PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS CHINESE MOTHERWORT 183

gastric complaints and it is plausible for diarrhea, but the
evidence is not sufficient for the other indications.
Chinese Medicine: Among uses in Chinese medicine are
impotence, diarrhea, enuresis, rheumatic conditions, testicle
, hernia, menopause syndrome, amenorrhea, abortion and to
stabilize immunity.
Indian Medicine: Digestive complaints, vomiting and diar-
rhea are the most common uses in Indian medicine.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Use of medicinal preparations of Chinese Cinnamon is
contraindicated during pregnancy.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards or side effects are known in

conjunction with the proper administration of designated

therapeutic dosages. The drug possesses a medium potential

for sensitization, primarily due to the cinnamaldehyde.

Pregnancy: The drug is not to be administered in time of

pregnancy.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Comminuted bark for infusions,

essential oil, as well as other galenic preparations for internal

use.

Preparation: To prepare a tincture of Chinese Cinnamon,

moisten 200 parts cinnamon bark evenly with ethanol and

percolate to produce 1000 parts tincture.

Daily Dosage: 2 to 4 g drug; 0.05 to 0.2 g essential oil. The

average single dose is 1 g.

Storage: Chinese Cinnamon should be stored in a cool, dry

environment in tightly sealed containers.

LITERATURE

Hikino H, Economic and Medicinal Plant Research, Vol I.,

Academic Press UK 1985.

Lockwood GB, Die Hauptbestandteile des atherischen Ols von

Cinnamomum cassia BLUME. In: PM 36(4):380-381. 1979.

Nagai H et al., (1982) Jpn J Pharmacol 32(5):813.

Nohara T et al., (1982) Phytochemistry 21(8):2130.

Nohara T et al., (1985) Phytochemistry 24(8): 1849.

Nohara T et al., Cinncassiol E, a diterpene from the bark of

Cinnamomum cassia. In: PH 24:1849. 1985.

Nohara T et al., PH 21:2130-2132. 1982.

Otsuka H et al., (1982) Yakugaku Zasshi 102:162.

Sagara K et al., J Chromatogr 409:365-370. 1987.

Senayake UM et al., (1978) J Agric Food Chem 20:822.

Structure of potent antiulcerogenic compounds from

Cinnamomum cassia, Tetrahedron 44:4703. 1988.

Further information in:

Chan, EH et al., (Eds), Advances in Chinese Medicinal

Materials Research, World Scientific Pub. Co. Singapore 19S5.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.). Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg. New York. 1991

1994.

Tang W, Eisenbrand G, Chinese Drugs of Plant Origin.

Springer Verlag Heidelberg 1992.

Chinese Motherwort

Leonurus japonicus

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The fruit is said to have medicinal

properties.

Flower and Fruit: The inflorescence is long with whorls of a

few flowers at some distance from each other. The bracts are

short and usually have a thorn-like awn. The flowers are

sessile and dorsiventral. The calyx is narrow clavate.

approximately 8 mm long, short-haired. The calyx teeth are

upright, the lower 2 are longer than the 3 upper ones. The

corolla is bilabiate, made up of 5 fused petals, approximately

10 mm long, lilac to pink. The upper lip has a purple middle

lobe and the lower lip is divided into 3. There are 2 long and

2 short stamens. The ovary is superior, 2-carpled and 4-

chambered. The fruit breaks up into 4 black. 3-edged

approximately 2 mm long, 1-seeded mericarps.

Leaves, Stem and Root: This herbaceous perennial grows to

a height of up to 1 m. The leaves are petiolate, 5 to 10 cm

long, ovate to cordate, narrowing cuneiformly at the base.

The lower leaves are palmately divided to the middle: the

sections are pinnatifid with linear-acuminate lobes. The

upper leaves are decussate opposite, simple, lanceolate.

entire and pubescent on both surfaces. The stem is gray-

green, upright, branched and square; the surface is grooved,

and the ribs are pubescent.

Habitat: Leonurus japonicus is found in China, North and

South Korea, and Japan.

Production: Chinese Motherwort fruit is the dried fruit of

Leonurus japonicus.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Diterpenes: including leonurine

Fatty oil: chief fatty acids oleic acid and linolenic acid