Blue Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

Introduction

Scutellaria lateriflora is a herbaceous perennial native to North America. It grows in riparian areas or wet meadow areas ranging from Canada to Florida, and British Columbia. During the 19th century, Scutellaria lateriflora was also referred to as "mad dog" for its treatment of rabies (Nirmal and Sherman, 2022). Blue skullcap has been used traditionally by Native Americans and European to treat various illnesses. Similarly, the Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) is used in traditional Chinese medicine (Zhang et al. 2009).

Illustrated by Charles Frederick Millspaugh

The name "skullcap" refers to the shape of calyx at the base of the flower that resembles the helmets of European soldiers.

Blue skullcap can grow between 20 to 80 cm tall.

Stems are quadrangular and are also sparsely hairy.

Leaves opposite and are ovate-serrate shaped measuring 3- 11 cm. long and 1.5- 5.5 cm wide.

Photo by Louis -M. Landry

Fruit is attached to base of calyx containing 4 nutlets.

Skullcap

Common Plant Names: Blue skullcap or Mad Dog skullcap

Scientific name: Scutellaria lateriflora

Growth Habitat: Herbaceous

Family of Plant: Lamiaceae

Life Cycle: Perennial

Dioecious flowers

(Upton et al. 2012)

Photo by Rolf Engstrand

Flowers are bell-shaped blue-purple color also covered in soft hairs.

Natural History

Blue skullcap is a herbaceous perennial that grows in Northern California. Scutellaria lateriflora is a dioecious plant that grows up to 80 cm tall and commomly grows in wetlands and moist wooded areas. The biome of Scutellaria lateriflora is riparian areas such as wet meadows, marshes, and stream banks (USDA, 2020). It grows at an elevation of less than 500 meters (Olmstead, 2012).

Conservation Status

There are some Scutellaria species that are declining in population because of their growing popularity. Adulteration, decreased seed set, invasive species, and habitat loss are some reasons why some Scutellaria species are endangered. For example, Ocmulgee skullcap (Scutellaria ocmulgee) is one species that is endangered in Georgia and South Carolina (Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, 2024). However, Blue skullcap is not an endangered species.

Indigenous Uses of Skullcap

Native Americans used Scutellaria species for many illnesses and conditions. For instance, the Cherokee used Scutellaria laterifloria to induce abortions and afterbirth, regulation of menstruation, breast pain, diarrhea, nerves, and kidneys. Cherokee would use leaves and flowers of Scutellaria lateriflora to make an infusion to regulate menstruation. The Cherokee would also do an infusion of roots from S. elliptica, S. incana, and S. lateriflora to induce abortion for monthly periods. In addition, the Iroquois used Scutellaria lateriflora to prevent smallpox and to clean the throat by the infusion of powered roots. Other human ailments include fevers, chills, eye pain, nerves, heart conditions, and insomnia (Moerman, 2009).

Cherokee and other Native Americans use Blue skullcap in purification ceremonies and ceremonies to induct girls into womanhood (Joshee et al. 2002).

Traditional Chinese medicine with the use of Scutellaria baicalensis, which was also known as Huang- Chi or Baikal skullcap, was first recorded in pharmacopeia Materia Medica of Shen Nong. Scutellaria baicalensis was reported to treat diarrhea, dysentery, hypertension, hemorrhaging, insomnia, inflammation, and respiratory infection. (Zhao et al. 2016). In addition, Baikal skullcap is used to treat jaundice, infections, thrombosis, cholesterol and tumors (Guo et al. 2011).

(A)

Medicinal Use of Skullcap

Modern herbal medicine application of Blue skullcap is based on it use for anxiety. It is commonly use for insomnia, nervous disorders, and digestive discomfort. It can also be prescribed for epilepsy, post-stroke paralysis, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, allergies, skin condition, and inflammation (Brock, Christine, et al. 2013). Pharmacology research has shown Scutellaria genus to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antibacterial, and hepato-protective (in liver) effects .

