Motherwort Research
28 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 8/10
Motherwort synergized with oxytocin for postpartum hemorrhage prevention: Integrated clinical efficacy and mechanism exploration
Chen C et al. • Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2025)
Our study, from clinical phenomena to mechanism validation, demonstrates that the combined regimen of motherwort injection and oxytocin exhibits superior efficacy in preventing PPH compared to oxytocin monotherapy.
- We found 88.71 % deliveries with cesarean section used a combination of motherwort injection and oxytocin to prevent PPH among 51,312 included pregnancies.
- Compared to oxytocin alone, motherwort injection combined with oxytocin could reduce bleeding at postpartum 2 h and 24 h (2h: WMD = -40.95, 95 % CI -58.04 to -23.86; 24h: WMD = -54.80, 95 % CI -72.09 to -37.51) and reduced the half of PPH risk (RR = 0.49, 95 % CI 0.41 to 0.59).
- Our study, from clinical phenomena to mechanism validation, demonstrates that the combined regimen of motherwort injection and oxytocin exhibits superior efficacy in preventing PPH compared to oxytocin monotherapy.
Research progress on molecular mechanism and future perspectives of leonurine
Wang R et al. • Frontiers of medicine (2025)
Higher Education Press.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system and central nervous system are "major health threats" that threaten human life and health worldwide, however, many drugs have certain side effects right now.
- This paper reviews the potential molecular therapeutic effects of leonurine on cardiovascular system and central nervous system diseases, highlights the current findings of research progress, and focuses on the therapeutic effects of leonurine in various diseases.
- At present, leonurine is in the stage of clinical experiment, and we hope that our summary can provide guidance for its future molecular mechanism study and clinical application.© 2025.
A review of pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of stachydrine
Cheng F et al. • Pharmacological research (2020)
All rights reserved.
- The cardioprotective and vasoprotective activities of stachydrine are related to its inhibition of β-MHC, excessive autophagy, SIRT1, eNOS uncoupling and TF, promotion of SERCA, and angiogenesis.
- In addition to its anticancer action, regulation of the uterus, neuroprotective effects, etc. the pharmacokinetic properties of stachydrine are also discussed.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd.
- All rights reserved.
Uncovering the pharmacological mechanism of motherwort (Leonurus japonicus Houtt.) for treating menstrual disorders: A systems pharmacology approach
Wang C et al. • Computational biology and chemistry (2020)
All rights reserved.
- Notably, five targets (i.e., AKT1, PTGS2, ESR1, AR and PPARG) were screened as hub genes based on a degree algorithm.
- Moreover, most of the bioactive components in motherwort had good binding ability with these genes, implying that motherwort could regulate their biological function.
- Collectively, this study elucidated the molecular mechanisms that underlay the efficiency of motherwort against MDs and demonstrated the potential of network pharmacology as an approach to uncover the action mechanism of herbal medicines.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd.
Efficacy and safety of motherwort injection add-on therapy to carboprost tromethamine for prevention of post-partum blood loss: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Meng W et al. • The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research (2019)
However, more well-designed trials are necessary to confirm the findings of this study due to the methodological flaws of the included trials.© 2018 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
- Pooled risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to summarize the effect sizes.
- Moreover, adjunctive treatment with motherwort injection significantly decreased the length of the third stage of labor (MD -3.41 min; 95% CI -4.33 to -2.49) and duration of lochia (MD -7.13 days; 95% CI -8.49 to -5.76).
- There was no statistical significant difference in the incidence of adverse events (RR 0.76; 95% CI 0.50-1.16).
Leonurus japonicus (Chinese motherwort), an excellent traditional medicine for obstetrical and gynecological diseases: A comprehensive overview
Miao LL et al. • Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2019)
All rights reserved.
- Nowadays, it has also been developed into a series of Chinese patent medicines in clinics in China.
- This review summarizes the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications of L. japonicus.Copyright © 2019 The Authors.
- Published by Elsevier Masson SAS..
