BioMed Research International

Review Article

Leonurus cardiaca L. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010)

Table 1

Biological activities of L. cardiaca (2010-2018).
OriginPart of plant/productType of paperActivityTests performedComponents responsible for activityRef.
-Aerial partsReviewAgainst uterine infection or other gynecological diseases, tachyarrhythmia and other cardiac disorders--[2]
-Aerial partsReviewAntioxidant-Rutin and derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acid[2]
Commercially available, GermanyAerial parts extract (aqueous Soxhlet) and refined extracts: dichloromethane, 70% hydroethanolicResearchAntianginal and antiarrhythmicEpicardial potential mapping, effect on the cardiac ion currentsphenolic constituents[16]
Commercially availableUrsolic acidResearchCardioprotectiveEvaluation of mitochondrial respiratory rates, mitochondrial H2O2 generation, H2O2 antioxidant activity-[17]
Wild-growing, Lithuania70% ethanol extractResearchCardioprotectiveMeasurement of the mitochondrial respiration rate and mitochondrial H2O2 generationChlorogenic acid and flavonoids orientin, quercetin, hyperoside,
and rutin		[18]
-Soybean oil extractClinical trialTreatment of arterial hypertension accompanied by anxiety and sleep disordersdynamics of psychoneurological symptoms; state – activity – mood, the
Clinical Global Impression scale, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and ECG		Iridoids[19]
Commercially availableStachydrineResearchendothelial function protectionDetermination of cell viability, Nitric oxide assay, Measurement of BH4, Measurement of cGMP levels in rat arterial rings. Measurement of vasorelaxation, Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting-[20]
-ExtractReviewSedative, cardiotonic- [21]
-Aerial parts extractReviewcardiotonic bradycardic agent, hypotensive--[22]
-Aerial parts tinctureReviewSedative,
decreases arterial pressure and strengthens the contraction of uterus muscles		--[23]
-StachydrineReviewProtective effect in experimental myocardial ischemia reperfusion
injury		--[23]
--ReviewSedative, antispasmodic, electrophysiologic  [24]
-LavandulifoliosideReviewchronotropic effects--[24]
--ReviewCardiovascular--[25]
-Aerial parts, teaReviewStrengthening the heart, arrhythmia, antihypertensive--[26]
--ReviewCardiac arrhythmias, tachycardia, heart palpitations-phenylpropanoid glycosides[27]
-Aerial partsReviewCardioprotective, antioxidant--[28]
--Reviewrelief of nervous tension symptoms, treatment of arrhythmias--[29]
--Reviewmaintenance of normal cardiac rhythm--[30]
--ReviewCardiotonic--[31]
--ReviewSedative, vasodilator--[32]
Commercially availableLeonurineResearchAnti-InflammatoryHistopathological analysis, Cytokines Analysis, Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Western Blot Analysis-[33]
Commercially availableLeonurineResearchAgent for gouty arthritis treatmentHistological examination, Lentiviral transduction, Western blot analysis, Cytokine measurement-[34]
Commercially available, PolandAcetone-water (70:30, v/v) extractResearchImmunomodulatory, antioxidantNO production in Human umbilical vein endothelial cells, platelet aggregation, ABTS∙, DPPH∙ and FRAP assay-[35]
Commercially available, GermanyEthanol extract (70%), Soxhlet extraction, Methanol extract, other phasesResearchAnti-inflammatory and antimicrobial
Effect of extracts and single components on
lactoperoxidase activity		Phenolic components with 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl partial
structure		[36]
Commercially available, PolandLeaves acetone-water (70:30, v/v) extractResearchAntimicrobialEvaluation of antimicrobial, anti-adhesive and anti-biofilm properties against S. aureusIridoid glycosides, di- and triterpenoids, flavonoids, tannins and volatile oils[37]
Commercially available, RussiaAerial parts water extractResearchAnti-biofilm formationBiofilm formation assay-[38]
Commercially available, PolandAerial parts polyphenol-enriched extractResearchEffect of sub-inhibitory concentration extracts on S. aureusS. aureus survival, staphylococcal tolerance to oxidative stress, S. aureusα-toxin (Hla) release and protein A (SpA) expression, Staphylococcal aggregation in human plasma, Fibrinogen polymerization and S. aureusadhesion to fibrin-[39]
