Scutellaria galericulata
Encyclopedia
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
. The form is upright and is usually 20 to 45 centimeters in height, sometimes reaching up to 80. It is a wetland-loving
species and grows along fen
s and shorelines. The blue flowers are 1 to 2 centimeters long. The flowers are in pairs and are all on the same side of the stem. The flowers do not appear at the top of the stem.
The plant is native to many parts of the world and, as such, is known by a variety of names. The Latin galericulata means "hooded", relating to the length of the flower's tube being much longer than the calyx
. The variation epilobiifolia translates as leaves like willow-herb, and refers to the slightly serrated long thin leaves which look similar to those of the genus Epilobium
.
as a genus has numerous medicinal uses and various species of skullcap are used in the same way. The traditional uses of Common Skullcap should not be confused with those of other Skullcaps as there are over 200 different species of Skullcap and they are not all used in the same way. Blue Skullcap
(S. lateriflora) is accepted as the "skullcap" used in traditional North America
n medicine, however Common Skullcap shares many of the same active chemicals and is used as a substitute in Britain and Europe. Common skullcap (S. galericulata) is also often used in the same way as 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 mild anxiolytic
s in the form of herbal teas, tablets, capsules, dried leaf for smoking and oral liquid preparations, often in combination with other medicinal herbs. The aqueous extract of the flowering parts have been traditionally used by Native Americans
as a nerve tonic and for its sedative
and diuretic
properties.
it is used in skin lighening
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 northern areas of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and much of 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...
. The form is upright and is usually 20 to 45 centimeters in height, sometimes reaching up to 80. 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 along fen
Fen
A fen is a type of wetland fed by mineral-rich surface water or groundwater. Fens are characterised by their water chemistry, which is neutral or alkaline, with relatively high dissolved mineral levels but few other plant nutrients...
s and shorelines. The blue flowers are 1 to 2 centimeters long. The flowers are in pairs and are all on the same side of the stem. The flowers do not appear at the top of the stem.
The plant is native to many parts of the world and, as such, is known by a variety of names. The Latin galericulata means "hooded", relating to the length of the flower's tube being much longer than the calyx
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
. The variation epilobiifolia translates as leaves like willow-herb, and refers to the slightly serrated long thin leaves which look similar to those of the genus Epilobium
Epilobium
Epilobium is a genus in the family Onagraceae, containing about 160-200 species of flowering plants with a worldwide distribution. They are generally abundant in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics and tropics they are restricted to the cool montane biomes,...
.
Medicinal uses
ScutellariaScutellaria
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 the same way. The traditional uses of Common Skullcap should not be confused with those of other Skullcaps as there are over 200 different species of Skullcap and they are not all used in the same way. Blue Skullcap
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...
(S. lateriflora) is accepted as the "skullcap" used in traditional North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n medicine, however Common Skullcap shares many of the same active chemicals and is used as a substitute in Britain and Europe. Common skullcap (S. galericulata) is also often used in the same way as 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 mild anxiolytic
Anxiolytic
An anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...
s in the form of herbal teas, tablets, capsules, dried leaf for smoking and oral liquid preparations, often in combination with other medicinal herbs. The aqueous extract of the flowering parts have been traditionally used by Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
as a nerve tonic and for its sedative
Sedative
A sedative or tranquilizer is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement....
and diuretic
Diuretic
A diuretic provides a means of forced diuresis which elevates the rate of urination. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics increase the excretion of water from bodies, although each class does so in a distinct way.- Medical uses :...
properties.
Pharmacology
| Chemical | Part | Concentration (mg/g) |
|---|---|---|
| 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... | Leaf | 10 |
| 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:... -7-glucuronide Glucuronide A glucuronide, also known as glucuronoside, is any substance produced by linking glucuronic acid to another substance via a glycosidic bond... | Plant | 27 |
| 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... | Plant | 28-35 |