The genus Scutellaria is a very diverse group containing over 350 species worldwide. Scutellaria lateriflora, also known as blue skullcap, is a native North American skullcap. Blue skullcap has been used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes, primarily to calm nerves. It was also used for other health conditions such as stimulating blood flow, and to treat diarrhea and kidney problems.

Skullcaps contain phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids. In a study analyzing three Scutellaria species, blue skullcap was found to contain flavonoids such as baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin and also indole-amine neurotransmitters such as melatonin and serotonin. Baicalein, which is rich in blue skullcap, has shown strong anti-inflammatory activity in a human mast cell study by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1. In addition, blue skullcap was found to possess great anti-oxidant activity analyzed by ORAC assay in a study that compared 55 medicinal herbs.