Real motherwort

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Real motherwort
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), illustration

Motherwort ( Leonurus cardiaca ), illustration

Systematics
Euasterids I
Order : Mint family (Lamiales)
Family : Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Subfamily : Lamioideae
Genre : Leonurus
Type : Real motherwort
Scientific name
Leonurus cardiaca
L.

The Genuine motherwort ( Leonurus cardiaca ) and lion's tail or heart clamping herb called, is a plant of the genus Leonurus within the family of the mint (Lamiaceae).

description

Detail of an inflorescence with whorls
Shaggy Motherwort ( Leonurus cardiaca subsp. Villosus )
Consistence of the genuine motherwort

Vegetative characteristics

The motherwort is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 30 to 120 centimeters. The square stem is hollow and hairy on the outside. The opposite arranged leaves are divided into a petiole and a leaf blade . The leaf blade is medium green in color and hairy on the underside. The leaf outline is divided into three to seven columns like a hand. The leaf base is heart-shaped. The upper leaves usually have only three lobes and a wedge-shaped base.

Generative characteristics

The flowering period extends from June to September. The flowers arise from the upper leaf axils and are there in pseudo whorls .

The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic with a double flower envelope . The corolla is provided with a length of 8 to 12 mm significantly longer than the five annoying cup . The pink to creamy white corolla is characterized by a helmet-shaped, hairy upper lip and a three-part lower lip with a brownish mark.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 18.

Occurrence

The common motherwort occurs from Europe to Iran. In North America and New Zealand it is a neophyte . The Shaggy Genuine Motherwort occurs from Crimea to Iran.

In Germany, the mother and sister is on the decline in some areas. In Baden-Württemberg it is even considered to be very endangered.

The motherwort thrives on nitrogen-rich, fresh, mild-neutral, loosely humus-rich loam or clay soils in weed meadows rich in perennials, especially in villages, on walls and fences. In Central Europe it is a character species of the association lion's tail, black nettle, corridor ( Leonuro-Ballotetum nigrae ) in the association of burdock societies ( Arction lapppae ).

Systematics

The first publication of Leonurus cardiaca was by Carl von Linné . The botanical genus name Leonurus is derived from the Greek , means lion's tail and indicates the shape of the leaves. The specific epithet cardiaca refers to the use in heart diseases.

Some authors differentiated between two subspecies, which some authors also regard as species:

  • Common motherwort ( Leonurus cardiaca subsp. Cardiaca ): In this subspecies, the stems are only short-haired when pressed at the edges and the leaves are almost bare or only scattered hairy on top.
  • Shaggy motherwort ( Leonurus cardiaca subsp. Villosus (Desf. Ex d'Urv.) Hyl. , Syn .: Leonurus villosus Desf. Ex d'Urv .; Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib. ): In this subspecies, the stems are closely spaced and shaggy occupied with 1 to 2 mm long hairs. The leaves are dense and softly hairy. This subspecies is also used as an ornamental plant and used by beekeepers as a forage plant for bees. It is native to the area between the Crimea and northwestern Iran and occurs in Central Europe as a neophyte.

ingredients

The main ingredients of the motherwort are iridoid glycosides (such as ajugol, ajugoside, galiridoside) and flavonoids ( rutoside , quercitrin, hyperoside). Furthermore, motherwort contains bitter substances of the diterpene type (labdanditerpenes and diterpene lactones (Leocardin)), betaines ( stachydrin ) and caffeic acid compounds (caffeic acid rutinoside), as well as small amounts of essential oil . Even Leon urine , choline and ursolic acid were detected.

use

The motherwort used to be an ornamental and useful plant in the cottage garden .

Use in the kitchen

Motherwort is not a typical herb. However, you should be able to season lentil and pea soup with fresh or dried leaves. In the past it was also used to flavor beer.

Use in medicine

Drug extracts from the above-ground parts of the plant (herb) are used for nervous heart problems and for the supportive treatment of hyperthyroidism . In folk medicine, the motherwort is used due to its predicted spasmolytic , sedative , antihypertensive and uterine-contracting effects for digestive complaints, menopausal symptoms and also as a sedative, also for bronchial asthma and absent menstruation. Motherwort extract is used as a tonic for menopause and heart failure.

Basic research on the isolated animal heart by Rauwald and Dhein shows that the active ingredients of the motherwort increase the amount of blood that supplies the heart muscle (the coronary flow ), which means that the heart is better supplied. It is based on a calcium-antagonistic mechanism of action, which leads to a reduction in blood pressure and a slowing down of the heart rate, thus relieving the heart. At the time of this study, it was still open which substances produce these effects and whether they help individually or only in their interaction and require further research.

It is controversial whether this type of plant was used in ancient times. One is certain, however, that it was used in Central Europe in the late Middle Ages and early modern times. Already in one of the first printed herbal book Gart der Gesuntheit (1485), written in German , it is mentioned under the name Cordiaca and recommended for stomach pressure and heart problems. Paracelsus and Leonhart Fuchs think that motherwort in wine helps against heart palpitations as well as cramps and paralysis of the limbs, in the latter case also as a warm compress. A watery decoction made from motherwort is helpful for epilepsy . Motherwort also has a diuretic effect and induces the absence of menstruation . The Cruyede boeck by Rembert Dodoens , published in 1554, recommends a preparation of the motherwort boiled in wine against melancholy and to strengthen the heart , a distilled macerate made from wine for heart and menstrual problems . Nicholas Culpeper writes in Herbal (1652) that mother and son give a happy disposition by driving away melancholy vapors and strengthening the heart. He recommends motherwort powder in wine for pregnancy problems.

This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.

In the 20th century research was carried out on the motherwort. The essential ingredients were quantitatively identified and the hypotensive and uterus-contractive effects demonstrated.

In homeopathy, motherwort is used according to the homeopathic drug picture.

Mother and mother in superstition

According to Bocksch , there was a folk healing spell in Mecklenburg, in which the motherwort was brought to the boil in a pot of beer and used against tumors.

literature

  • Peter Schantz: Hawthorn and motherwort - medical historical research on the European tradition of these medicinal plants from the Middle Ages to the present. Kassel 2009.
  • Manfred Bocksch: The practical book of medicinal plants. Munich 1996.
  • Penelope Ody: Practical Guide Medicinal Plants. Munich 2001.
  • Otto Wilhelm Thomé; Flora of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Gera, 1885 (image source)
  • Werner Rothmaler (founder), Eckehart J. Jäger, Klaus Werner (ed.): Exkursionsflora von Deutschland . Volume 4. Vascular Plants: Critical Volume . 10., arr. Edition. Elsevier, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Munich / Heidelberg 2005, ISBN 3-8274-1496-2 .
  • Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas. 8th edition. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 .
  • Helmut Gams in Gustav Hegi : Illustrated Flora of Central Europe . Volume V. Part 4: Labiatae - Solanaceae. 2nd Edition. (unchanged reprint from 1927 with addendum). Carl Hanser / Paul Parey, Munich / Berlin / Hamburg 1964, ISBN 3-489-78021-3 , pp. 2392-2393.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp.  805 .
  2. ↑ a b c d Rafaël Govaerts, 2003: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Database in ACCESS: 1-216203. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Leonurus cardiaca. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  3. ↑ Oskar Sebald, Georg Philippi, Siegmund Seybold, Arno Wörz: The fern and flowering plants of Baden-Württemberg (=  special part (Spermatophyta, subclass Asteridae): Buddlejaceae to Caprifoliaceae . Volume 5 ). Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-8001-3342-3 , pp. 175-177 .
  4. ^ Ernst Freising: The Plant Societies of Lower Saxony, Ruderale Staudenfluren und Saum societies , published by the Lower Saxony State Office for Ecology - Nature Conservation, Series Nature Conservation and Landscape Maintenance in Lower Saxony 20/4, 1993, page 63.
  5. ^ A b T. Dingermann, K. Hiller, G. Schneider, I. Zündorf: Schneider drug drugs. 5th edition. Elsevier 2004, ISBN 3-8274-1481-4 , p. 217.
  6. ↑ a b K. Hardtke et al. (Ed.): Commentary on the European Pharmacopoeia Ph. Eur. 4.03, motherwort. Loose-leaf collection, 19th delivery 2005, Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart.
  7. ↑ a b c d e Peter Schantz: Weißdorn und Herzgespann - Medical historical investigations into the European tradition of these medicinal plants from the Middle Ages to the present , Kassel University Press, Kassel 2009. Accessed on April 22, 2013.
  8. ^ I. Barnickel, F. Häfele Text editing: Irene Barnickel, P. Lemberger, H. Maiolino: Medicinal plants . Ed .: Erlangen Botanical Garden of the University of Erlangen - Nuremberg. 2nd edition revised and supplemented by W. Weis. 2001, p. 59 .
  9. ↑ European Medicines Agency , Committee for Herbal Medicines : Assessment report on Leonurus cardiaca L., herba (PDF; 430 kB) from September 16, 2010.
  10. ↑ Bärbel Adams: Secrets of the motherwort revealed. Press release of the University of Leipzig of August 3, 2007, accessed on April 22, 2013.

Web links

Commons : Genuine motherwort ( Leonurus cardiaca )  - album with pictures, videos and audio files