Medicinal Plant Research 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 12-19 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 14 2.3 Application status of fertilization technologies in Leonurus japonicus cultivation domestically and internationally Fertilization technology, such as foliar spraying of nutrition liquid, is being used more and more in domestic and foreign cultivation of Leonurus japonicus. Use of products such as Ekolist S, containing macro- and micro-elements, has been reported to have promising potential in enhancing plant growth and yield. Its effect on the quality of the herb, such as flavonoid content, can be inconsistent depending on the timing and frequency of application (Lee et al., 2023). 2.4 Challenges and future directions of fertilization techniques inLeonurus japonicus cultivation Despite the advancements in fertilization techniques, challenges remain in enhancing the technique to enhance the yield and quality of Leonurus japonicus (Thepsilvisut et al., 2022) consistently. Heterogeneity of impact on the content of active ingredients confirms the need for future studies to determine the mechanisms at play. The future direction should be towards formulating specific fertilization techniques based on the specific growth phase and climatic conditions to reap the maximum fromLeonurus japonicus for its medicinal purposes. 3 Effects of Fertilization Strategies on Active Ingredients 3.1 Effects of different fertilization methods on key active ingredients Fertilization practices significantly influence the content of major active compounds of motherwort such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Use of Ekolist S with micro- and macro-elements as foliar was reported to influence the composition of motherwort's flavonoids. Ekolist S was utilized in different frequency according to the vegetation years for a three-year field trial (Li et al., 2019). The study demonstrated an extremely significant increase in flavonoid content with the first year of plant growth when the reverse pattern appeared in the second year of the first crop. This suggests that the application time and mode of the fertilization could differentially affect the content of the active compound due to variations in the internal processes of the plants and interaction with the environment (Zhu et al., 2022). 3.2 Regulatory roles of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on secondary metabolites Nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium play vital roles in regulating the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants. These nutrients are needed in many physiological processes that influence the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Even though the single study on motherwort did not specifically state the functions of these specific nutrients, utilization of a nutrient-rich foliar fertilizer like Ekolist S, composed of these elements, would imply that each has a function within controlling secondary metabolite quantity. The observed modifications in flavonoid composition upon treatment with Ekolist S indicate that nutrient availability can modify the metabolic pathways toward secondary metabolite biosynthesis (Aguirre-Medina et al., 2017). 3.3 Optimization analysis of fertilization doses and active ingredient content inLeonurus japonicus Maximizing the content of active substances in Leonurus japonicus encompasses fertilizer optimization. Ekolist S research established that frequency and time of fertilizer application was a critical factor in determining the yield and quality of motherwort herb. In the first year, the application of Ekolist S raised the yield of herb by 85%, whereas in the second year, it rose by 42% (Sugier et al., 2017). The effect on flavonoid profile was not equal, nevertheless, and indicates that maximal fertilization practice must consider both the timing and quantity of nutrient supplementation in order to achieve the optimal balance of active metabolites. Fertilization practice optimization must include careful consideration of plant development stages and environmental conditions in an attempt to develop fertilization strategies that optimize the yield of valuable secondary metabolites (Kakabouki et al., 2021). 4 Effects of Fertilization Strategies on Yield 4.1 Effects of different fertilizer combinations on growth characteristics of Leonurus japonicus Application of Ekolist S foliar fertilizer containing macr- and micro-elements has been found to significantly influence Leonurus japonicus growth habit. Ekolist S 1% solution was applied at various stages of the plant
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