Commercially availableLeonurineResearchAnti-inflammatoryHistopathological analysis, Cell viability assay, Analysis of cytokines, qRT-PCR analysis, immunoblotting analysis,-[40]
-Aerial parts, teaClinical trialTo control hot flushes, gynaecological tonic, relaxant--[41]
-Motherwort injectionTrialPreventing postpartum hemorrhageMean blood loss, postpartum hemorrhage, mean systolic blood pressure, diastolic BP, heart rate, respiratory rate, hemoglobin and platelet count, incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, safety assessment-[42]
-Aerial partsReviewAnxiolytic, antispasmodic, PMS, and menopausal anxiety--[43]
 Aerial parts, tea, tincture, infusionReviewAntispasmodic, anti-inflammatory anxiolytic, uterine tonic,--[44]
-Aerial parts, tincture, tea, infusionReviewMenopausal anxiety, insomnia, palpitations hyperthyroidism,--[45]
-Aerial parts, infusion, decoctionReviewTonic, Amenorrhoea, suppressed lochia, dysmenorrhoea, antispasmodic, nervine, emmenagogue--[46]
Wild-growing, IranAerial parts, methanol extractResearchAntioxidant, radical scavengingDPPH radical-scavenging activity, reducing power, nitric oxide-scavenging activity, Metal chelating activity, ferric thiocyanate assay, Scavenging of hydrogen peroxidePhenolic compounds[47]
Wild-growing, IranAerial parts, methanol and water extractsResearchAntioxidantNitric oxide radical scavenging activityPhenolic compounds, flavonoids[48]
Cultivated, RomaniaAerial parts, methanol extractResearchAntioxidant, free scavenging potentialphosphomolybdenum reduction assay, DPPH∙ assay, Chemiluminescence assayPolyphenolics[49]
Cultivated, IranAerial parts, extracts and fractionsResearchAntioxidantDPPH∙ assayPhenolic compounds[50]
Cultivated, GreeceLeaves, 80% methanol or 80% ethanolResearchAntioxidantABTS∙ assayPhenolic compounds[51]
Wild-growing, IranLeaves, polysaccharides extractResearchAntioxidant, antimicrobialHydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, DPPH∙ assay, antimicrobial effect evaluated by the filter disk diffusion plate method against bacteria, yeast and fungiPolysaccharides[13]
Wild-growing, MalaysiaAerial parts, water extractResearchAntioxidant, antidiabeticDPPH∙ assay, nitric oxide radical scavenging assay, metal chelating activity, Alpha-glucosidase inhibition assayPhenolic compounds[52]
Commercially available, ChinaAerial parts, aqueous extractResearchAntioxidantLDLc oxidation delay-[53]
Commercially available, RussiaCommercial tinctures and infusionsResearchAntioxidantDPPH∙ assay, voltammetry and spectrophotometric-[54]
Commercially available, RussiaCommercial tincturesResearchAntioxidantChronocoulometryLavandulifolioside, phenolic acids, caffeic acid 4-rutinoside, tannins[55]
--ReviewAntioxidant--[56]
-Methanol extractReviewAntioxidantDPPH∙ assayFlavonoid and
phenolic glycosides		[57]
-Aerial part, tincture, teaReviewNervine relaxant, anxiolytic,--[58]
--ReviewEpilepsy treatment--[59]
Commercially available, GermanyAerial parts, 45% ethanol extract, Stachydrine, Leonurine, Lavandulifolioside, Isoleosibirin, 7R-chloro-6-desoxy-harpagideResearchTreatment of anxiety, depression, nervousness, sedativeIn vitro GABA receptor binding assays,-[15, 60]
Commercially availableLeonurineResearchNephroprotectiveMeasurement of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, Measurement of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, Assay of GSH, Assay of ROS, Assay of MDA level, Western blot analyses, Protein assay, Histological assay-[61]
Commercially availableLeonurineResearchNephroprotectiveMeasurement of TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β level, ROS assay, Assay of MDA level, Assay of GSH level, Western blot analyses, Protein assay, Histological assay-[62]
Commercially availableLeonurineResearchNeuroprotectiveEvaluation of spatial learning and memory performances of rats, levels of glutamate and H2O2 of hippocampus, Western blot assay-[63]
-Aerial parts, ethanolic extractResearchAnalgesicNociceptive Behavioral Tests-[64]
-Aerial parts, different types of extractsReviewAntiviral-ursolic acid, quercetin, hyperoside, apigenin-7-
glucoside, rutin		[65]
--ReviewTreatment of hyperthyroidism, palpitations, anxiety--[66]
--ReviewTreatment of hyperthyroidism-Rosmarinic acid[67]