Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) - Botanical Medicines

Chinese Skullcap ( Scutellaria baicalensis )

Chinese skullcap has confirmed anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory actions, similar in effect to the prescription drugs Phenylbutazone and Indomethacin. As reported by M. Kuba in a 1984 issue of Chemical Pharmacology Bulletin , Chinese skullcap does not appear to have any adverse side effects. Kuba hypothesizes that its effectiveness is due to its high content of flavonoid molecules.

Chinese skullcap may also prove useful in the treatment and prevention of HIV infections. Dr. B. Li, writing in a 1993 issue of Cellular & Molecular Biology Research , states that baicalin (BA), a purified extract of Chinese skullcap, inhibits infection and replication of HIV-1 in vitro. In addition, Dr. Li claims that Chinese skullcap shows no side effects. He concludes: “This data suggests that BA may serve as a useful drug for the treatment and prevention of HIV infections.”

Dr. T. Nagai reported in the May 1990 issue of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin that of 103 species of flavonoids tested in Japan, Chinese skullcap was the most potent in inhibiting several influenza viruses.

Chinese skullcap has been used to non-toxically treat minimal brain dysfunction. Dr. H. Zhang reports in the May 1990 issue of Traditional & Western Medicine that 100 Chinese patients with minimal brain dysfunction were randomly divided into two groups: one group was treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); the other with Western Medicine (WM). Patients ranged in ages from 7–14 years old. The TCM group (80 cases) was treated with bupleurum root and Scutellaria baicalensis . The WM group of 20 cases was treated with Retalin, a prescription drug. In the TCM group, 23 cases were cured, 46 cases were improved, and 11 cases were unchanged. The effective rate for the TCM group was 86.5%. In the WM group, six cases were cured, 12 cases were unchanged, and two cases were ineffective for an overall effective rate of 90 percent. Although both TCM and WM treatments were effective, Dr. Zhang states that the side effects of the TCM were considerably less and “the TCM group had more beneficial effects to improve intelligence.”