Skullcap Herb
Scutellaria lateriflora, Lamiaceae
Skullcap is a hardy perennial herb native to North America. It is a member of the mint family. It is a wetland-loving species and grows near marshes, meadows, and other wet habitat. The blue flowers are just under a centimeter long.[2][3] Most of the flowers do not appear at the top of the main stem, but are produced along the length of side branches that grow from the leaf axils, hence the specific name lateriflora, as the flowers grow laterally.
Scutellaria lateriflora is used in herbal medicine as a mild sedative and sleep promoter. Many compounds have been isolated in Scutellaria among them flavonoids and diterpenes. [2]
A number of the flavones found in S. lateriflora have been reported to selectively bind with high affinity to central benzodiazepine receptor sites, leading to the view that the flavones exert anxiolytic and other benzodiazepine effects in rats.[3]
Blue Skullcap contains chrysin glucuronide. This is found in many other plants, including wild carrot, the Pelargonium species (geraniums), the Passiflora or passion-flower species, which include tropical passionfruit; and in pine trees. Chrysin is sold as a nutritional supplement for male body builders because of its possible action in inhibiting the conversions of androgens to estrogens.[4]
The flavonoids are found throughout the plant but are more concentrated in the leaves, and the concentrations are found to decrease slightly as the plant matures. The dried leaf is reported to contain about 50 milligrams of flavonoid per gram. The flavonoids are readily extracted using hot water.[1]
[1] 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 (8), 3076 -3080, 2005
[2] Analysis of Scutellaria lateriflora and its adulterant Teucrium canadense by HPLC-UV and HPLC-UV/MS, Tom’s of Maine, PO Box 710, Kennebunk, ME 04043. USA.
[3] Medina, et al. , Overview-Flavonoids: A new family of benzodiazapine receptor ligands. Neurochem Res. 199722 (4): 419.
[4] Kellis JT Jr, Vickery LE. Inhibition of human estrogen synthetase (aromatase) by flavones. Science. 1984; 225:1032-1034.
Products that contain Skullcap Herb