Scutellaria lateriflora is rich in flavonoid glycosides. Scutellaria lateriflora contains baicalin (B) which is most predominant, scutellarin (Bottom Left), wogonin (C), and baicalein (A). The leafs contain a higher concentration of flavonoids (Brock, Christine, et al. 2012). Some studies suggest flavones in Blue skullcap reduce anxiety, promote relaxation, and improve mental well being as shown by a human clinical study on the efficacy of Blue skullcap (Wolfson and Hoffmann 2003). However, more studies must be conducted to further support its efficacy. As a result, Blue skullcap is used as a anxiolytic, antioxidant, antispasmodic, nervine, and a sedative (Upton 2012).

Blue skullcap can be prepared in tea, dried herbs, fluid extract, powdered, infusion, and tinctures. In powder, the dosage is 1-2g three times daily. Infusion is 1-2g three times daily. Tincture is 5-10mL three times daily and fluid extract is 1-2mL three times daily (Upton 2012).

References

Olmstead, Richard G (2012). Scutellaria lateriflora, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=43900. Accessed on December 12, 2024.

Zhang, Zhizhen, et al. (2009). "Characterization of chemical ingredients and anticonvulsant activity of American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)." Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 485+. Gale General OneFile, dx.doi.org.lib.proxy.csustan.edu/10.1016/j.phymed.2008.07.011.

Millspaugh, Charles F Scutellaria Lateriflora. L., www.plantillustrations.org/illustration.php?id_illustration=82862.(Image).

Engstrand, Rolf. CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24468900. (Image).

Upton, Roy, and R. H. DAyu (2012). “Skullcap Scutellaria Lateriflora L.: An American Nervine.” Journal of Herbal Medicine, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 76–96, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2012.06.004.

Scutellaria Lateriflora - Mad Dog Skullcap, calscape.org/plant/Scutellaria-lateriflora-(Mad-Dog-Skullcap)/gallery#. (Image).

U.S.D.A. (United States Department of Agriculture) Natural Resources Conservation Service. Plants profile for Scutellaria lateriflora L. (blue skullcap). Available: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SCLA2.

Irvin, L. et al. (2019). Skullcaps (Scutellaria spp.): Ethnobotany and Current Research. In: Joshee, N., Dhekney, S., Parajuli, P. (eds) Medicinal Plants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31269-5_7.

Nirmal, Joshee. and Sherman, Samantha.(2022). "Current status of research on medicinal plant Scutellaria lateriflora: A review." Journal of Medicinally Active Plants 11, (1):22-38. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/jmap/vol11/iss1/3.

Moerman DE (2009) Native American medicinal plants: an ethnobotanical dictionary. Portland,Oregon

Zhao Q, Chen X, Martin C (2016) Scutellaria baicalensis, the golden herb from the garden of Chinese medicinal plants. Sci Bull 61(18):1391–1398

Guo X, Wang X, Su W et al (2011) DNA barcodes for discriminating the medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis (Lamiaceae) and its adulterants. Biol Pharm Bull 34(8):1198–1203

Joshee N, Patrick TS, Mentreddy RS, Yadav AK. Skullcap: potential medicinal crop. In: Janick J, Whipkey A, editors. Trends in new crops and new uses. Alexandria (VA): ASHS press; 2002. p. 580–6.

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for Ocmulgee Skullcap and Designation of Critical Habitat. (2024). In The Federal Register / FIND (Vol. 89, Number 210, pp. 86670-). Federal Information & News Dispatch, LLC.

Brock, C., Whitehouse, J., Tewfik, I., & Towell, T. (2013). "Identity issues surrounding American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and an optimised high performance liquid chromatography method to authenticate commercially available products." Journal of Herbal Medicine, 3(2), 57–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2013.02.001

Brock, C., Whitehouse, J., Tewfik, I., & Towell, T. (2012). The use of Scutellaria lateriflora: A pilot survey amongst herbal medicine practitioners. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 2(2), 34–41.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2012.04.005

Wolfson, P. E., & Hoffmann, D. L. (2003). An investigation into the efficacy of Scutellaria lateriflora in healthy volunteers. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 9(2), 74–78.

Blue Skullcap by Rebeca Velis Ventura December 13 2024

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