Skullcap herb - also spelled Scullcap - was traditionally used by North American Indians for sedative and anti anxiety properties. Skullcap contains many flavonoids. There are herbs and supplements that are more effective for anxiety. These include Hydroxytryptophan, the serotonin precursor, Kava Kava, an herb from the South Pacific, Hops herb is helpful to help induce sleep, and Passion-Flower, a gentle herb that helps you relax. Some people prefer an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine. Taking half a capsule of ashwagandha is one option.
American Skullcap -- Scutellaria lateriflora --
Chinese Skullcap -- Scutellaria baicalensis --
Baicalein, a naturally occurring flavonoid, has a wide range of pharmacological activities and has been used in traditional medicines for treatment of various ailments.
Antioxidant content
Nat Prod Commun. 2013. Anti-oxidative and DNA protecting effects of
flavonoids-rich Scutellaria lateriflora.
Skullcap Herb Research
The sequences of the plastid gene rpl16 and the rpl16-rpl14 spacer
region allow discrimination among six species of Scutellaria.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005.
Dried aerial parts of Scutellaria galericulata (marsh
skullcap) and Scutellaria lateriflora (Labiatae; mad dog skullcap ) are
mainly used as skullcap, a medicinal herb, in Europe and the United
States. The respective dried aerial parts of the two species are difficult
to distinguish morphologically from each other. We attempted to
discriminate among six species (Scutellaria altissima, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Labiatae), Scutellaria galericulata,
Scutellaria incana Spreng. (Labiatae), Scutellaria indica (Labiatae)
and Scutellaria lateriflora) of Scutellaria, which include three medicinal
species (Scutellaria galericulata, Scutellaria lateriflora and Scutellaria
baicalensis), by comparing the respective nucleotide sequences of the
plastid rpl16 gene and the rpl16-rpl14 spacer region. Comparisons of these
sequences allowed us to identify each of the six species unequivocally.
Comparison of the chemical composition of extracts from Scutellaria
lateriflora - skullcap - using accelerated solvent extraction and supercritical fluid
extraction versus standard hot water or 70% ethanol extraction.
J Agric Food Chem. 2005.
The aqueous extract of American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora
(S. lateriflora), Lamiaceae) - skullcap - has been traditionally used by North American
Indians as a nerve tonic and for its sedative and diuretic properties.
Recent reports stated that flavonoids and possibly amino acids are
responsible for the skullcap anxiolytic activity. As a part of our search for
environmentally friendly solvents to extract the active components from
medicinal plants, we used skullcap in a comparison of accelerated
solvent extraction (ASE) using water, and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)
using CO2 and 10% EtOH as modifier, at different temperatures. Flavonoids
and amino acids were quantified by HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS, respectively. The
skullcap flavonoid content was compared with conventional extraction methods (hot
water extraction and 70% ethanol). The use of ASE at 85 degrees C with
water as solvent gave the best results for flavonoid glycosides and amino
acids, whereas SFE gave higher yields of flavonoid aglycones. However, the
results obtained for total skullcap flavonoids were not significatively superior to
hot water extraction or 70% aqueous EtOH extract.
Herbal treatment following post-seizure induction in rat by lithium
pilocarpine: Scutellaria lateriflora Skullcap, Gelsemium sempervirens (Gelsemium)
and Datura stramonium (Jimson Weed) may prevent development of spontaneous
seizures.
Phytother Res. 2004.
About 1 week after the induction of status epilepticus in male rats by
a single systemic injection of lithium (3 mEq/kg) and pilocarpine (30
g/kg), rats were continuously administered one of three herbal treatments
through the water supply for 30 days. A fourth group received colloidal
minerals and diluted food grade hydrogen peroxide in tap water, while a
fifth group of rats received only tap water (control). Herbal treatments
were selected for their historical antiseizure activities and sedative
actions on the nervous system. The numbers of spontaneous seizures per day
during a 15 min observation interval were recorded for each rat during the
treatment period and during an additional 30 days when only tap water was
given. Rats that received a weak solution of the three herbal fluid
extracts of Scutellaria lateri flora ( Skullcap ), Gelsemium sempervirens (Gelsemium)
and Datura stramonium (Jimson Weed) displayed no seizures during treatment
while all the other groups were not seizure-free. However, when this
treatment was removed, the rats in this group displayed numbers of
spontaneous seizures comparable to the controls. Although there is no
proof that herbal remedies can control limbic or temporal lobe epilepsy,
the results of this experiment strongly suggest that the appropriate
combination of herbal compounds may be helpful as adjunctive
interventions.
Phytochemical and biological analysis of skullcap (Scutellaria
lateriflora): a medicinal plant with anxiolytic properties.
Phytomedicine. 2003.
The phytochemistry and biological activity of Scutellaria lateriflora ( American skullcap ) which has been traditionally used as a sedative and
to treat various nervous disorders such as anxiety was studied. In vivo
animal behaviour trials were performed to test anxiolytic effects in rats
orally administered S. laterifolia extracts. Significant increases in the
number of entries into the center of an "open-field arena"; number of
unprotected head dips, number of entries and the length of time spent on
the open arms of the Elevated Plus-Maze were found. The identification and
quantification of the flavonoid, baicalin in a 50% EtOH extract (40 mg/g)
and its aglycone baicalein in a 95% EtOH extract (33 mg/g), as well as the
amino acids GABA in H2O and EtOH extracts (approximately 1.6 mg/g) and
glutamine, was performed using HPLC. These
compounds may play a role in anxiolytic activity since baicalin and
baicalein are known to bind to the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA
receptor and since GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter. Skullcap
herb.
