Planta Med 2010; 76 - P541
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264839

Leonurine in Leonurus and Leonotis drugs? Detection and quantitative determination by a newly developed HPLC method

K Kuchta 1, J Ortwein 2, D Briel 2, H Rauwald 1
  • 1Leipzig University, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Johannisallee 2123, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
  • 2Leipzig University, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Brüderstraße 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

Both aerial parts and seeds of Leonurus japonicus Houtt. are regarded as two of the most efficient remedies for the treatment of abnormal menstruation, postpartum abdominal pain, and blood circulation disorders in TCM and Japanese Kampo medicine [1–3]. These pharmacological effects are generally attributed to the „alkaloid“ leonurine (4-{[amino(imino)methyl]amino}butyl4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoate) [4]. Interestingly, in European herbalism Leonurus cardiaca L. (Ph.Eur.) is used with similar indications such as gynaecological disorders [5,6] and especially heart disease [7], in which case its efficacy was recently proven by the development of a cardioactive refined extract via bioassay guided fractionation [8]. Although the presence of leonurine in L. cardiaca was reported in one single publication [9], these results were never reproduced. Nevertheless, it has repeatedly been quoted as an active constituent of this drug, even in current textbooks on pharmacognosy [10,11]. In the present study, a comprehensive, highly reproducible HPLC method for the detection and quantitative analysis of leonurine in plant drug material is reported for the first time. The South African herb Leonotis leonurus (L.)R.Br., used by native healers with similar indications [12], was co-investigated. Leonurine contends (w/w) between 0.001 and 0.104% were detected in the nine different L. japonici herba samples, of which only one failed to contain measurable amounts of leonurine. Instead of their similar application, no leonurine was detected in L. japonicus seeds or in the L. cardiaca and L. leonurus samples, indicating that apart from leonurine additional ingredients might contribute to the well proven clinical efficacy of the examined traditional medical plants.

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