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(Scutellaria latiflora)
INTRODUCTION :
Scullcap (Scutellaria latiflora) belongs to the mint family and is native to North America. The aerial parts of this plant have been used by the American Natives medicinally and for its euphoric and sedative properties. Just as scullcap, the closely related Scutellaria baicalensis, a Chinese herb (Huang Quin), has also been used for its sedative effects. According to R.E. Schultes and A. Hofmann Scutellaria arvense should also be psychoactive.
The name 'scullcap' referes to the shape of the dried seed capsules.
EFFECTS :
Sedation, relaxation, muscle relaxation (myorelaxation), mild euphoria, anxiolytic activity and tonic effects.
Autonomic changes: antispasmodic, diuretic.
DURATION :
When a 'scullcap tea' is imbibed the effects last for one to three hours. When the dried herb is smoked, the effects last for a shorter time.
Dosage and preparation :
Scullcap can be prepared as a tea by boiling approximately 30 grams of dried plant material for 10-20 minutes in water. The plant material may also be smoked, but extracts are far more effective for this purpose.
Scullcap is often taken in combination with other herbs; valerian, damiana, Passion flower and cannabis combine well with scullcap.
Botanical aspects :
S. latiflora (Scullcap) is a member of the mint family (Labiatae) like Salvia divinorum and Nepeta cataria (catmint) and native to North America. The plant grows 50 cm in height, has cogged leaves, small white-violet flowers and prefers a high humidity. Scullcap can be cultivated by seeds and by shoots.
 Figure: Its inflorescence
 Figure: Scullcap seeds
Phytochemistry :
Scullcap contains valepotriates, flavonoids, tannines and xantones and glycosides . The flavonoids that are present in scullcap are closely related to the flavonoids found in various Passiflora- (passionflower) and Artemisia- (wormwood) species.
Table 1.28: Flavon derivatives (flavonoids)
Table 1.29: Valepotriates
Table 1.29, a: Substituents of valepotriate derivatives
Pharmacology :
The valepotriates and flavonoids are thought to be the main active constituents of scullcap. The valepotriates appear to be agonists on adenosine-, barbiturate- and benzodiazepine receptors, but the actions of the flavonoids (oa. scutellarine) are not well understood. Scutellareine tetramethylether (scutellarine) is probably involved in the psychoactive action and it has been suggested that scutellarine is a selective agonists on benzodiazepine receptors because many closely related flavonoids (flavon, chrisine) possess this property. Whether or not scutellarine also acts as a benzodiazepine receptor agonist is unknown.
The agonists on barbiturate- and benzodiazepine receptors both exhibit allosteric modulation of the GABA-receptor-proteins, but they excert their effects differerently: the benzodiazepine receptor agonists increase the frequency of ionchannel activation and the barbiturate receptor agonists increase the ionchannel activation-time.
The agonist properties of valepotriates on adenosine receptors also results in sedation and anticonvulsant activity.
Little pharmacological data concerning flavonoids is available, but they appear to be metabolised in the gastrointestinal lumen and liver and are substrate for P-glycoproteins (MRP1 and MRP2), glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) and sulfotranferases (SULT).
It has been observed that many flavonoids (for example apigenine) and various xanthones exhibit antioxidant activity.
Toxicology :
There is some evidence that several decomposition products of valepotriates (baldrinal and homobaldrinal) exhibit cytotoxic- and mutagenic activity.
Modifiers :
- Combinations with passionflower and damiana enhance euphoria.
- Cannabis produces an altered state of sedation.
References
1. [Andrews/ Basu/ Amaresh]
2. [Forth/ Henschler/ Rummel/ Fostermann/ Starke, 2001]
3. [Fugh-Berman/ Cott, 1999]
4. [Hoffmann/ Schultes,1973]
5. [Hoffmann/ Schultes, 1973]
6. [Ratsch, 1998]
7. [Erlund]
8. [Wolfman/ Paladini/ Medina/ Levi de stein/ Calvo/ Diaz, 1999]
(Text by Wout.) |
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