Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
Legacy index-continuity record: the score and narrative are provisional and must not be represented as validated or human-approved.
Review flags: AWAITING_SEMANTIC_VALIDATION
Leonurus japonicus is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb containing stachydrine and leonurine as primary bioactive compounds. The plant demonstrates clinical potential for postpartum hemorrhage prevention and shows preclinical anti-cancer activity through PI3K/AKT pathway inhibition.
Origin & History
Leonurus japonicus (Chinese motherwort) is a perennial herb native to East Asia, particularly China, Japan, and Korea, belonging to the Lamiaceae family. The aerial parts (stems and leaves) are harvested and processed through alcoholic/ethanol extracts (99% ethanol yielding 16.7%) or aqueous/hydroalcoholic extracts to produce standardized supplements rich in alkaloids and flavonoids.
Research Narrative (Provisional)
Clinical evidence for Leonurus japonicus is limited primarily to one meta-analysis protocol (searches to July 2021) evaluating leonurus japonicus injection for postpartum hemorrhage prevention, though specific PMIDs and sample sizes were not provided. The majority of research consists of preclinical cell and animal studies investigating anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and muscle-protective effects, with no standalone human RCTs identified in PubMed.
Preparation & Dosage
Dosage guidance is withheld because the publication gate has not recorded adequate support for this profile.
Nutritional Profile
Leonurus japonicus (Yi Mu Cao / Chinese Motherwort) is used as a medicinal herb rather than a dietary food source, so conventional macronutrient profiling (carbohydrates, fats, protein) is not the primary focus. Its value lies in its rich bioactive compound profile: Key Alkaloids: • Leonurine (SCM-198) — principal bioactive alkaloid, typically 0.5–1.5% in dried aerial parts; responsible for major uterotonic, cardioprotective, and vasorelaxant effects; moderate oral bioavailability with hepatic first-pass metabolism • Stachydrine (proline betaine) — approximately 0.1–1.0% of dried herb; osmolyte with reported anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective activity • Leonuridine and leonurinine — minor alkaloids contributing to overall pharmacological profile Terpenoids & Diterpenes: • Leoheterin, leosibirin, and related labdane-type diterpenes — present in trace to moderate amounts; exhibit cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory properties • Ursolic acid — triterpene present at approximately 0.05–0.2%; known anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective agent Flavonoids: • Rutin — approximately 0.3–0.8% in dried herb; antioxidant with moderate bioavailability improved by gut microbiota hydrolysis to quercetin • Quercetin, kaempferol, and hyperoside — collectively ~0.1–0.5%; potent free radical scavengers • Genkwanin and apigenin glycosides — present in smaller quantities Phenolic Acids: • Caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid — approximately 0.05–0.3%; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory • Ferulic acid — trace amounts; synergistic antioxidant activity Iridoid Glycosides: • Leonuride (ajugol) — ~0.1–0.4%; contributes to anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects Volatile Oils: • Trace amounts (~0.02–0.05%) containing caryophyllene, limonene, and linalool Minerals (approximate, per dried herb): • Potassium: 15–25 mg/g • Calcium: 8–15 mg/g • Magnesium: 2–5 mg/g • Iron: 0.1–0.5 mg/g • Zinc and manganese: trace amounts Vitamins: • Vitamin C: small amounts in fresh herb (~10–30 mg/100g fresh weight), largely degraded upon drying • B-vitamins: trace, not clinically significant Fiber & Other: • Crude fiber: approximately 10–15% of dried aerial parts • Crude protein: approximately 8–12% of dried herb (not a practical protein source) • Polysaccharides: ~3–5%, with potential immunomodulatory activity Bioavailability Notes: • Leonurine shows moderate oral bioavailability (~20–40% estimated in animal models); absorption is enhanced in aqueous or hydroalcoholic extractions (traditional decoction method) • Stachydrine is water-soluble with relatively good oral absorption • Flavonoid glycosides require intestinal hydrolysis for aglycone absorption; co-administration with lipids may improve uptake of lipophilic diterpenes • Traditional preparation as a decoction (煎剂) or as injectable formulations (clinical setting) significantly alters bioavailable fraction compared to raw herb ingestion • Hepatotoxicity has been reported at high doses, attributed to diterpene accumulation — therapeutic dosing in TCM is typically 9–30 g of dried herb per decoction
Reported Mechanism (Provisional)
Leonurus japonicus contains stachydrine and leonurine alkaloids that modulate uterine smooth muscle contractions through calcium channel regulation. Ethanol extracts inhibit the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, reducing cancer cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. The herb's cardiovascular effects involve beta-adrenergic receptor modulation and improved cardiac contractility.
Clinical Narrative (Provisional)
A meta-analysis protocol evaluated leonurus japonicus injection combined with carboprost tromethamine in high-risk pregnant women for postpartum hemorrhage prevention, though complete results remain preliminary. Most evidence comes from preclinical studies demonstrating anti-cancer properties against various cell lines. Current clinical data is limited, with traditional use primarily supporting reproductive health applications. Rigorous human trials with standardized extracts are needed to establish therapeutic efficacy and optimal dosing protocols.
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