Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (Motherwort): Systematic research through chemical profiling, stability under controlled conditions and pharmacokinetic analysis on screening Q-markers for quality control.

Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (Motherwort) is the fresh or dried aerial part of Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (Labiaceae), which is widely used in clinical practice and daily life, used to treat gynecological diseases. However, the differences between different parts, single index component in Pharmacopoeias and the less stability of active ingredients affect its clinical efficacy. This study aimed to find the multi-active compounds between different parts of Motherwort to ensure its clinical efficacy, which related to stability and had pharmacokinetic behavior. Firstly, HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was used to analyze the components in vitro and in vivo, as well as multivariate statistical analysis and network pharmacology analysis was conducted to find the significant different components related to activity. Secondly, the content determination methods were established to study the stability of effective components during storage in order to establish the content limit for quality control of Motherwort. Thirdly, UFLC-MS/MS was used to analyze the pharmacokinetic behavior of active components in Motherwort. The results showed that a total of 131 chemical constituents were identified in vitro and 21 prototype absorption compounds and 72 metabolites were found in vivo. Meantime, multivariate statistical analysis and network pharmacology analysis was combined to find that leonurine, stachydrine and trigonelline were activity-related substance, which could be used as active components related to pharmacodynamics in different parts. Then the stability variation trend and content limit of three alkaloids were found, which could be used for the quality control of Motherwort. Furthermore, the results showed that three alkaloids had pharmacokinetic behavior in vivo. 3 alkaloids were screened, which could be used as active components most closely related to pharmacodynamics among different parts. The stable stage, assay tolerance and pharmacokinetic characteristics were studied by the active substances, which could provide a basis for quality control and clinical medication of Motherwort.