blue skullcap

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• mad-dog skullcap
• side-flowering skullcap
• mad-dog scullcap
• scullcap
• mad dog skullcap

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Scutellaria lateriflora f. albiflora
• Scutellaria lateriflora var. albiflora
• Scutellaria lateriflora var. axillaris
• Scutellaria lateriflora f. rhodantha
• Cassida lateriflora
• Scutellaria polybotrya

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Scutellaria lateriflora is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural life form, the species is classified as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable conditions. This hemicryptophytic growth habit ensures its survival and ability to re-emerge annually from its protected reproductive structures.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Scutellaria lateriflora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence within its habitat. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, lacking any climbing tendencies such as liana or vine behaviors, and it does not require external support to maintain its upright posture.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Scutellaria lateriflora is centered on the production of minute seeds that play a critical role in the species' dispersal and propagation. The reproductive output is characterized by high uniformity in seed size, with the seed mass exhibiting no variance across the observed sample. Specifically, the seed mass maintains a consistent mean value of 0.000327 g, which is reflected in both the maximum and minimum recorded measurements of 0.000327 g. This lack of deviation in seed mass suggests a highly standardized developmental process during seed maturation, ensuring that each individual seed carries a precise and consistent amount of biological material for potential germination.

Seed mass mean:

0.000327 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Scutellaria lateriflora has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf.

Root

1. Phytochemistry
2. Biotechnology letters

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry

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.

Flavonoids

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Natural product communications
4. Journal of natural products
5. Scientific reports

Baicalin

1. Scientific reports
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Biotechnology letters
4. Planta medica

Wogonin

1. Phytochemistry
2. Biotechnology letters
3. Scientific reports
4. Planta medica

Scutellarin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products
3. Planta medica

baicalein

1. Phytochemistry
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Planta medica

Acteoside

1. Biotechnology letters
2. Scientific reports

Melatonin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Scutellarein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Wogonoside

1. Biotechnology letters
2. Scientific reports

AJUGAPITIN

1. 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.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Scutellaria lateriflora has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anxiety, sedative, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer.

Anxiety

1. Natural product communications
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Planta medica
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Sedative

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Alzheimer's disease

1. Natural product communications

Parkinson's disease

1. Natural product communications

Cancer

1. Phytochemistry

Convulsions

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Depression

1. Natural product communications

Diuretic

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Epilepsy

1. Seminars in pediatric neurology

Insomnia

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Scutellaria lateriflora has 5 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% ethanol extract, hairy root cultures, hot water extract, methanolic extract, methanolic extracts.

70% ethanol extract

1. Journal of natural products

Hairy root cultures

1. Biotechnology letters

Hot water extract

1. Journal of natural products

Methanolic extract

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Methanolic extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)