Bioscience Evidence 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 280-290 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 280 Research Insight Open Access Physiological and Ecological Mechanisms and Metabolic Pathway Analysis of Active Compound Accumulation inLeonurus japonicus Houtt. Jiayao Zhou , Hongpeng Wang Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, China Corresponding email: jiayao.zhou@cuixi.org Bioscience Evidence, 2025, Vol.15, No.6 doi: 10.5376/be.2025.15.0028 Received: 06 Oct., 2025 Accepted: 13 Nov., 2025 Published: 02 Dec., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Zhou and Wang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhou J.Y., and Wang H.P., 2025, Physiological and ecological mechanisms and metabolic pathway analysis of active compound accumulation in Leonurus japonicus Houtt., Bioscience Evidence, 15(6): 280-290 (doi: 10.5376/be.2025.15.0028) Abstract Leonurus japonicus Houtt. is a commonly used medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine. It contains many active ingredients, such as alkaloids, flavonoids and diterpenoids, so it is widely used in gynecology, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and anti-inflammation, etc. In recent years, multi-omics studies and molecular biology research have gradually clarified how these major active components (such as leonurine, tribulus terephthine, diterpenoids, etc.) accumulate in different organs and under different environments. At the physiological level, some key enzymes (such as ADC, UGT, and SCPL) are very important. The gene clusters they belong to have been amplified and new functions have emerged. These changes have made the synthesis of active ingredients smoother and also given them more obvious accumulation characteristics in plants. Environmental factors can also have an impact, such as pH, climate, soil and geographical location. These conditions can change the supply of substrates and the activity of enzymes, thereby affecting the content of active ingredients. The study of metabolic pathways can not only assist in molecular breeding and more precise cultivation, but also provide a scientific basis for the quality control of medicinal materials and the development of new drugs. In the future, under the perspective of systems biology, integrating multi-omics data and combining it with gene function verification and ecological adaptation research is expected to promote more efficient molecular regulation of the active components of Leonurus japonicus. At the same time, it can also facilitate the sustainable utilization of resources and the modern development of their medicinal value. Keywords Leonurus japonicus; Accumulation of active ingredients; Physiological mechanism; Ecological regulation; Metabolic pathways 1 Introduction Leonurus japonicus Houtt. Is an annual or biennial herb of the Lamiaceae family and is very common in China, South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia and other places. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time, especially in gynecology, and is listed as a superior grade in the "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica". It is commonly used in clinical practice to regulate menstruation, promote blood circulation, diuresis and reduce swelling, and is also used for some cardiovascular problems (He et al., 2024). Modern research has found that Leonurus japonicus contains many active ingredients, such as leonurine, tribulus terrestris and other alkaloids, as well as flavonoids and diterpenoids. These components have functions such as regulating the uterus, protecting the cardiovascular system, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-tumor. More than 140 compounds have been identified in its aboveground parts and fruits so far, mainly alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids. The efficacy of motherwort mainly depends on the types and contents of these active components, and these components are affected by multiple aspects such as genetics, environment, organ differentiation and physiological state (Tan et al., 2020; Han et al., 2023; Chen et al., 2024). Under different origins, different organs and different growth conditions, the contents and compositions of these components may vary greatly, thereby affecting the quality of medicinal materials and clinical effects. In addition, some ecological factors, such as climate and soil pH, can also regulate the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites (Zhang et al., 2022). Therefore, a deeper understanding of the accumulation mechanism of active ingredients in Leonurus japonicus can help us select a more suitable cultivation environment, improve the quality of medicinal materials, and also provide a theoretical basis for new drug development and sustainable resource utilization.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==