Scutellaria barbata (SB)

Half-branch lotus, scientifically known as Scutellaria barbata, is a perennial herb prominently used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. It is not a single molecular target (such as a receptor or enzyme) but rather a complex botanical source containing a diverse array of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids like scutellarin and apigenin, as well as neo-clerodane diterpenoids. Research indicates that extracts of this plant, such as the clinical candidate BZL101, exhibit selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells by inducing apoptosis through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the inhibition of critical growth pathways like PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK. In addition to oncology, it is studied for its antimicrobial effects against drug-resistant bacteria and its potential role in modulating immune responses during viral infections. Because it contains multiple active constituents that interact with various biological pathways simultaneously, its therapeutic profile is characterized by polypharmacology rather than a single target-drug interaction.

Other names

Ban Zhi LianHalf-branch lotusBarbated skullcapScutellaria rivularisHerba Scutellariae Barbatae

As a complex botanical extract, it exerts polypharmacological effects by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS generation, and downregulating Inhibitors of Apoptosis (IAPs) to promote tumor cell death [2, 3, 4].