Scutellaria lateriflora


Scutellaria lateriflora, is a hardy perennial herb of the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to North America.
It has an upright habit, growing in maximum height. It is a wetland-loving species and grows near marshes, meadows, and other wet habitats. The blue flowers are just under 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.
Other skullcaps species include common skullcap, western skullcap, and southern skullcap.

Phytochemicals

The principal phytochemicals are polyphenols in the leaves, stems, and roots of some Scutellaria species, including baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A. Other constituents include lateriflorin, melatonin, serotonin, viscidulin III-2'-O-glucoside, Chyrin-6-C-ara-glc, trans-verbascoside, viscidulin, trans-martynoside, oroxylin A-7-O-glc, wogonoside, chitin, and scutellarin. Scutellaria lateriflora contains flavonoids.
One study identified 5,6,7-trihydroxy-2'- methoxyflavone and its 7-O-glucuronide. Scutellarin is a flavone found in S. lateriflora and S. barbata. It is transformed by hydrolysis into scutellarein.
Genkwanin, hesperetin, quercetin, rutin, naringenin, chrysin, and daidzein are the flavonoids found in S. lateriflora. The flavonoids are readily extracted using hot water.
The oil from S. lateriflora contains τ-cadinene, calamenene, β-elemene, α-cubebene, and α-humulene.
ChemicalConcentration
alpha-cubebene42
alpha-humulene42
beta-elemene92
calamenene152
delta-cadinene270

ChemicalConcentration
carbohydrates780
ascorbic acid1
baicalin10
scutellarin
scutellarein
tannin28-35
wax12

Traditional uses and research

Its extracts are used in herbal medicine intended as a mild sedative and sleep promoter. Cherokee women have used it as an emmenagogue. In 1773, Scutellaria lateriflora became a common treatment in North America for the hysteria and hydrophobia caused by rabies.
Skullcap products have been analyzed, with some adulterated by Teucrium canadense or T. chamaedrys, also known as germander, which contains potentially hepatotoxic diterpenes.