Skullcap Baicalensis

Skullcap Baicalensis

With special thanks to Elena Karunanithy

Latin Name: Scutellaria baicalensis
Family: Lamiaceae

Part used: Root
Energetics: Bitter, dry and cold, clears ‘damp heat’ in TCM
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.

CONTRA-INDICATIONS

  • Avoid in pregnancy and lactation.
  • Use with caution with children - use short-term only.
  • Surgery - stop using at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery
  • Diabetes - monitor blood sugar levels.

ACTIONS

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-oxidant
  • Anti-allergenic
  • Anti-histamine
  • Antimicrobial
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-viral
  • Anti-thrombic
  • Anti-tumour
  • Neuroprotectant
  • Febrifuge
  • Choleretic
  • Anti-convulsant
  • Bronchodilator
  • Expectorant
  • Vasodilator
  • Hypotensive
  • Diuretic
  • Sedative

Main Constituents

  • 30 types of flavones, including baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A and skullcapflavone II.

Main Uses

Skin: Acne, Psoriasis, Atopic dermatitis,
Respiratory System: Bronchitis, Asthma,
Immune System: Hay fever, Allergies, TH1 support, blocks IL-6 and other cytokines.
Circulatory System: Atherosclerosis,
Musculo-Skeletal: Rheumatoid arthritis, Gout,
Immune System: Lupus
Digestive System: Chronic hepatitis, Diarrhoea, Dysentery
Nervous System: Headaches, Migraines, Convulsions, Neurodegenerative disorders
Urinary System: Nephritis
Mental and Emotional: Anxiety

More About Skullcap Baicalensis

Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese or Baical Skullcap) is not to be confused with Scutellaria lateriflora (Blue or Virginian Scullcap) which originates in North America and was traditionally used for nervous disorders.
These two varieties of skullcap vary in main constituents and should not be used interchangeably.
Baicalensis has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (where it is known as huang qin meaning ‘golden-yellow herb’) for at least 2,000 years. It is indigenous to several East Asian countries and Siberia.
In China, baicalensis is mainly used as a nerve and immune tonic. In Japan it forms part of a kampo formula for immune system support in cancer.
In Western herbalism, baicalensis often features in herbal formulas for rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory conditions.

Further Reading

  • McIntyre, A. The Complete Herbal Tutor. 2019. London, Aeon Books
  • Chevallier, A. Herbal Remedies. 2007. London, Dorling Kindersley

References


Psoriasis

Therapeutic efficacy of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi against psoriasis-like lesions via regulating the responses of keratinocyte and macrophage
Collectively, our findings highlighted the importance of S. baicalensis application in reprogramming microenvironment to provide an alternative and complementary intervention for long-term psoriatic therapy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36271574/

Immune Modulation

The flavonoid baicalin inhibits superantigen-induced inflammatory cytokines and chemokines
Excessive release of proinflammatory cytokines mediates the toxic effect of superantigenic staphylococcal exotoxins. Baicalin may be therapeutically useful for mitigating the pathogenic effects of staphylococcal exotoxins by inhibiting the signaling pathways activated by superantigens.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014579301025844

GI Cancer

Research Progress of Scutellaria baicalensis in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancer
Scutellaria baicalensis, widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), holds a profound pharmaceutical legacy. Modern pharmacological studies have unveiled its anticancer, antioxidant, and immune-enhancing properties. S. baicalensis contains hundreds of active ingredients, with flavonoids, polysaccharides, phenylethanoid glycosides, terpenoids, and sterols being the principal components. These constituents contribute to the treatment of GI cancer by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells, arresting the cell cycle, inhibiting tumor proliferation and metastasis, regulating the tumor microenvironment, modulating epigenetics, and reversing drug resistance.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39610320/

GI Cancer

Scutellaria baicalensis and its constituents baicalin and baicalein as antidotes or protective agents against chemical toxicities
Scutellaria baicalensis (SB), or Chinese skullcap, is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat conditions like microbial infections, metabolic syndrome, and malignancies. Its protective effects are primarily attributed to two flavonoids, baicalin (BA) and baicalein (BE), found in its root and leaves. These compounds help prevent or mitigate the toxic effects of chemical exposures, protecting vital organs such as the brain, heart, liver, and kidneys. A review of 221 studies (1995–2021) revealed that SB and its flavonoids exert protective and therapeutic effects through mechanisms like enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity, reducing lipid peroxidation, lowering inflammatory cytokines, and suppressing apoptosis. These findings highlight SB's potential in managing chemical intoxication and related toxicities.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00210-022-02258-8

Cardiovascular Disease

Pharmacological properties of total flavonoids in Scutellaria baicalensis for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases
Total flavonoids of Scutellaria baicalensis (TFSB), particularly baicalin, include over 100 flavonoids, with baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, wogonoside, scutellarin, and scutellarein as key active components. TFSB protects against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by inhibiting apoptosis, regulating oxidative stress, modulating inflammatory responses, preventing myocardial fibrosis and hypertrophy, and supporting vascular health.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36152591/

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