Planta Med 2014; 80 - P1M15
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1394582

Discrimination of Leonurus japonicus and Leonurus cardiaca by phytochemical and DNA analyses

M Monschein 1, T Holzer 1, V Wolkinger 1, H Heuberger 2, R Seidenberger 3, G Heubl 3, R Bauer 1
  • 1Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 4/I, A-8010 Graz, Austria
  • 2Bayrische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL), Institut für Pflanzenbauwissenschaft und Pflanzenzüchtung, Vöttinger Straße 38, 85354 Freising, Deutschland
  • 3Department of Biology, Systematic Botany and Mycology, University of Munich, Menzinger Straße 67, 80638 Munich, Germany

The aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus Houtt., known as Chinese motherwort (Yimucao), have been used in traditional Asian medicine for the treatment of various gynaecological and cardiovascular disorders [1]. Since Yimucao is increasingly used in Europe, a monograph is currently adopted for the European Pharmacopoeia. Therefore, discrimination of L. japonicus and the European L. cardiaca L. is needed. Within a cultivation and breeding project of Chinese medicinal plants in Germany, cultivation of L. japonicus has been established [1,2]. For identification and for discriminating Leonurus species, the ITS region of 18S26S rDNA has proven to be useful [2,3,4]. Therefore, the cultivars could unambiguously be identified. It has been suggested, that the guanidine alkaloid leonurine is absent in L. cardiaca. This could be confirmed by our investigations and therefore TLC and detection with Dragendorff reagent may be a test to discriminate L. japonicus from L. cardiaca. However, stachydrine did not react with Dragendorff reagent. It is suggested to discriminate Herba Leonuri japonici from Herba Leonuri cardiacae by TLC analysis of flavonoids. In Leonuri japonici herba rutoside and hyperoside are present, whereas there is only a faint zone of rutoside visible in case of Leonuri cardiacae herba and hyperoside seems to be completely absent. Based on these data identity and purity tests Leonuri japonicae herba can be established. Stachydrine and leonurine can be determined by HPLC with ELSD and DAD detection. However, overlapping of peaks must be avoided. For stachydrine also quantification by HPTLC and 1H-qNMR has been suggested.

References:

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3. Bomme, U., et al., Z. Arznei. Gewürzpfl. 11(2):81 – 91 (2006).

4. Yang, Z.Y., et al., Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 26:1593 – 1595 (2006).