title: Leonurus japonicus Houtt.: ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of an important traditional Chinese medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (Labiatae), commonly called Chinese motherwort ([Symbol: see text]), is an herbaceous flowering plant native to Asia. For thousands of years in China, the aerial part of Leonurus japonicus has been used to treat menoxenia, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, lochia, edema of the body, oliguresis, sores, ulcerations and other diseases in women. Now, Leonurus japonicus is listed in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. The present paper reviewed the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological actions and toxicology of Leonurus japonicus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information on Leonurus japonicus was gathered via the Internet (using Elsevier, ACS, Medline Plus, CNKI, VIP, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Baidu Scholar) and libraries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 140 chemical compounds have been isolated from Leonurus japonicus, and the major components have been determined to be alkaloids, diterpenes and flavones. Among these active compounds, the effects of leonurine and stachydrine have been widely investigated. The primary active components in Leonurus japonicus possess wide pharmacological actions, such as effects on the uterus as well as cardioprotective, anti-oxidative, neuroprotective and anti-cancer activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that Leonurus japonicus has marked bioactivities, especially on the uterus and as a cardioprotective agent. These activities are related to its traditional use and provide prospects for the development of novel drugs, therapeutics and health care products for women. However, the toxicity of Leonurus japonicus will require further study, and the nomenclature for Leonurus japonicus will require additional clarification.
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Discovery, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Pharmaceutics, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, PR China. Electronic address: shangxf928@126.com.
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Discovery, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Pharmaceutics, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, PR China.
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Discovery, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Pharmaceutics, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, PR China.
authors.forename: Xuezhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Lanzhou General Hospital of PLA, Key Laboratory of the Prevention and Treatment for Injury in Plateau of PLA, Lanzhou 730050, PR China.
authors.forename: Maoxing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D031332:Leonurus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Cardioprotective activity; Effects on the uterus; Leonurine; Leonurus japonicus; Stachydrine; Women's diseases