ABSTRACT
The wild dagga flowers profusely in autumn with its characteristic bright orange flowers carried in compact clusters in whorls along the flower stalk. L. leonurus is used in the treatment of pyrexia, haemorrhoids, eczema, skin rashes, boils, itching, muscular cramps, headache, epilepsy, chest infections, constipation, and spider and snake bites. In some cultures, people smoke L. leonurus with cannabis or as a substitute for marijuana. In Mexico, L. leonurus is known as flor de mundo and mota and is used as a substitute for Cannabis. Neuroprotective: An investigatory study was undertaken for evaluating therapeutic effect of leonurine on ischemic stroke. The animals were pretreated with leonurine orally for seven days and the surgery was performed. In in vivo experiments, the alkaloid pretreatment resulted in reduction of infarct volume, improved neurological deficit in stroke groups, and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes. Leonurine reduces kidney injury and protects renal functions from lipopolysaccharide-induced kidney injury.
