Leonurus japonicus

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stachys artemisia
• Leonurus heterophyllus f. leucanthus
• Leonurus heterophyllus
• Leonurus japonicus f. albiflorus
• Leonurus japonicus f. niveus
• Leonurus cuneifolius
• Leonurus altissimus
• Leonurus artemisia
• Leonurus artemisia var. albiflorus
• Leonurus mexicanus
• Leonurus sibiricus var. albiflorus
• Leonurus sibiricus f. niveus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae, it is classified under the genus Leonurus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents and ocean regions. In Middle Europe, its presence is documented within the territories of Germany as well as the Czechia-Slovakia region. The species also extends to the Macaronesian islands, specifically reaching Cape Verde. Furthermore, its range includes remote locations within the Middle Atlantic Ocean. These specific areas include the islands of both Ascension and St. Helena.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Leonurus japonicus is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of environmental conditions and landscapes. It inhabits a wide variety of ecosystems, including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the Cerrado (latu sensu), Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forest (Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual), Ombrophilous Forest (Floresta Ombrófila, also known as Floresta Pluvial), and Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (Floresta Ombrófila Mista). This adaptability allows the species to colonize both natural biomes and disturbed human-influenced environments. Furthermore, the plant exhibits significant altitudinal plasticity, occupying an elevational range that extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista

Life history

The life history of Leonurus japonicus is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial, depending significantly on the environmental conditions and regional climate. In terms of its growth habit and survival strategy, the species is classified as a chamaephyte, meaning its perennating buds are located close to the soil surface, allowing it to withstand various seasonal stressors. This life history allows the plant to establish itself in diverse habitats, utilizing its flexible reproductive strategies to persist through fluctuating ecological cycles.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Leonurus japonicus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This plant is a self-supporting, independent species that does not function as a climber or a parasite, nor does it exhibit epiphytic behavior, as it is strictly terrestrial. It can be found in various habitats ranging from aquatic and semiaquatic environments to fully terrestrial settings. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a minimum height of 0.3 meters, with its maximum height extending up to 3 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Leonurus japonicus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in diverse environmental conditions. The plant lacks any specialized succulent adaptations, meaning it does not exhibit water-storing tissue characteristic of CAM or highly succulent species. Its vegetative structure features leaves that vary significantly in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. Furthermore, the leaf width is dimensionally constrained, measuring between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 4.5 cm, defining the overall surface area available for gas exchange and light interception.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Leonurus japonicus is characterized by a distinct flowering cycle and the production of minute seeds. The flowering period is quite extensive, typically commencing in July and continuing through to February, though the specific timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Once pollination occurs, the plant produces seeds that are remarkably consistent in size; the seed mass is recorded at a uniform value of 0.00106 g, with the mean, maximum, and minimum measurements all aligning at this specific weight.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Feb

Seed mass mean:

0.00106 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Leonurus japonicus has 4 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, fruit, seed.

Leaf

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Root

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Clinical and experimental immunology

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products

Seed

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Leonurus japonicus has 57 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Leonurine, ferulic acid, stachydrine, 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, CHLOROGENIC ACID.

Leonurine

1. Molecular plant
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine
3. Japanese journal of pharmacology
4. Journal of chromatographic science
5. Phytochemistry

ferulic acid

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Clinical and experimental immunology
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

stachydrine

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Fitoterapia

4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Pathology oncology research : POR

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Clinical and experimental immunology

Galeopsin

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Genkwanin

1. Journal of natural products
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Verbascoside

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

caffeic acid

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Clinical and experimental immunology

1,3-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Pathology oncology research : POR

Activities

Leonurus japonicus has 12 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Cardioprotective, Antihyperglycemic.

Antioxidant

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Life sciences

Antibacterial

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antimicrobial

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Applied and environmental microbiology

Cardioprotective

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Life sciences

Antihyperglycemic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antiplatelet

1. Dr. Duke

Antiproliferative

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Antithrombotic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antiviral

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Contraceptive

1. Population (New York, N.Y.)

Conditions

Leonurus japonicus has 25 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include postpartum hemorrhage, dysmenorrhea, inflammation, myocardial infarction, wound healing.

Postpartum hemorrhage

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Phytochemistry
3. International journal of molecular sciences

Dysmenorrhea

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Inflammation

1. Phytochemistry
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Myocardial infarction

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Life sciences

Wound healing

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aspergillus niger

1. Applied and environmental microbiology

Nafld

1. Nutrients

Ralstonia solanacearum

1. Applied and environmental microbiology

Amenorrhea

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Analgesic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Preparations

Leonurus japonicus has 14 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract, Essential oils, EtOH extract, MeOH extract, Zhi-Xiong Capsules.

Ethanol extract

1. Nutrients
2. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Essential oils

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Etoh extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Meoh extract

1. Phytochemistry

Zhi-xiong capsules

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Aerial parts

1. Journal of natural products

Botanical extracts

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Crude methanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dried tissues

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Ethanol extracts

1. Experimental & applied acarology