PDR for Herbal Medicines

524/MORUS NIGRA PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Moms nigra

See Black Mulberry

Motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh aerial

parts collected during the flowering season.

Flower and Fruit: Small, bright red, bilabiate flowers are in

dense false whorls in the upper leaf axils. The calyx is

funnel-shaped with 5 rigid, awned tips, which are bent

outward. The corolla is densely villous on the outside and

longer than the calyx. The stamens stretch out longer than

the flower. The fruit is a brown, triangular, 2.5 to 3 mm long

nutlet with a tuft of hair at the tip.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is perennial and has a

short woody rhizome. It grows to about 120 cm. The stem is

erect, quadrangular, grooved, hollow, often red-violet and

usually hairy. The leaves are long-petioled, pubescent or

glabrous. The lower leaves are palmate and cordate at the

base. The upper leaves are 3-lobed. The upper surface is dark

green, the lower surface light green.

Characteristics: Motherwort has an unpleasant smell.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to central Europe and

Scandinavia through temperate Russia to central Asia. It was

introduced to North America and has become established in

the wild there.

Productionr^Apt^p,rwx>rt herb consists of the above-ground

parts of Leonurus cardiaca, gathered during flowering

season, as well as their preparations. They are collected in

the wild and dried at 35° C.

Other Names: Lion's Tail, Lion's Ear, Throw-Wort

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Diterpene bitter principles: leocardin

Iridoide monoterpenes: ajugoside (leonuride), ajugol, galiri-

doside, reptoside

Flavonoids: including, among others, rutin, quercitrin, iso-

quercitrin, hyperoside, genkwanin

Leonurin: (syringa acid esters of 4-guanidino-butane-l-ols)

Betaine: stachydrine (N-dimethyl-L-proline)

Caffeic acid derivatives: caffeic acid-4-O-rutinoside

Tannins

Volatile oil (traces)

EFFECTS

Mildly negatively chronotropic, hypotonic, sedative.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Nervous heart complaints

Unproven Uses: Hyperthyroidism and flatulence. In folk

medicine it is used for bronchial asthma, climacteric

symptoms and amenorrhea.

Homeopathic Uses: Homeopathic treatments include use for

cardiac complaints, flatulence and hyperthyroidism.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards or side effects are known in

conjunction with the proper administration of designated

therapeutic dosages.

Pregnancy: Not to be used during pregnancy.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Comminuted herb for infusions and

other galenic preparations for internal use.

Daily Dosage: 4.5 gm herb; infusion: 2 to 4 gm drug 3 times

daily; liquid extract (1:1): 2 to 4 ml 3 times daily; tincture:

daily dose: 2 to 6 ml.

Homeopathic Dosage: Acute states: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10

globules every 30 to 60 minutes. Chronic states: 5 drops, 1

tablet, 10 pellets or a knife tip 1 to 3 times daily.

Parenterally: Acute: 1 to 2 ml sc, 3 times daily; chronic: 1 to

2 ml once a day (HAB1).

LITERATURE

Buzogany K, Cucu V, Accumulation, distribution and

conservation dynamics of iridoids in Leonurus cardiaca L. and

L. villosus Desf. In: Farmacia (Bukarest): 34(3): 173-176. 1986.

Chang CF, Li CZ, (1986) Chung I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 6(1):39.

Kartnig T et al., (1985) J Nat Prod 48(3):494.

Kooiman P, (1972) Acta Bot Need. 21(4):417.

Malakov P et al., (1985) Phytochemistry 24(10):2341.

Peng Y, (1983) Bull Chin. Mat Med 8:41.

Reuter G, Diehl HJ, (1970) Pharmazie 25:586.

Schilling G et al., (1975) Liebigs Ann Chem:230.

Tschesche R et al., (1980) Phytochemistry 19:2783.

Weischer ML, Okpanyi SN, Pharmakologie eines pflanzlichen

Schlafmittels. In: ZPT 15(5):257-262. 1994.

Xia XX, (1983) J Trad Chin Med 3:185.