Leonurus cardiaca L. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010)
Fierascu RC et al. • BioMed research international (2019)
The current study presents the progress made within the 2010-2018 timeframe regarding the potential applications and scientific evidences supporting the traditional use of motherwort, in the same time suggesting future research opportunities.
- Leonurus cardiaca L. (motherwort) is a perennial herb, native to Asia and southeastern Europe, with widespread global occurrence in present days.
- The plant was historically used as cardiotonic and for treating gynaecological afflictions (such as amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menopausal anxiety, or postpartum depression).
- Although its use in oriental and occidental medicine is relatively well documented, the recent progress registered raises the need for an update of the Medicines Agency assessment report on Leonurus cardiaca L., herba (2010).
Motherwort injection for preventing postpartum hemorrhage in pregnant women with cesarean section: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Chen W et al. • Journal of evidence-based medicine (2018)
Motherwort injection combined with oxytocin also decreased the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.35.) CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant women with cesarean section, motherwort injection suggests an obvious benefit and less adverse event.
- Motherwort injection combined with oxytocin also decreased the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.35.) CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant women with cesarean section, motherwort injection suggests an obvious benefit and less adverse event.
- Published in Journal of evidence-based medicine (2018)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Leonurus: The herb to benefit the mothers and more
Zhang RH et al. • Phytochemistry (2018)
All rights reserved.
- Among 70 bioactivity references cited in this review, 57% of them were concentrated on two alkaloids (leonurine and stachydrine), whereas only 20% are about the 147 diterpenoids.
- Other than that, neuroprotection, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, anti-platelet aggregation and many other activities have been assigned to various compounds from the genus Leonurus.
- Anti-inflammation is the major bioactivity discovered so far for the labdane diterpenoids from the genus Leonurus, whose further therapeutic potential still remains for exploration.Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd.
Discovery of Leonuri and therapeutical applications: From bench to bedside
Zhu YZ et al. • Pharmacology & therapeutics (2018)
Published by Elsevier Inc.
- Taking advantage of the most recent findings in pharmacological research including the effects of low toxicity and good pharmacokinetics characteristics, leonurine has a very attractive prospect of clinical application.
- Our recent promising pharmacological results may be able to eradicate the barrier hindering its sale on market.
- In sum, from bench to bedside is no longer a long way for leonurine.Copyright © 2018.
Adonis sp., Convallaria sp., Strophanthus sp., Thevetia sp., and Leonurus sp. - Cardiotonic Plants with Known Traditional Use and a Few Preclinical and Clinical Studies
Orhan IE et al. • Current pharmaceutical design (2017)
Consequently, we herein aimed to cover all available data consisting of in vitro, in vivo, and human studies (if any) on cardiotonic effects of the aforementioned species through a wide literature search using Scopus, Web of Science as well as Pubmed.Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.
- On the other hand, cardiac glycosides, present in a number of plant species, are wellknown for their cardiotonic activity.
- However, we encountered such a fact that very less number of studies are available on the source plants; e.g.
- Adonis vernalis, Convallaria majalis, Strophanthus kombe, Thevetia peruviana, Leonurus cardiaca, etc.
REPRESENTATIVES OF MOTHERWORT GENUS (LEONURUS SPP.): ASPECTS OF PHARMACOGNOSTIC FEATURES AND RELEVANCE OF NEW SPECIES APPLICATION
Sermukhamedova OV et al. • Acta poloniae pharmaceutica (2017)
That will allow to expand the range of sources of herbal remedies raw materials in the framework of realization of the state program for import substitution.
- The review deals with analysis and classification of literature data on phamacognostic study (botanical characteristics, geographical distribution, chemical composition and use in medicine) of species of Motherwort genus (Leonums L.).
- The review unveils opportunities for comprehensive study and development of approaches to the standardization of raw materials of Turkistan motherwort (L. turkestanicus V.I.
- Krecz. & Kuprian).
Recent progress on the traditional Chinese medicines that regulate the blood
Hung HY et al. • Journal of food and drug analysis (2016)
Published by Elsevier B.V.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, the herbs that regulate blood play a vital role.
