A recent study published in the biological and pharmaceutical bulletin analyzed the neuroprotective effects of leonurine (yi mu cao, chinese motherwort, herba leonuri) on brain damage from a stroke (in rats). Rsearchers from the department of pharmacology at Fudan University treated rats with leonurine approximately one week before creating a stroke to see if the herbs provide any protection from damage. Previous research and clinical evidence has shown leonurine to offer protective effects in heart disease and other conditions so it was worthy to explore the underlying mechanisms.

The study found significant protective effects post stroke compared to control groups. Showing protection though a range of anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.  Another study I wrote about showed other active ingredients of motherwort possibly being helpful for breast cancer.