Leonuri cardicae herba

Leonuri cardiacae herba, also known as heart-tension herb, is a drug monograph of the Commission E, used in herbal medicinal products for the treatment of nervous tension and nervous heart complaints. The drug consists of the whole or cut above-ground parts of the plant collected during the flowering period of the plant.

Leonuri cardiacae herba contains iridoids, including conjugol (leonurine), galiridoside and ajugoside. Further ingredients are diterpenes, triterpenes, phenylpropanoic acid glycosides, betaines (especially stachydrin and betonicin) and 5 to 9 % tanning agents.

Cardiovascular weed shows sedative, slightly hypotensive and slightly negative chronotropic effects.

Heart weed is used for nervous tensions such as palpitations and adjuvant for hyperthyroidism

1. Liu XH et al (2012) Active chemical compounds of traditional Chinesemedicine
   Herba Leonuri: implications for cardiovascular diseases. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 39:274-282.
2. Wojtyniak K et al (2013) Leonurus cardiaca L. (motherwort): a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology. Phytother Res 27:1115-1120.