Central nervous system diseases and Scutellaria: a review of current mechanism studies

Abstract Scutellaria comprises many species traditionally used for cognitive and neurological conditions. In vitro and in vivo studies have supported the value of bioactive compounds of the genus Scutellaria for CNS disorders such as Alzheimer, cerebral ischemia, depression and anxiety. In particular, the effects of plants belonging to the genus Scutellaria and their components are detailed on cognitive ability such as memory, attention and learning. In this review, the pharmacology of CNS effect and the related molecular mechanisms of the plants belonging to the genus Scutellaria and active constituents have been discussed.