Bulletin Summer 1975

An old wood carving of I-mu Ts'ao from Revised Compendium of Materia Medica (1655) which looks exactly the same as that growing on campus. The objectives of I-mu Ts'ao study are 3-fold ； they vary in immediacy, scope and social attribute. The prime objective is to identify the chemical nature of the active uterotonic principle and to confirm this by chemical synthesis. The second objective is to explain the action mechanism of leonurine-induced uterine contraction. Based on this knowledge, the uterotonic property of I-mu Ts'ao can be applied to achieve some practical social purpose, e.g. its use as a contraceptive agent . The third objective is purely academic. By studying comprehensively the different aspects of I-mu Ts'ao (ethnobotany, phytochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, organic chemistry), it might be possible to formulate a standard protocol by which one can proceed to study other worthwhile objects in Chinese medicine. The project is undertaken by Dr. Y . C. Kong and Dr. H.W. Yeung of the Biochemistry Department, Dr. S.Y. Hu of the Biology Department, and Dr. W.P. Lay of the Chemistry Department. The study of I-mu Ts'ao as a contraceptive agent has gained the support of The World Health Organization (WHO) (Geneva), which provided a research grant of US $15,000 and sponsored the visits of two experts to advise on the project, Prof. M. C. Chang of the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, Study of I-mu Ts'ao (益母草） Leonurus artemisia (Lour.) S.Y. Hu is a local medicinal herb. Together with a dozen or so closely related species spreading all over China and Southeast Asia, it is commonly called I-mu Ts'ao (literally motherwort). As its trivial name implies, decoction or even fresh juice from I-mu Ts,ao is generally tonic to the female reproductive function. The selection of I-mu Ts'ao as the object of a comprehensive study in Chinese medicine is based on several reasons. I-mu Ts'ao is cheap and obtainable from unadulterated sources. It is even amenable to domestication on this campus. A meticulous survey, on the part of Dr. S.Y. Hu, assures that this is the correct plant conforming to all previous descriptions in Chinese medical classics. The physiological effect of I-mu Ts'ao is organ-specific ； its potency can be qualitatively and quantitatively estimated by the induction of uterine contraction in vitro. Since the chemical structure of leonurine is known, it would be possible to identify leonurine, or one of its analogues, with the active uterotonic principle in the native plant. Subsequent to this step, it would be possible to produce more potent synthetic analogues. The scientific rationale of these premises can be considered as self- imposed criteria for the selection of suitable material in Chinese medicine research. and Dr. M.J.K. Harper of WHO (Geneva). Furthermore, Dr. H.W. Yeung was awarded a WHO Exchange of Research Workers Grant to visit research centres in the United States this summer to study plants as potential antifertility agents. 7