Discrimination among three species of medicinal Scutellaria plants
- skullcap - using RAPD markers.
Planta Med. 2000.
An analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was performed
using nine accessions of three species of medicinal plants in the genus
Scutellaria (S. galericulata, S. lateriflora and S. baicalensis; known
collectively as skullcap) in an effort to distinguish between members of
these three species. Dried aerial parts of the two species S. galericulata
and S. lateriflora are difficult to distinguish morphologically. Ten
arbitrary primers produced 92 fragments, and eight of the primers yielded
23 species-specific fragments among the three species. Six fragments were
specific for S. galericulata, seven for S. lateriflora and ten for S.
baicalensis. When primers A02 and A06 were used in the polymerase chain
reaction, RAPD fragments that were specific for each of the three species
were generated simultaneously. Primer A02 produced five species-specific
fragments: one was specific for S. galericulata; two for S. lateriflora;
and two for S. baicalensis. Primer A06 produced three species-specific
fragments: one for S. galericulata; one for S. lateriflora; and one for S.
baicalensis. The RAPD markers that were generated with these two primers
should rapidly identify members of the three species of Scutellaria. The
consistency of the identifications made with these species-specific RAPD
markers was demonstrated by the observation that each respective marker
was generated from three accessions of each species, all with different
origins. Furthermore, cluster analysis using the 92 RAPD fragments
produced a dendrogram of genetic relatedness that was in good agreement
with the taxonomic designations of the three species. Thus, the RAPD
markers should be useful for the future identification of members of the
three species of medicinal Scutellaria plants.
Scutellaria baicalensis -
Baikal skullcap
Baicalein protects rat cardiomyocytes from hypoxia/reoxygenation
damage via a prooxidant mechanism.
Cardiovasc Res. 2005.
Baicalin and its aglycone baicalein are the major flavonoid
components of the root of Scutellaria baicalensis skullcap. Recent studies have
shown that they can attenuate oxidative stress in various in vitro models
as they possess potent antioxidant activities. This study investigated
alternative protective mechanisms of baicalein in a cardiomyocyte model.
Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes pretreated with the test compound
were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation. The extent of cellular damage was
accessed by the amount of released lactate dehydrogenase
Pretreatment with baicalein reduced lactate dehydrogenase
release significantly, while pretreatment with baicalin up to
100 microM was ineffective. The cardioprotective effect of baicalein is
not due to its antioxidant effect, because an adverse effect rather than a
protective effect was observed when baicalein was present during hypoxia.
Cotreatment with N-acetylcysteine attenuated the protective effect of
baicalein and concomitantly increased intracellular reactive oxygen
species level and the cytotoxic effect of baicalein, but N-acetylcysteine
alone did not have such effects. In addition, cotreatment with catalase,
but not superoxide dismutase or mannitol, reversed the cardioprotective
effect of baicalein, suggesting the involvement of hydrogen peroxide in
the cardioprotective mechanism. The NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase
inhibitors dicoumarol and chrysin also abolished the cardioprotective
effect of baicalein. While pretreatment with baicalein did not increase
antioxidant enzyme activities, it alleviated calcium accumulation in
cardiomyocytes undergoing simulated ischemia. These results
highlight the important role of hydrogen peroxide produced during the
auto-oxidation of baicalein in the cardioprotective effect of baicalein.
Experimental study on anti-pyretic effect of gegen qin lian
decoction and its compounds.
To investigate composition principles of Gegen Qin Lian
decoction through anti-pyretic experiment. Pharmacological effects
of different compounds of Gegen Qin Lian decoction according to six hours
temperature response index (TRI6) and average top temperature response
height (deltaT) after the decoction was given to feverish animal model by
inactived bacteria suspension. As for reducing six hour
temperature response index, Scutellaria baicalensis root was the main
effective drug. Pueraria lobata root could enforce the effect while Coptis
chinensis rhizome and Glycyrrhiza uralensis root counteracted it. As for
reducing average top temperature response height, the Effects of four
herbal drugs were the same as for TRI6. Of the compounds of Gegen Qin Lian decoction, as to the pharmcological anti-pyretic effects,
the best one is the compound of Scutellaria baicalensis - skullcap - and Pueraria
lobata roots.
Structure-activity relationships of flavonoids, isolated from
Scutellaria baicalensis - skullcap - binding to benzodiazepine site of GABA(A)
receptor complex.
Planta Med. 2002.
Twenty-six flavonoids were isolated from Skullcap. Their
affinities for the benzodiazepine (BDZ) binding site of GABA A receptor
have been studied using [ 3H]flunitrazepam binding to rat cortical
membranes in vitro. The structure-activity relationships suggested that
2'-OH flavones exhibited the most potent binding affinity, which could
lead to the design and discovery of new BDZ receptor ligands.
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