Scutellaria baicalensis

Scutellaria baicalensis, “Baikal skullcap” or “Chinese skullcap” in English and “Scutellaire du Baïkal” in French, belongs to the Lamiaceae botanical family.

Native to East Asia, it is a herb growing to 0.3 m on sunny grassy slopes, waste and cultivated areas.

A common drug in traditional Chinese medicine, its root is used as a febrifuge, for relieving fever, and diminishing inflammation. It is used internally in the treatment of enteritis, dysentery, diarrhea, jaundice, chronic hepatitis, urinary tract infections, hypertension, threatened miscarriage, nosebleed and hemorrhage from the lungs or bowels.

Among its main bioactive constituents are acteoside, scutellarin, scutellarein, baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, chrysin and oroxylin A.

• English name Baikal skullcap
• French name Scutellaire