Skullcap

Once recognized as a tonic, tranquilizer, and antispasmodic, skullcap was therefore used as an ingredient in many patent medicines for female weakness. It was also combined with other reputedly calming herbs, such as hops and valerian, and promoted as a sedative or anxiolytic. Other traditional uses include treatment of epilepsy, headache, insomnia, various other neurological and psychiatric disorders, hypertension, fever, rheumatism, and stress. 

Skullcap is promoted commercially in the U.S. as a sedative, anxiolytic, and spasmolytic and is promoted for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menstrual cramps, depression, exhaustion, and muscle pain caused by stress. Other claimed uses are for headache and epilepsy. 

Skullcap is known to have anticonvulsant and sedative properties. Traditionally, it has been used for epilepsy, chorea, hysteria, nervous tension states, and specifically for grand mal. In Chinese herbal medicine, the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi have been used traditionally as a remedy for inflammation, suppurative dermatitis, allergic diseases, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis. 

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

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. 

Chamomile Lemon Balm Hops Catnip Skullcap Geranium Pharmacol. Animal beh. Animal beh. Pharmacol. Pharmacol. Animal beh. Pharmacol. Animal beh. Pharmacol. Animal beh. Pharmacol. Pharmacol. Pharmacol. Animal beh. Pharmacol. 

There are several remaining herbs that are reputed to have sedative effects skullcap, geranium, hops, and catnip. However, the neuropharmacological mechanisms have not been well characterized, and behavioral data in animals and humans are lacking. The existing knowledge on these plants is presented here. 

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. 

Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing the prolactin receptor, was active . Protein synthesis stimulation. Sterol fraction of the extract, in cell culture at a concentration of 25 (xg/mL, produced weak activity on CA-LNCAP. A concentration of 50 (xg/mL was active on CA-PC3 h PSA production inhibition. Ethanol (70%) extract of PC-SPES (a Chinese herb combination of chrysanthemum, dyers woad, licorice, reishi, san-qi ginseng, rabdosia, saw palmetto, and baikal skullcap), in cultured prostate cancer cell line at variable doses for 24 hours, produced a significant effect in supressing cell growth in all the cell lines h... 

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi S. macrantha Fisch. China Baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, beta-sitosterol, wognoside, 7-methoxy-baicalein, 7-methoxynorwogonin, skullcap flavones.33 Antibacterial, antiviral, antipyretic, antiinflammatory, antitumor. 

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Uses Rx of superficial wounds (bacterial, viral, fungal, insect bites, minor burns, cold sores, acne Action Broad-spectrum antibiotic activity against E. coli, S. aureus, C. albicans Available forms Topical creams, lotions, oint, oil apply topically PRN Notes/SE Ataxia, contact dermatitis, D, drowsiness, GI mucosal irritation Interactions Effects OF drugs that affect histamine release EMS effects of Benadryl Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) Uses Anxiolytic, antispasmodic, dys-menorrheal, restlessness, sedative Action Inhibits uptake stimulates release of GABA, which T GABA concentration extracellularly causes sedation Available forms Ext 400-900 mg PO 30 min < hs, tea 2-3 g (1 tsp of crude herb) qid, PRN, tine 3-5 mL (1/2-1 tsp) (1 5 ratio) PO qid, PRN Efficacy Probably effective sedative (reduces sleep latency) Notes/SE GI upset, HA, insomnia, N/V, palpitations, restlessness, vision changes Interactions T Effects OF barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opiates, EtOH, catnip, hops, kavakava, passion flower, skullcap effects OF MAOIs, phenytoin, warfarin EMS T Effects of benzodiazepines and opiates abruptly D/C may cause withdrawal symptoms... 

Respiratory complaints Comfrey, mullein, marshmallow, and saw palmetto Rest and calm Anise, catnip, dill, evening primrose, fennel, melissa balm, hops, lavender, passionflower, peppermint, skullcap, St. John s wort, and valerian Sinus conditions Capsicum, echinacea, goldenseal, and willow... 

Synonym Sometimes named Skullcap, and locally known as Madweed. 

It is important to be aware that many herbal preparations may contain adulterants such as corticosteroids (e.g. eczema preparations), analgesics (even those banned in the UK, e.g. phenylbutazone, fenfluramine) and warfarin. For example, PC-SPES, a mixture of at least eight herbs taken for prostate cancer, was shown to contain baikal skullcap and warfarin. 

Some of the more interesting and attractive groups of native species include the skullcaps (Scutellaria spp.), physostegias (Physostegia spp.), hemp-nettles (Stachys spp.), sages (Salvia spp.), horse-mints or bergamots (Monarda spp.), bugle-weeds (Lycopus spp.), and tme mints (Mentha spp.). 

Scutellaria species (skullcap) Teucrium species (germander) Cinnamonum camphors (camphor tree)... 

Hawthorn Crataegus species Skullcap Scutellaria species... 

The genera in the family of Lamiaceae (Table 1) include basil, catnip, germander, lavender, mints, origanum, rosemary, sage, skullcap, and thyme. 

The Scutellaria species (skullcap) include over 40 members, which contain a variety of flavonoids and terpenoids, the latter including scutellariosides and smithiandienol. Some also contain pjrrohzidine alkaloids (see separate monograph), which have repeatedly been implicated in veno-occlusive disease of the hver. 

Although Western skullcap formulations are supposed to come from Scutellaria lateriflora, it is unclear whether it is responsible for the liver damage that has been associated with skullcap. In the UK, the American germander (Teucrium canadense) has been widely used to replace S. lateriflora in commercial skullcap materials and products. In one UK case of skuUcap-associated hepatotoxicity, the material was found to come from T. canadense. This raises the possibility that other cases of skullcap toxicity may also have involved Teucrium rather than Scutellaria (16). 

A 53-year-old Japanese man, who had taken skullcap intermittently for hemorrhoids, developed recurrent interstitial pneumonitis (17). Re-challenge, after he had stopped taking the herbal remedy and had become symptom free, resulted in a high fever and signs and symptoms of interstitial pneumonitis. Transbronchial lung biopsy showed Ijmphocytic alveolitis with eosinophilic infiltration. The symptoms subsided again after withdrawal. 

Skullcap has repeatedly been associated with hepatotoxicity, and veno-occlusive disease has been reported (18). 

A 28-year-old man presented with jaundice after taking six tablets of skullcap (together with zinc and pau d arco) daily for the previous 6 months to help his multiple sclerosis. His liver enzjmes were raised and hepatitis A, B, and C serologies were negative. He developed progressive liver failure and received a transplant but died shortly after. His explanted hver showed fibrous stenosis and obliteration of most of the terminal venules with extensive perivenular fibrosis, indicative of veno-occlusive disease. 

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