anticonvulsive. Used for nervous stress, disturbed sleep, menstrual tension, headache, migraine, neurological and neurimotor conditions, epilepsy.
Roots, stem and flowers of S. galericulata gave flavonoids and their glycosides, chrysin-7-glucuronide, baicalein, baicalin, apigenin, apigenin-7- glucoside and galeroside (baicalcin-7- beta-L-rhamnofuranoside). Cytotoxicity of baicalin and baicalein (isolated from S. barbata D. Don synonym S.
rivularis Wall.) has been investigated on human hepatoma cell lines, human liver cells and human pancreatic cancer line. (Chem Abstr, 121, 292196y, 1994.)
S. galericulata is used as an adulterant of S. laterflora. (See also WHO monograph on Scutellaria grandflora Adams.)
In Oriental medicine, Skullcap refers to S. baicalensis Georgi. It contains the flavonoids baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, skullcapflavones I and II in addition to other flavones. Baicalin exhibits anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties.
S. baicalensis inhibited lipid peroxidation in rat liver and has been clinically tested in China; patients with chronic hepatitis showed improvement (above 70%) in various symptoms. (Potter’s New Cyclopedia.)
According to The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, S. lateriflora can be used as a mild sedative.
Scutia myrtina Kurz.
Synonym S. indica Brongn.
Family Rhamnaceae.
Habitat The Deccan peninsula from Mahabaleshwar southwards, and Orissa.
Folk Cheemaat (Gujarat, Maharashtra); Tuvadi (Tamil Nadu); Gariki (Andhra Pradesh).
Action Fruit—astringent. Leaf— used in an ointment applied locally to hasten parturition.
