Skullcap
Skullcap suppliers and sourcing guide
Skullcap here means American skullcap, Scutellaria lateriflora, a perennial mint-family herb native to North America. The trade uses the aerial parts (herb top), harvested in flower and dried, then sold as cut herb, powder, or water or hydroalcoholic extracts and tinctures. It is a different species from Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), whose root is traded separately, so the species belongs on the spec.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Scutellaria lateriflora · American skullcap · scullcap · mad-dog skullcap
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of skullcap
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut and sifted herb
Dried aerial parts cut for tea and tincture production.
Herb powder
Dried, milled herb top for capsules and blends, usually not standardized.
Dry extract
Water or hydroalcoholic extract dried to a powder, sold by extract ratio or with a declared flavonoid content (baicalin, baicalein) by HPLC.
Liquid extract
Tincture or glycerite made from fresh or dried herb, sold by herb-to-menstruum ratio.
Organic or cultivated
Certified organic or farm-cultivated herb, which some buyers prefer because cultivated supply is easier to trace than wild harvest.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity (HPTLC)
- Chromatographic fingerprint and microscopy against a Scutellaria lateriflora reference, including a check for germander (Teucrium species), a known historical substitute.
- Flavonoid assay (HPLC)
- Baicalin and related flavonoids by HPLC when the extract is standardized; the method should be named on the COA.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and Prop 65 exposure targets where relevant.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw herb powders carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated, which should be stated on the COA.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen, required for organic claims and commonly requested for conventional material.
- Loss on drying
- Moisture against the spec, along with foreign matter and mesh size for powders.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
Lots and expiry dates
Flavonoid content and identity vary with species, harvest stage and supplier, so require an identity test on every lot rather than relying on paperwork. Record the supplier lot, species, plant part and retest date, and keep a retained sample.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Skullcap natural health product monograph lists Scutellaria lateriflora with the dried herb top as the source part.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Skullcap suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking skullcap suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell skullcap? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of skullcap can brands buy?
Common forms include cut and sifted herb, herb powder, dry extract, liquid extract and organic or cultivated. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for skullcap include?
Expect identity (HPTLC), flavonoid assay (HPLC), heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and loss on drying, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should skullcap be stored?
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
What is the regulatory status of skullcap?
Health Canada's Skullcap natural health product monograph lists Scutellaria lateriflora with the dried herb top as the source part.
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