Motherwort synergized with oxytocin for postpartum hemorrhage prevention: Integrated clinical efficacy and mechanism exploration.

BACKGROUND

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a leading cause of maternal mortality, while Chinese Motherwort (Leonurus japonicus Houtt.), known as "JingChanLiangYao", has been used to prevent PPH in traditional Chinese obstetric and gynecological practices for thousands of years. As a modern purified Chinese herbal preparation, motherwort injection is frequently administered alongside the international first-line treatment of oxytocin in clinical practice. However, the clinical efficacy and mechanism of this combined regimen in PPH prevention have not yet been fully elucidated.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of motherwort injection in combination with oxytocin for enhanced PPH prevention and elucidate its underlying mechanisms.

STUDY DESIGN

This study employed an integrative approach using real-world data, meta-analysis and animal validation.

METHODS

This study utilized an electronic health record database from the largest referral center for high-risk pregnancies in southwest China to explore uterotonic treatment patterns in cesarean sections, with therapeutic efficacy validated though meta-analysis. Active compounds of motherwort injection were characterized using UPLC-HRMS. A PPH rat model was established using mifepristone and misoprostol, followed by histopathological analysis to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of motherwort injection. Mechanistic investigations were further conducted by integrating network pharmacology, metabolomics, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of motherwort injection combined with oxytocin in PPH prevention.

RESULTS

We found 88.71 % deliveries with cesarean section used a combination of motherwort injection and oxytocin to prevent PPH among 51,312 included pregnancies. Compared to oxytocin alone, motherwort injection combined with oxytocin could reduce bleeding at postpartum 2 h and 24 h (2h: WMD = -40.95, 95 % CI -58.04 to -23.86; 24h: WMD = -54.80, 95 % CI -72.09 to -37.51) and reduced the half of PPH risk (RR = 0.49, 95 % CI 0.41 to 0.59). Similarly, in the PPH rat model, the combination therapy of motherwort injection and oxytocin further reduced PPH volume, shortened bleeding duration, and improved uterine histopathology, while upregulating the expression of OXTR and Cx43. Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics analysis revealed that the primary synergistic mechanism of motherwort injection involves the MAPK signaling pathway. Further experimental evidence confirmed that the uterine contraction-enhancing effect of Leonurus japonicus injection is dependent on MEK/ERK activation, and its pharmacological action can be inhibited by the MEK inhibitor AZD6244. Cellular assays identified stachydrine as the principal bioactive component of motherwort injection, which elevates intracellular calcium levels in human uterine smooth muscle cells. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and SPR analysis further identified MEK1 as a direct binding target of motherwort injection.

CONCLUSION

Our study, from clinical phenomena to mechanism validation, demonstrates that the combined regimen of motherwort injection and oxytocin exhibits superior efficacy in preventing PPH compared to oxytocin monotherapy. A key mechanistic insight is the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, which underpins the synergistic action of motherwort injection with oxytocin in enhancing uterine contraction. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of integrating traditional Chinese medicine (motherwort injection) with Western medicine (oxytocin) for improved PPH management.