Scutellaria

Schild-knorpel, m. thyroid cartilage, -kraut, n. skullcap Scutellaria), -krote, /. turtle, tortoise. -laus, /. cochineal insect, -part, n. tortoise shell. 

Bruno M, Piozzi F, Rosselli S. Natural and hemisynthetic neoclerodane diterpenoids from Scutellaria and their antifeedant activity. Nat Prod Rep 2002 19 357-78. 

Bergeron, C. et al.. Comparison of the chemical composition of extracts from Scutellaria lateriflora using accelerated solvent extraction and supercritical fluid extraction versus standard hot water or 70% ethanol extraction, J. Agric. Food Chem., 53, 3076, 2005. 

The medicinal Lamiaceae, with about 250 species, represents a vast source of material to explore when looking for anxiolytic agents of clinical value. Among these medicinal species are Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Leonotis nepetifolia, the properties of which are described here. 

Fig. 51. Valium and GABAergic flavonoids of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.

Kwok MH, Huen MSY, Wang HY, et al. Anxiolytic effect of wogonin, a benzodiazepine receptor ligand isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Biochem Pharmacol 2002 64 1415-1424. 

Huen MS, Leung JW, Ng W, et al. Dihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone, a benzodiazepine site ligand isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, with selective antagonistic properties. Biochem Pharmacol 2003 66 125-127. 

Awad R, Amason JT, Trudeau V, et al. Phytochemical and biological analysis of skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora L.) a medicinal plant with anxiolytic properties. Phytomedicine 2003 10 640-649. 

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is an herb that has been used in Chinese and Western medicine for sedative and antiseizure effects (Wong et al. 1998). Its pharmacological and behavioral effects have not been established in animals or humans. 

Anti-hepatitis B virus activity in vitro and in vivo was also found in wogonin and baicalein (Fig. 4), the major active constituents of the traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria radix.More recently, Blach-Olszewska et al investigated the effect of baicalein and wogonin on two important mechanisms of innate immunity The secretion of cytokines, and the natural resistance of human leukocytes to viral infection. The results obtained indicate that these fiavonoids modulate cytokine production, that is they inhibit interferons-a and -y, and stimulate tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin production. They also augment the resistance of peripheral blood leukocytes to the vesicular stomatitis virus. 

Blach-Olszewska Z, Jatczak B, Rak A, Lorenc M, Gulanowski B, Drobna A, Lamer-Zarowska E. (2008) Production of cytokines and stimulation of resistance to viral infection in human leukocytes by Scutellaria baicalensis) flavones. J Interferon Cytokine Res 28 571-581. 

Miyaichi Y, Kizu H, Tomimori T, Lin C-C. (1989) Studies on the constituents of Scutellaria species. XI On the flavonoid constituents of the aerial parts of Scutellaria indica L. Chem Pharm Bull 37 794-797. 

Nishioka T, Kawabata J, Aoyama Y. (1998) Baicalein, an a-glucosidase inhibitor from Scutellaria baicalensis. J Nat Prod 61 1413-1415. 

Hormonal effects. A commercial product, PC-SPES, composed of Chrysantemum morifolium, Ganoderma lucidum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Isatis indigotica, Panax pseudoginseng, Rabdosia rubescens, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Serenoa repens was tested in hormone-insensitive cell lines LNCAP-BCL-2, PC-3, and DU-145 at variable concentrations. LNCAP, the only hormone-sensitive cell line, was affected by the lowest dose of PC-SPES tested . 

Saudi Arabia. Hot water extract of the dried rhizome is taken orally as a stomachic, a diuretic, a carminative, and an antiemetic and used externally as an antiseptic, anesthetic, and astringent . South Korea. Hot water extract of the dried rhizome is taken orally as an abortifa-cient . Hot water extract of the rhizome, together with Bupleurum falcatum, Scutellaria baicalensis, Panax ginseng, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Zizyphusjujuha, and Pinellia tuberosa, is taken orally for tonsillitis, otitis media, tuberculosis, common cold, liver disorders, chills, fevers, and chest pains . 

United States. Hot water extract of the dried rhizome is taken orally as a carminative in flatulent colic and when a warming effect is needed . Wine extract of the dried rhizome, together with Viburnum opulus, Scutellaria lateriflora, Symplocarous foetidus, and Syzygium aromaticum, is taken as an antispasmodic . 

Alanine aminotransferase inhibition. Decoction of dried rhizome, taken orally by human adults of both sexes at a dose of 7.5 g/day for 6 months, was active on 80 patients with hepatitis B antigen-positive chronic hepatitis. The study was conducted with a prescription that consists of B.upku-rum falcatum Bupleurum falcatum (Rt), Scutellaria baicalensis Scutellaria baicalensis (Rt), Pinellia ternata (Tu), Zizyphus jujuba (Fr), Panax ginseng (Rt), and Glycyrrhiza glabra (Rh) . 

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