Ballota nigra. Marrubium nigrum   Black horehound   Family: Labiatae      
PART USED: Aerial parts. Gathered during the flowering period.
TASTE: Bitter  ODOR: Unpleasant.
ACTIONS
GROUP: The Endocrine and Reproductive Systems- Reproductive system. Tonics
1. Anti-emetic.[1,2,4,5]
2. Sedative.[1]
3. Antispasmodic.[5]
4. Astringent- mild.[1]
5. Stimulant.[5]
INDICATIONS- similar indications to White horehound, but less used because of unpleasant taste.[5]
1. Nausea.[1] Vomiting.[1] Vomiting of central origin. Nervous dyspepsia.[1]
2. Amenorrhea. Menorrhagia.
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Vomiting of central origin.[1]
COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS:   3X /day
Dried herb  2-4  g. or by infusion[1]  1:20.
Fluid extract  1:1 in 25% alcohol.,  1-3 ml.[1]
Tincture 1:10 in 45% alcohol 1-2 ml.[1]

ORIGIN: Britain.
DESCRIPTION: Grows up to 100 cm tall, downy. Leaves; downy, orbicular, coarsely crenate. Flowers; pale purple, with 5 funnel shaped calyces. Fruits; tetrahedral nutlets, shiny, blackish-brown, about 2 mm long.
References
Similar plants
Constituents
Research

Neurosedative and antioxidant activities of phenylpropanoids from ballota nigra.
Daels-Rakotoarison DA, Seidel V, Gressier B, Brunet C, Tillequin F, Bailleul F, Luyckx M, Dine T, Cazin M, Cazin JC.
Abstract
Ballota nigra is a European plant known for its neurosedative properties. In this study, the ability of five phenylpropanoids (verbascoside, forsythoside B, arenarioside, ballotetroside, and caffeoyl malic acid) isolated from a hydroalcoholic extract, to bind to benzodiazepine, dopaminergic, and morphinic receptors was investigated. To carry out these studies, affinity tests with rat striata, entire brains and receptor rich preparations were employed. In addition, the phenolic aspect of these five phenylpropanoid esters led to investigate antioxidant activities using cell-free experiments and cellular experiments including isolated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). Effects of phenylpropanoid esters against reactive oxygen species as superoxide anion, peroxide hydrogen, hypochlorous acid and hydroxyl radical were tested. These molecules are liberated by PMN during inflammatory disorders, so that reproduction of this process in vitro stimulating PMN by chemical stimulants was undertaken. Results show that four of the five compounds are able to bind to the studied receptors. Inhibitory concentrations at 50% were determined and vary from 0.4 to 4.7 mg/ml. This may be in relation with the Ballota nigra known neurosedative activities. Results concerning antioxidant investigations evidence an ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species. Inhibitory concentrations at 50% obtained are comparable to those of known antioxidant drugs (mesna or N-acetyl cysteine). Moreover, the use of different stimuli having various pathways of action on PMN oxidative metabolism permits to establish that each phenylpropanoid ester has its own particular way of action by using proteine kinase C or phospholipase C pathways.
PMID: 10683711 DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1300158 Arzneimittelforschung. 2000 Jan;50(1):16-23. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Ballota nigra on glucose and insulin in alloxan-diabetic albino rats.
Nusier MK, Bataineh HN, Bataineh ZM, Daradka HM.
Abstract
The hypoglycemic effect of Ballota nigra extract on albino rats was investigated. Alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus was accompanied by several fold increases in plasma glucose. Administration of aqueous extract of B. nigra extract significantly reduced glucose in both healthy and diabetic rats. These results suggest that B. nigra possess hypoglycemic effects in rats and therefore, can be useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
PMID: 17627273 Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2007 Aug;28(4):470-2. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov