This product is the whole herb of the Lamiaceae plant Barbated Skullcup Herb (Scutellaria barbata D. Don). It is produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Yunnan, and other regions. It is harvested during the flowering period in summer, dried, and used either fresh or dried.

Plants such as Sedum lineare (Sedum lineare Thunb.), Scutellaria bulbiferum (Scutellaria bulbiferum Makino), and Scutellaria alfredii (Scutellaria alfredii Hance) from the Crassulaceae family are also referred to as Barbated Skullcup Herb in different regions.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid and slightly bitter, cool. Act on lung, liver, spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Subduing toxicity to combat cancer, reducing swelling and dispersing nodules, resolving stasis to stop bleeding.

bubble_chart Indications

Tumor, appendicitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis with ascites, lung abscess; externally used for mastitis, carbuncles, boils, poisonous snake bites, and traumatic injuries.

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Dosage: 15-30 grams, up to 60 grams for large doses; for external use, apply an appropriate amount of fresh product mashed and applied to the affected area.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

The whole plant yielded flavonoid components such as scutellarein, scutellarin, carthamidin, and isocarthamidin. Additionally, an alkaloid was isolated from the ether extract, which was a white needle crystal with a melting point of 148-150°C. Its empirical formula was determined to be C₃₀H₃₆O₇N₂, marking the first reported alkaloid in the Skullcap Root genus. It was also reported that the root of Scutellaria barbata contains β-sitosterol and stearic acid.

1. The yellow needle-like crystalline substance extracted from the infusion of this product with ether showed diuretic effects in animal tests.
2. Intravenous injection of the infusion in animals demonstrated hypotensive effects, but oral administration at therapeutic doses did not produce hypotensive effects, possibly due to poor gastrointestinal absorption of the active hypotensive components.
3. Antibacterial tests: The decoction of this product inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, cold-damage disease bacillus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli.
4. Carthamidin has a strong antagonistic effect on histamine-induced smooth muscle contraction and exhibits excellent dispelling phlegm effects, making it an effective component for treating chronic bronchitis.
5. In vitro tests, Barbated Skullcup Herb showed grade I inhibitory effects on acute granulocytic leukemia cells.
6. The aqueous extract has significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective effects.
7. BrdU ELISA experiments revealed that components of Barbated Skullcup Herb have potent anti-leukemic activity, although the mechanism requires further study.

bubble_chart Modern Application

1. Lung cancer: Barbated Skullcup Herb, Climbing Nightshade, 30 grams each, decocted with water and taken.
2. Rectal cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, cervical cancer: Compound formula Barbated Skullcup Herb anti-cancer injection. 2-4 ml each time, intramuscular or acupoint injection, twice daily. Effective for rectal cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, and cervical carcinoma.
3. Malignant hydatidiform mole: Barbated Skullcup Herb 60 grams, Black Nightshade 30 grams, Arnebia 15 grams. Decocted with water, divided into two doses, one dose daily.
4. Breast fibroma, multiple neurofibroma: Barbated Skullcup Herb, Six-angled Chrysanthemum, wild chrysanthemum flower, 30 grams each. Decocted with water and taken.
5. Tumors: Barbated Skullcup Herb 2 parts, Vietnamese sophora root, honeycomb, Appendiculate Cremastra Pseudobulb, 1 part each. Grind into fine powder, form into Mung Bean-sized pills. Take 15 pills each time, 2-3 times daily, after meals.
6. Acute mastitis (early stage): Fresh Barbated Skullcup Herb, appropriate amount. Wash, mash, and apply to the affected area.
7. Poisonous snake bite: Barbated Skullcup Herb, Japanese cayratia herb, equal amounts. Mash and extract juice, apply around the wound or on the wound, while taking necessary treatment measures.