Medicinal Plant Research 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 12-19 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 13 In Leonurus japonicus, proper nutrient management has also been seen to control the production of primary metabolites such as leonurine and rutin. The nitrogen content, for example, influences chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis, which are crucial in biomass yield (Liu et al., 2022). Phosphorus is implicated in energy transfer between cells and increases second metabolite biosynthesis. Potassium is involved in the regulation of enzymatic processes, with impacts on plant general metabolism and stress resistance (Li et al., 2021). With the increasing need for sustainable agriculture, it is important to design fertilizer strategies with optimal yield and quality at minimal environmental impact. These strategies must provide for increasing market demand for quality medicinal plants. This study aims to analyze the effect of different fertilization methods on the quality of active components and yield of Leonurus japonicus (motherwort) extensively. Through the examination of effects generated by different nutrient combination, fertilizer application rates, as well as application methods, the study tries to identify an optimal fertilization method with high productivity and enhanced quality. The result will give a scientific basis to sustainable cultivation, offer experimental fertilization recommendations to farmers, and be an immensely valuable guide for further research on medicinal plant cultivation and related industries. 2 Current Research and Application Status of Leonurus japonicus and Fertilization 2.1 Active ingredients and biological functions of Leonurus japonicus Leonurus japonicus, or motherwort, is commonly renowned for its medicinal property because of its active constituents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and essential oils. The active constituents have different therapeutic activities like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cardioprotective effects. Such bioactive constituents make Leonurus japonicus a valuable plant for traditional ancient medicine as well as modern pharmacology (Sun et al., 2022) (Figure 1). Figure 1 Chemical structures of the 20 standards inLeonurus japonicus Houtt (Adopted from Tan et al., 2018) 2.2 Research progress on the impact of fertilization on the quality and yield of medicinal plants Current studies have highlighted the gigantic role of fertilization in raising medicinal plant yield and quality, e.g., Leonurus japonicus (Tan et al., 2018). For instance, a study of the impact of foliar application with Ekolist S reported a tremendous increase in motherwort herb yield, where the mean rate ranged from 85% in the first year and 42% in the second year of vegetation. But the impact on the quality, particularly flavonoid content, was unpredictable, indicating a complex interaction between plant growth stages and fertilization (Montaño-Herrera et al., 2022).
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