Abstract
Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI has been used to treat inflammatory-related disorders in China and Japan for centuries. The plant root has a particularly high flavonoid content, over 35 percent, giving it a yellow color, and its traditional name of golden root. These flavonoids selectively inhibit enzymes in the arachidonic acid cascade, in particular lipoxygenases, as well as possessing antioxidant, antiviral, antiretroviral, antitumor, antibacterial, and sedative properties. Scutellaria is used in traditional Chinese medicine to “cleanse heat,” “dry moisture,” and “remove toxins.” (Alt Med Rev 1997;2(6):472-480)