Scutellaria baicalensis
Encyclopedia
Scutellaria baicalensis (or Baikal Skullcap, as opposed to Scutellaria lateriflora
Scutellaria lateriflora
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...

, a Skullcap native to North America) is a species of flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...

 in the Lamiaceae
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...

 family.

Medicinal uses

It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs 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...

, where it has the name huáng qín .

Chemistry

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi contains 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...

, a flavone which was found in one study to have anxiolytic
Anxiolytic
An anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...

 properties in mice at doses of 7.5 to 30 mg/kg, without exhibiting the sedative and muscle-relaxing properties of benzodiazepines.

It also contains 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...

, another flavone.

Etymology confusion

It is important to note the Latin name of the Skullcap being used as there are over 200 varieties, some used for various ailments, each with varying degrees of effectiveness. Sometimes Scutellaria lateriflora
Scutellaria lateriflora
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...

(North American Skullcap) is mistaken for Scutellaria baicalensis (Baikal Skullcap). This confusion can result in the intake of the lateriflora variety which is often processed and contaminated with other plants with high enough levels of toxicity to be of concern.

External links

  • Scutellaria baicalensis List of Chemicals (Dr. Duke's Databases)
  • Scutellaria baicalensis (Plants for a Future)
  • Sung Mun Jung et al., "Reduction of urate crystal-induced inflammation by root extracts from traditional oriental medicinal plants: elevation of prostaglandin D2 levels", Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007, 9:R64 doi:10.1186/ar2222. Considers anti-inflammatory properties of dried roots from the species Angelica sinensis
    Angelica sinensis
    Angelica sinensis, commonly known as "dong quai" or "female ginseng" is a herb from the family Apiaceae, indigenous to China.-Chinese:...

     (Dong Quai)
    , Acanthopanax senticosus (now known as Eleutherococcus senticosus
    Eleutherococcus senticosus
    Eleutherococcus senticosus is a species of small, woody shrub in the family Araliaceae native to Northeastern Asia. It is often colloquially referred to as Siberian Ginseng or eleuthero, and is sometimes shortened to E. senticosus in medical literature. E...

    , or Siberian Ginseng), and Scutellaria baicalensis (Baikal Skullcap).
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