blue skullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (571 studies) · ★★★★★
Blue skullcap, scientifically known as Scutellaria lateriflora, is a perennial herb native to North America. Renowned in traditional herbalism, it is primarily valued for its calming, nervine properties. Often used to alleviate anxiety, stress, and insomnia, this botanical offers a gentle way to soothe the nervous system naturally.
Names
Common Names
- mad-dog skullcap
- side-flowering skullcap
- mad-dog scullcap
- scullcap
- mad dog skullcap
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Escutelaria de Virginia
French:
- scutellaire latériflore
- scutellaire à fleurs latérales
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Scutellaria laterifloraSynonyms
- Scutellaria lateriflora f. albiflora
- Scutellaria lateriflora var. albiflora
- Scutellaria lateriflora var. axillaris
- Scutellaria lateriflora f. rhodantha
- Cassida lateriflora
- Scutellaria polybotrya
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Scutellaria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Scutellaria | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several provinces in Canada. In Western Canada, its presence is noted in both British Columbia and Manitoba. Moving toward the Atlantic coast, the species is also found within Eastern Canada. Specifically, it inhabits the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Finally, its range extends to the island of Newfoundland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Canada | British Columbia | WCVP |
| Western Canada | Manitoba | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | New Brunswick | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Newfoundland | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Nova Scotia | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Prince Edward I. | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Québec | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Colorado | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Idaho | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as Scutellaria lateriflora, offers various components that are utilized in medicinal applications. While the roots are an integral part of its biological structure, much of the traditional herbal preparation relies on the aerial parts of the organism. In commercial and pharmaceutical contexts, the herb is often processed into dried mad-dog skullcap to preserve its bioactive compounds. Furthermore, modern biotechnological advancements have enabled the development of hairy root cultures, which allow for the controlled production of specific secondary metabolites within a laboratory setting, often using the plant's leaves as a reference for studying its chemical profile.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| root | Phytochemistry (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Phytochemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Scutellaria lateriflora has 70 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Baicalin, Wogonin, Scutellarin, baicalein.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 6 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Baicalin | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Wogonin | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Scutellarin | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| baicalein | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Acteoside | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Melatonin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Scutellarein | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Wogonoside | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AJUGAPITIN | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonoids
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA
- Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
- Natural product communications
- Journal of natural products
- Scientific reports
View 1 additional sources
- Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
Baicalin
- Scientific reports
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
- Biotechnology letters
- Planta medica
Wogonin
- Phytochemistry
- Biotechnology letters
- Scientific reports
- Planta medica
Scutellarin
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of natural products
- Planta medica
baicalein
- Phytochemistry
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
- Planta medica
Acteoside
- Biotechnology letters
- Scientific reports
Melatonin
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
Scutellarein
- Dr. Duke
- Phytochemistry
Wogonoside
- Biotechnology letters
- Scientific reports
AJUGAPITIN
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Scutellaria lateriflora has 447 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antihypertensive, Antioxidant, Diuretic, Neuroprotective.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Sedative | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 11B-HSD-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AChE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AP-1-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Scutellaria lateriflora has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anxiety, sedative, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| anxiety | Natural product communications (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| sedative | Journal of agricultural and food chemistry (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Parkinson's disease | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | Phytochemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| convulsions | Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| depression | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diuretic | Journal of agricultural and food chemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epilepsy | Seminars in pediatric neurology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| insomnia | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| 70% ethanol extract | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hairy root cultures | Biotechnology letters (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hot water extract | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extract | Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extracts | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |