Leonurine
Encyclopedia
Leonurine is one of the chemical constituents of the South African plant Leonotis leonurus
. It is a psychoactive alkaloid
found in species Leonotis nepetifolia
, Leonotis artemisia
as well as other plants of family Lamiaceae
. Leonurine is easily extracted into water, as well as from the essential oil of Leonurus sibiricus
.
Leonotis leonurus
Leonotis leonurus, also known as Lion's Tail and Wild Dagga, is a plant species in the Lamiaceae family. The plant is a broadleaf evergreen large shrub native to South Africa and southern Africa, where it is very common. It is known for its medicinal and mild psychoactive...
. It is a psychoactive alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
found in species Leonotis nepetifolia
Leonotis nepetifolia
Leonotis nepetifolia, also known as Klip Dagga or Lion's Ear, is a species of plant in the Leonotis genus and the Lamiaceae family. While most other species in this genus are native to Southern Africa, L. nepetifolia is native to tropical Africa and southern India...
, Leonotis artemisia
Leonotis artemisia
Leonotis artemisia, also known as motherwort, is a species of plant in the Leonotis genus and the Lamiaceae family. It is native to Asia, and is traditionally ascribed various health benefits.-Chemical constituents:...
as well as other plants of family Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
. Leonurine is easily extracted into water, as well as from the essential oil of Leonurus sibiricus
Leonurus sibiricus
Leonurus sibiricus, commonly called Honeyweed or Siberian motherwort, is an herbaceous plant species native to central and Southwest Asia, including China, Mongolia, and Russia...
.
Traditional uses
Primary uses include treatment of:- Respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniaeStreptococcus pneumoniaeStreptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, aerotolerant anaerobic member of the genus Streptococcus. A significant human pathogenic bacterium, S...
and group A β-hemolytic streptococci. - Otitis media due to S. pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, staphylococci, streptococci, and N. catarrhalis.
- GU infections (including acute prostatitisProstatitisProstatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland, in men. A prostatitis diagnosis is assigned at 8% of all urologist and 1% of all primary care physician visits in the United States.-Classification:...
) due to Escherichia coliEscherichia coliEscherichia coli is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms . Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some serotypes can cause serious food poisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for product recalls...
, Proteus mirabilisProteus mirabilisProteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod shaped bacterium. It shows swarming motility, and urease activity. P. mirabilis causes 90% of all Proteus infections in humans.-Diagnosis:...
or KlebsiellaKlebsiellaKlebsiella is a genus of non-motile, Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, rod-shaped bacteria with a prominent polysaccharide-based capsule. It is named after the German microbiologist Edwin Klebs...
species. - Bone infections caused by P. mirabilis or staphylococci.
- Skin and skin structure infections due to staphylococci and streptococci.