Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is a herb with medicinal effects on humans and animals. One of the most frequently used uses of motherwort is as a sedative. A large number of phytochemicals have been isolated from otherwort and some of these have been shown to cause changes in the central nervous system which may explain the sedative effects of the herb. Some of the phytochemicals in motherwort include alkaloids (mainly leonurine and stachydrine), monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids (147 different labdanum diterpenoids, triterpenoids, iridoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, steroids, and cyclic peptides. It is thought that motherwort acts to decrease excitement in the central nervous system, and this causes a sedative effect. Studies show that as a result of this motherwort can be used as an anxiolytic agent. There is some variety in extracts of motherwort and this may affect the pharmacological activity of the herb. Generally the aerial parts of the plant have been studied in more detail.
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