, Vols. 5 & 6 is an album of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile under the Metal Fingers moniker. As with the other installments of the Special Herbs series, each track is named for a herb or similar flora....
- Valerian (herb)Valerian (herb)Valerian is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Valerian flower extracts were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century....