Related Compounds
Compounds connected by the same goals, effects, or research topics.
Herb Profile
Skullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora
Scutellaria lateriflora (American Skullcap) is an herb traditionally used for nervous tension, anxiety, and sleep support.
Last reviewed: •3 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·C Limited
Use extra caution — Hepatotoxicity concerns (rare, unclear causality) Details
- Evidence
- Limited Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- Moderate caution
- Best for
- Sleep, Stress, Cognitive function
- Avoid / review if
- Sedatives, Liver Disease
At a glance
From this profile's structured data- Evidence
- Grade C
- Safety
- Hepatotoxicity concerns (rare, unclear causality)
- Profile context
- sleep, stress
Next stepsWhere to go next — guides & comparisons
Continue reading
- If you want help sleeping → Sleep guides
- If you want help with anxiety or stress → Anxiety & stress guides
- If you want to browse more herbs → All herbs
Safety
Safety & Cautions
Hepatotoxicity concerns (rare, unclear causality)
Elevated caution
Caution level: Elevated. One caution category applies — read it before use.
- Liver-SensitiveLiver-related caution language appears in the profile.
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- Sedatives
- Liver Disease
Safety classifications
- Liver-Sensitive: Liver-related caution language appears in the profile.
Full safety note
- Hepatotoxicity concerns (rare, unclear causality)
Safety labels
- Liver-Sensitive
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.
Moderate Caution
68 flagged pairingsSedation / CNS depression
Moderate Caution
68 flagged pairingsSedation / CNS depression
Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.
Sedation / CNS depressionCertainty: Theoretical
Data provenance recorded for 68 of 68 pairings in this mechanism group.
- American Yellow Lotus — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Artemisia Absinthium — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Bacopa — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Black Seed — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Black Tea — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Blue Lotus — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Calamus — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Catuba — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Celastrus Paniculatus — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Chamomile — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Chinese Skullcap — Theoretical interaction certainty
+56 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Evidence
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Read as directional context, not settled clinical proof.
LimitedLimited Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Not the primary signal
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Neurotransmitter Modulation · Stress Response Modulation
Research maturity: Theoretical / mechanistic research — Mechanistic or unresolved evidence is kept separate from established human outcomes.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Hepatotoxicity concerns (rare, unclear causality)
This profile cites 3 human studies.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
- Strong
- Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
- Moderate
- Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
- Preliminary / Mixed
- Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
- Traditional / Theoretical
- Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)0 human evidence sources · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable
What the evidence actually shows
This table contains 3 structured sources, including 0 human evidence sources; 0 are human trials. A reliable participant total cannot be calculated because sample size is not consistently structured in the cited sources. Source-to-conclusion relationships are not classified in this structured set, so consistency is not yet classifiable.
Profile-wide evidence grade: see the profile grade above · Confidence: not separately assigned
What would change our conclusion?
Larger, well-controlled human trials using comparable populations, doses, preparations, and clinically meaningful outcomes could materially strengthen or weaken this conclusion. Replication in a different population or a high-quality synthesis resolving current disagreement could also materially change confidence.
| Study | Design | N | Dose | Duration | Population | Outcome | Result & magnitude | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Herb-induced liver injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis Ballotin VR et al. · World J Clin Cases · 2021 Background | Other / unclear The study design is not yet classified clearly enough to infer its place in the evidence hierarchy. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Wogonin attenuates septic cardiomyopathy by suppressing ALOX15-mediated ferroptosis Ye H et al. · Acta Pharmacol Sin · 2025 Background | Other / unclear The study design is not yet classified clearly enough to infer its place in the evidence hierarchy. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Insights into skullcap herb-induced liver injury Soldera J et al. · World J Hepatol · 2024 Background | Other / unclear The study design is not yet classified clearly enough to infer its place in the evidence hierarchy. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
- Dose guidance
- 350 700 mg extract
How Skullcap works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Skullcap Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways
Preclinical pathways. Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.
- Neurotransmitter Modulation
- Stress Response Modulation
Active Compounds
Key constituents studied in Skullcap, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.
Compare related active botanicals
Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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Botanical profile context
How to interpret Skullcap
Skullcap herb profile with evidence context, key research topics, source notes, safety context, and references presented in an evidence-first format. Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.
When reviewing Skullcap, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.
For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.