- Besides, the analytical methods developed to qualify or quantify the active compounds of the herbs are also summarized.Copyright © 2015.
- Published by Elsevier B.V.
The influence of herbal medicine on platelet function and coagulation: a narrative review
McEwen BJ • Seminars in thrombosis and hemostasis (2015)
Therefore, repeat testing of platelet function and coagulation studies, particularly for patients on warfarin therapy, may be required after exclusion of herbal medicines that could have possibly affected initial test results.Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.
- In vitro studies show promise in the reduction of platelet aggregation for Andrographis, feverfew, garlic, ginger, Ginkgo, ginseng, hawthorn, horse chestnut, and turmeric.
- In addition, cranberry, danshen, dong quai, Ginkgo, ginseng, green tea, and St John's wort were found to have potential interactions with warfarin.
- Furthermore, St John's wort interacted with clopidogrel and danshen with aspirin.
Leonurus japonicus Houtt.: ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of an important traditional Chinese medicine
Shang X et al. • Journal of ethnopharmacology (2014)
Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that Leonurus japonicus has marked bioactivities, especially on the uterus and as a cardioprotective agent.
- 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.
[Advances in studies of renal adverse reactions of Leonurus heterophyllus]
Yu J et al. • Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica (2010)
This paper reviews the possible target site, toxic dosage, chemical substance and other related factors of these kidney damage caused by motherwort from both the clinic and animal experiment view.
- Motherwort (Herb of Leonurus heterophyllus) was a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of various kinds of gynaecological diseases, which was considered as non-toxic medicine since ancient times.
- However, adverse effects such as kidney damage, uterus damage, allergy and diarrhea were frequently reported recently.
- This paper reviews the possible target site, toxic dosage, chemical substance and other related factors of these kidney damage caused by motherwort from both the clinic and animal experiment view.
Motherwort injection in preventing post-abortion hemorrhage after induced abortion: A multi-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial
Xia WT et al. • Explore (New York, N.Y.) (2020)
MI could reduce post-abortion hemorrhage and improve uterine retraction in women undergoing surgical induced abortion, without serious adverse events.
- The amount of vaginal bleeding and duration of bleeding were significantly reduced in MI group compared with on-treatment group in Full Analysis Set (FAS) and Per Protocol Set (PPS) populations (P < 0.001).
- MI could reduce post-abortion hemorrhage and improve uterine retraction in women undergoing surgical induced abortion, without serious adverse events.
- It was a safe and effective treatment in preventing post-abortion hemorrhage after induced abortion.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) for treating anxiety and sleep disturbance in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension
Shikov AN et al. • Phytomedicine (2018)
Leonurus cardiaca extract significantly reduced anxiety symptoms and improved sleep quality in hypertensive patients over 28 days.
- Significant reduction in anxiety scores (Hamilton Anxiety Scale) vs placebo over 28 days
- Improved sleep quality assessed by subjective and objective measures
- Modest blood pressure reduction observed as secondary outcome
[Multi-center study of motherwort injection to prevent postpartum hemorrhage after caesarian section]
Lin JH et al. • Zhonghua fu chan ke za zhi (2009)
It is safe and efficacious that combined use of motherwort injection and oxytocin was to prevent postpartum hemorrhage during or after caesarian section.
- It is safe and efficacious that combined use of motherwort injection and oxytocin was to prevent postpartum hemorrhage during or after caesarian section.
- Published in Zhonghua fu chan ke za zhi (2009)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Combination of motherwort injection and oxytocin for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage after cesarean section
Liu W et al. • The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians (2016)
It is efficacious and safe that combination use of motherwort injection and oxytocin could reduce blood loss and prevent PPH after CS.
- The quantity of total blood loss from the end of CS to 2 h postpartum (P = 0.03) and from 2 h postpartum to 24 h postpartum (P = 0.01) were significantly reduced in the combination of oxytocin and motherwort group.
- It is efficacious and safe that combination use of motherwort injection and oxytocin could reduce blood loss and prevent PPH after CS.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings