Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[1, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13]}

Antioxidant^{[2, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13]}

Antispasmodic^{[11, 12, 13]}

Antispasmodic (cramp easing)

Sedative / sleep support^{[2, 5, 11, 12, 13]}

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^{[11, 12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13]}Traditional · 2/10

more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →

Inflammation (general)^{[11, 12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for inflammation (general) →detailed sources →

Insomnia / sleeplessness^{[5, 11, 12, 13]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from sedative action

more plants for insomnia / sleeplessness →detailed sources →

Menstrual cramps^{[11, 12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

more plants for menstrual cramps →detailed sources →

Muscle spasm^{[11, 12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

more plants for muscle spasm →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^{[11, 12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[11, 12, 13]}Caution

Contraindicated in pregnancy (uterine stimulant). Avoid in heavy menstrual bleeding. May enhance anticoagulant and antihypertensive drug effects. Avoid in thyroid disorders. Generally well tolerated in normal doses for short-term use.

Safety note^{[11, 12, 13]}Caution

Duke (2002) rates motherwort as ++ and notes hypotensive, cardiotonic (negative chronotropic), anti-aggregant, and sedative activities at the experimental level (score 1). The plant is traditionally used for heart palpitations, hypertension, and menstrual regulation in European herbalism. Duke emphasizes strong safety caution: motherwort has documented oxytocic (uterine-stimulating) activity and is strictly contraindicated in pregnancy. It may also enhance the effects of cardiac medications and sedatives (Duke, 2002).

References

REF-0860, REF-0861, REF-0862, REF-0863, REF-0864, REF-0865, REF-0866, REF-0867, REF-0868, REF-0869

References & Sources

Fierascu, R.C., Fierascu, I., Ortan, A., Fierascu, I.C. and others (2019) 'Leonurus cardiaca L. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010)', BioMed Research International, 2019, pp. 4303215. doi:10.1155/2019/4303215 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4303215
Wojtyniak, K., Szymanski, M. and Matlawska, I (2013) 'Leonurus cardiaca L. (motherwort): a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology', Phytotherapy Research, 27(8), pp. 1115-1120. doi:10.1002/ptr.4850 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4850
Kuchta, K., Volk, R.B. and Rauwald, H.W (2013) 'Stachydrine in Leonurus cardiaca, Leonurus japonicus, Leonotis leonurus: detection and quantification by instrumental HPTLC and 1H-qNMR analyses', Pharmazie, 68(7), pp. 534-540. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23923634/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23923634/
Kuchta, K., Volk, R.B. and Rauwald, H.W (2012) 'Leonurus japonicus, Leonurus cardiaca, Leonotis leonurus: a novel HPLC study on the occurrence and content of the pharmacologically active guanidino derivative leonurine', Pharmazie, 67(12), pp. 973-979. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23346757/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23346757/
Koshovyi, O., Raal, A., Kireyev, I., Tryshchuk, N. and others (2021) 'Phytochemical and Psychotropic Research of Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.) Modified Dry Extracts', Plants (Basel), 10(2), pp. 230. doi:10.3390/plants10020230 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020230
Angeloni, S., Spinozzi, E., Maggi, F., Sagratini, G. and others (2021) 'Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities of Crude and Purified Leonurus cardiaca Extracts', Plants (Basel), 10(2), pp. 195. doi:10.3390/plants10020195 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020195
Sadowska, B., Wieckowska-Szakiel, M., Paszkiewicz, M. and Rozalska, B (2019) 'Molecular Mechanisms of Leonurus cardiaca L. Extract Activity in Prevention of Staphylococcal Endocarditis - Study on in Vitro and ex Vivo Models', Molecules, 24(18), pp. 3318. doi:10.3390/molecules24183318 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24183318
Kuchta, K., Hladikova, J., Thomsen, M., Nguyen, A.D. and others (2025) 'Phenolic and Iridoid Glycosides from Leonurus cardiaca L. and Their Effects on the alpha, delta, and gamma Subtypes of the PPAR System', Molecules, 30(2), pp. 419. doi:10.3390/molecules30020419 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30020419
Pereira, O.R., Catarino, M.D., Afonso, A.F., Silva, A.M.S. and Cardoso, S.M (2019) 'Hepatoprotection of Leonurus cardiaca L., Leonurus japonicus Houtt. and Leonurus sibiricus L', Antioxidants (Basel), 8(8), pp. 267. doi:10.3390/antiox8080267 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8080267
Kuchta, K., Ortwein, J. and Rauwald, H.W (2014) '1H-qNMR for direct quantification of stachydrine in Leonurus japonicus and L. cardiaca', Fitoterapia, 96, pp. 8-17. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2014.03.023 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2014.03.023
Kowalchik, C. and Hylton, W (1998) 'Rodale'. Traditional / reference
Find this source
Prajapati, N.D., Purohit, S.S., Sharma, A.K. and Kumar, T (2003) 'A Handbook of Medicinal Plants'. Traditional / reference
Find this source
Shang, X. et al (2014) 'The genus Leonurus: traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology', pp. 43--63. Traditional / reference
Find this source

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