Leonurine hydrochloride (SCM-198 hydrochloride) , a major alkaloid compound extracted from Leonurus japonicas Houtt. (Labiatae), is considered to have antitumor roles.

The treatment of Leonurine hydrochloride (10-50?μM) for 24?h increases apoptotic ratio from 4.9% to 11.5-61.3%, respectively. The inhibition effect of Leonurine hydrochloride on H292 cells is related to the generation of ROS and the loss of MMP. Leonurine hydrochloride can increase the phosphorylation level of p38 and reduce Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, Leonurine hydrochloride treatment increases the expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax/Bcl-2[1]. In RAW 264.7 cells and mouse bone marrow monocytes (BMMs), Leonurine hydrochloride suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and actin ring formation in a dose-dependent manner [2].

Leonurine hydrochloride can elevate the ET level and ET/NO ratio in rats with up-regulated ETA mRNA expression and induced abortions, but there is no change in ETB mRNA[3]. Compared with the model group, Leonurine hydrochloride treatment markedly reduces the volume of bleeding and intrauterine residual, and markedly shortens the duration of bleeding. Leonurine hydrochloride also obviously reinforces the tension and frequency of uterine contractions [4].