Tarczyca bocznokwiatowa (Scutellaria lateriflora) – znaczenie w medycynie tradycyjnej i pozycja we współczesnej fitoterapii

Abstract

American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora L.) has long been used as a medicine by North American Indian tribes. A monograph of Scutellariae lateriflorae herba was included in the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia in 2009. This raw material is very popular in North America because of its sedative action. It is also highly valued in Australia, while in Europe, it has been widely used until now in the United Kingdom. The main components of the herb of this plant species include flavonoids specific for the Scutellaria genus, mostly baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, scutellarin. They are accompanied by other groups of compounds: diterpenoids – neoclerodan derivatives, γ-aminobutyric acid, melatonin, serotonin, catalpol, phenolic acids, phenylpropanoid glycosides (mostly verbascoside) and essential oil. Studies of chemical composition and investigation of medicinal activity of this raw material confirmed its uses known from North American folk medicine. Study results proved most of all a significance of flavonoid compounds present in the raw material for its documented biological activity. The aim of the paper is to review the present knowledge on chemical composition and medicinal significance of this very valuable plant. The research team from the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany JU MC initiated biotechnological studies of this species. Its microshoots successfully grown in vitro produce considerable amounts of specific flavonoids (mostly baicalin and wogonoside) and verbascoside, and in future they can be an alternative rich source of these compounds for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.