Omnia Sana · Plant Monograph
Skullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora
This monograph compiles 2 documented constituents, 2 pharmacological actions, 4 traditional / indicated uses, supported by 13 cited sources, drawn directly from the Omnia Sana plant database.
Key Constituents
Bind the benzodiazepine site of the GABA-A receptor, underlying the calming effect; baicalin is used as the HPLC quality marker, and its content varies widely between commercial tinctures.
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter and contributes to the anxiolytic activity.
Pharmacological Actions
Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension (the flavonoids baicalin and baicalein bind the benzodiazepine site of the GABA-A receptor); a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in healthy volunteers found significantly improved overall mood without loss of energy or cognition; Calming nervine for stress and nervous disorders (traditional)
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension (the flavonoids baicalin and baicalein bind the benzodiazepine site of the GABA-A receptor); a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in healthy volunteers found significantly improved overall mood without loss of energy or cognition
more plants for anxiety →detailed sources →Sedative / sleep support (insomnia)
more plants for insomnia / sleeplessness →detailed sources →Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension (the flavonoids baicalin and baicalein bind the benzodiazepine site of the GABA-A receptor); a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in healthy volunteers found significantly improved overall mood without loss of energy or cognition
more plants for nervous tension →detailed sources →Calming nervine for stress and nervous disorders (traditional)
more plants for stress →detailed sources →Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally well tolerated; its sedative effect can add to that of alcohol, sedatives and sleep medicines, and it may inhibit some drug-metabolising (CYP) enzymes.
References
REF-1562, REF-1563, REF-1564, REF-1565, REF-1566, REF-1567, REF-1568, REF-1569, REF-1570, REF-1571References & Sources
- Di Minno, A., Morone, M.V., Buccato, D.G., De Lellis, L.F. and others (2025) 'Efficacy and Tolerability of a Chemically Characterized Scutellaria lateriflora L. Extract-Based Food Supplement for Sleep Management: A Single-Center, Controlled, Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind Clinical Trial', Nutrients, 17(9), pp. 1491. doi:10.3390/nu17091491 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091491 - Wolfson, P. and Hoffmann, D.L (2003) 'An investigation into the efficacy of Scutellaria lateriflora in healthy volunteers', Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 9(2), pp. 74-78. Randomized trial
Find this source - Di Minno, A., Ullah, H., De Lellis, L.F., Buccato, D.G. and others (2024) 'Efficacy and Tolerability of a Cistus x incanus L. and Scutellaria lateriflora L.-Based Chewing Gum on the Symptoms of Gingivitis: A Monocentric, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial', Nutrients, 16(6), pp. 862. doi:10.3390/nu16060862 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16060862 - Wilczanska, A., Sparzak-Stefanowska, B., Kokotkiewicz, A., Jesionek, A. and others (2023) 'Biotechnological strategies for controlled accumulation of flavones in hairy root culture of Scutellaria lateriflora L', Scientific Reports, 13(1), pp. 20422. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-47757-7 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47757-7 - Cole, I.B., Cao, J., Alan, A.R., Saxena, P.K. and Murch, S.J (2008) 'Comparisons of Scutellaria baicalensis, Scutellaria lateriflora and Scutellaria racemosa: genome size, antioxidant potential and phytochemistry', Planta Medica, 74(4), pp. 474-481. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1034358 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1034358 - Li, J., Ding, Y., Li, X.C., Ferreira, D. and others (2009) 'Scuteflorins A and B, dihydropyranocoumarins from Scutellaria lateriflora', Journal of Natural Products, 72(6), pp. 983-987. doi:10.1021/np900068t Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/np900068t - Tuan, P.A., Kim, Y.S., Kim, Y., Thwe, A.A. and others (2016) 'Molecular characterization of flavonoid biosynthetic genes and accumulation of baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin in plant and hairy root of Scutellaria lateriflora', Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 25(8), pp. 1639-1647. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2016.08.011 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2016.08.011 - Gafner, S., Bergeron, C., Batcha, L.L., Reich, J. and others (2003) 'Inhibition of [3H]-LSD binding to 5-HT7 receptors by flavonoids from Scutellaria lateriflora', Journal of Natural Products, 66(4), pp. 535-537. doi:10.1021/np0205102 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/np0205102 - Gafner, S., Bergeron, C., Batcha, L.L., Angerhofer, C.K. and others (2003) 'Analysis of Scutellaria lateriflora and its adulterants Teucrium canadense and Teucrium chamaedrys by LC-UV/MS, TLC, and digital photomicroscopy', Journal of AOAC International, 86(3), pp. 453-460. Preclinical
Find this source - Sun, J. and Chen, P (2011) 'A flow-injection mass spectrometry fingerprinting method for authentication and quality assessment of Scutellaria lateriflora-based dietary supplements', Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 401(5), pp. 1577-1584. doi:10.1007/s00216-011-5246-2 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5246-2 - Awad, R., Arnason, J.T., Trudeau, V., Bergeron, C., Budzinski, J.W., Foster, B.C. and Merali, Z (2003) 'Phytochemical and biological analysis of skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora L.): a medicinal plant with anxiolytic properties', Phytomedicine. doi:10.1078/0944-7113-00374 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00374 - Gao, J. and Sanchez-Medina, A. and Pendry, B.A. and Hughes, M.J. and Webb, G.P. and Corcoran, O (2008) 'Validation of a HPLC method for flavonoid biomarkers in skullcap (Scutellaria) and its use to illustrate wide variability in the quality of commercial tinctures', Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 11(1), pp. 77--87. doi:10.18433/j39g6v Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.18433/j39g6v - Brock, C. and Whitehouse, J. and Tewfik, I. and Towell, T (2014) 'American Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of its effects on mood in healthy volunteers', Phytotherapy Research, 28(5), pp. 692--698. doi:10.1002/ptr.5044 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5044
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