Scutellaria baicalensis

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. 

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. 

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 . 

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) . 

Hot water extract of the rhizome, administered by gastric intubation to mice at a dose of 600 mg/kg, was inactive on LEUK-L1210. The preparation used also contained Bupleurum falcatum, Pinellia ternata, Scutellaria baicalensis, Zizyphus jujuba, Panax ginseng, and Glycyrrhiza glabra ° ... 

Prothrombin time decrease. Hot water extract of the rhizome, administered intragastrically to mice for 1 month, was active. The extract was used in combination with 7 g Bupleurum falcatum, 5 g Pinellia ternata, 3 g Scutellaria baicalensis, 2 g Gly-cyrrhiza glabra, 1 g Zingiber officinale, 3 g Panax ginseng, and 3 g Zizyphus jujuba in 700 mL water ° . 

Oszmianski, J., Bakowska, A., and Piacente, S., Thermodynamic characteristics of copigmentation reaction of acylated anthocyanin isolated from blue flowers of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi with copigments, J. Sci. Food Agric., 84, 1500, 2004. 

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