The Consumer Guide to Scullcap
In this guide...
Traditional Uses
Modern Uses
Recent findings
Do scientists know how it works?
Types of products
Safety
References
Skullcap Abstracts
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Skullcap/Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora and S. baicalensis)
Skullcap preparations are made from the whole flowing tops or the leaves of a perennial North American plant in the mint family. The name derives from the helmet-like shape of the plant's calyx, the outer whorl of its small blue flowers. Because in the eighteenth century skullcap was used to treat rabies, the herb is also known as madweed and mad-dog weed. Dozens of species of skullcap exist in temperate parts of the world. The North American species is also sometimes referred to as Virginia skullcap, although it grows from Canada to the southern U.S. and as far west as New Mexico.
Traditional uses
Over the past two hundred years skullcap has been recognized as a mild relaxant that affects the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. People have taken it to relieve insomnia and reduce anger and anxiety. It was often included in nerve tonics for treatment of mild depression, neurasthenia, hysteria, and nervous tension. Some herbalists have also used it to prevent muscle spasms, convulsions, tremors, and seizures, in conditions ranging from menstrual cramps to epilepsy. Skullcap is a traditional herb for withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs. It has also been taken as a bitter tonic to promote digestion. In some cases it was recommended to treat hiccups, asthma, headaches, and hangovers.
A few of skullcap's traditional uses have fallen by the wayside (especially the suggestions that it affects rabies or could alleviate epilepsy), but people still use skullcap for its overall calming effects on the nervous system. Its most popular use is to alleviate anxiety and nervous tension. Skullcap is also used to treat or prevent:
- PMS
- stress-related headaches
- insomnia
Recent findings
A few studies done in the 1940s and 1950s failed to show much therapeutic action in the North American species of skullcap, and since then the plant has been mostly ignored by researchers. Russian scientists, on the other hand, have published a number of recent studies on a related species, Baikal or Chinese skullcap (S. baicalensis), suggesting it has promise as an adaptogen (a tonifying and stress-reducing agent), antioxidant, and a remedy for fungal and viral infections, liver conditions, allergic reactions, heart ailments, and cancer. Most recently:
- Russian researchers developed a semi-synthetic flavonoid from Baikal skullcap with potential anti-tumor properties.
- In a study on rats, Russian scientists found that Baikal skullcap prevents adverse effects on brain cells due to lack of oxygen.
- Flavonoid compounds identified in Baikal skullcap were shown to scavenge free radicals and protect cells from ultraviolet-induced oxidation.
Do scientists know how it works?
Skullcap is known to contain scutellarin, a flavonoid that may have mild muscle- and nerve-relaxing properties. Skullcap also contains minerals, volatile oil, methyl-alkanes, tannins, and resin.
Skullcap is available dried and in liquid extracts, capsules, and teas. It is sometimes combined with herbs such as oats and St. John's wort. It is also found in formulas for:
- anxiety, sleep, headache, heart, and circulation
Safety
Not much is known about its potential toxicity, although it is thought to be relatively safe. Pregnant and lactating women should avoid its use. Large doses may cause dizziness, stupor, or other adverse effects. A study that suggested liver toxicity from ingesting skullcap has been questioned because the products may have been adulterated with another plant, germander, that is a suspected liver toxin.
- Gabrielska, J., et al., "Antioxidant activity of flavones from Scutellaria baicalensis in lecithin liposomes," Z Naturforsch (1997), 52(11-12):817-23
- Razina, T.G., et al., "[A semisynthetic flavonoid from the Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) as an agent to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy in experimental tumors]," Eksp Klin Farmakol (1998), 61(2):54-56
- Saifutdinov, R.R., and V.A. Khazanov, "[The effect of an extract of Baikal skullcap (Scutelleria baicalensis) on succinic acid oxidation by the brain mitochondria in rats with hypoxia]," Eksp Klin Farmakol (1998), 61(5):27-29
Abstracts
Title: Antioxidant activity of flavones from Scutellaria baicalensis in lecithin liposomes
Author: Gabrielska J; Oszmianski J; Zylka R; Komorowska M
Source: Z Naturforsch [C], 52(11-12):817-23 1997 Nov-Dec
Abstract: The antioxidant effect of a trihydroxyflavone extract from Scutellaria baicalensis on oxidation induced by ultraviolet light, was studied with phosphatidylcholine liposome membrane. Also, as standards, the antioxidative activity of baicalin, wogonin, baicalein and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was investigated. Comparison of the protective effects of the compounds studied against photoinduced lipid peroxidation in lecithin liposome membranes showed that: (1) the inhibitory effect of those compounds (at 1.2 mol% antioxidant content in liposomes) on TBA reactive materials from lipid peroxidation decreased in the order of baicalin > BHT approximately equal to Scutellaria baicalensis. These were found much greater than wogonin and baicalein; (2) the depressed effect of those compounds (at 1.1 mol% compounds content in liposomes) on the production of conjugated dienes (proportional to oxidation index) could be classified as follows: Scutellaria baicalensis approximately equal to baicalin > BHT, these three were found more active much greater than baicalein and wogonin. Results obtained by ESR measurement confirm that Scutellaria baicalensis extract and the BHT compound significantly depressed the effect of liposome oxidation. It was found that the new trihydroxyflavones of Scutellaria baicalensis, ensured a very satisfactory concentration-dependent protection of the liposome membrane against UV-induced oxidation. These findings suggest that some of the beneficial effects of the extract of the Scutellaria baicalensis can be mediated in certain diseases (for example in skin diseases) by their ability to scavenge free radicals and by their protective effect on lipid peroxidation caused by sunlight irradiation.
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