Glechoma hederaceae. G. longituba. 連 钱 草 Lián qián cǎo   Ground ivy, Field Balm, Long tube ground ivy   Family: Labiatae
Can be confused with: Lamium amplexicaule.
PART USED: Aerial part- Collected in Spring and Autumn and dried in the sun.
Nature: Neutral, cool   FLAVOR: Acrid, pungent, slightly bitter CHANNELS: Liver, Kidney, Bladder
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Herbs that Drain Dampness (Diuretics)
1. Clears fever.[1,2] Detoxifies and promotes urination.[1,2]
2. Disperse coagulation.[1] Stimulates blood circulation and dissolves bruises.[1]
2. Remove stones.
3. Heal swelling. Reduces inflammation and alleviates pain.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Resolve urinary,[1,2] and gall stones.
2. Clear Damp Heat jaundice.
3. Influenza.[1]
4. Infantile marasmus.[1]
5. Traumatic injuries, fractures, rheumatoid arthritis.[1] Fall injuries.
6. Swollen abscesses, sores.[1]
COMBINATIONS
- Damp heat in the Liver with the Liver attaching the Spleen, Liver Qi stagnation and Spleen Qi deficiency:Spreads the Liver Qi and harmonises the Liver and the Spleen, clears Damp Heat, clears Heat and resolves Toxicity Liver tonic- Guo tai hu gan jiao nang.
PREPARATIONS: Decoction- Whole plant Dried 15-30 g.   Fresh 30-60 g. A suitable amount may be used for external application.[1] Dried plant above ground 15-30 g.[2,3]
DESCRIPTION: Perennial creeping herb. It can be identified by its round to reniform (kidney or fan shaped), crenate (with round toothed edges) opposed leaves 2–3 cm diameter, on 3–6 cm long petioles attached to square stems which root at the nodes. It is a variable species, its size being influenced by environmental conditions, from 5 cm up to 50 cm tall.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents.
Research.
The external antiinflammatory activity has been demonstrated in rats.[1]
References
[1] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations  R.C. Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.

Chemical evidence for potent xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of Glechoma hederacea var. grandis leaves (kakidoushi-cha).
Masuda A, Takahashi C, Inai M, Miura Y, Masuda T.
Abstract
In this study, chemical evidence for the potent xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of "kakidoushi-cha" (dry leaves of Glechoma hederacea var. grandis), a traditional folk tea consumed in Japan, was clarified on the basis of structure identification of the active constituents. Assay-guided fractionation and purification afforded 15 compounds from the most active chromatographic fraction of an extract of the tea. Two flavonoids, apigenin and luteolin, showed remarkable inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase (XO). The contribution of these flavonoid constituents to the observed XO inhibitory activity of the methanol and boiling-water extracts of the tea was estimated to be ca. 35% and ca. 18%, respectively.
PMID: 24477256 J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2013;59(6):570-5. ncbi.nlm.nih.govv

Antioxidant effects of Glechoma hederacea as a food additive.
Milovanovic M, Zivkovic D, Vucelic-Radovic B.
Abstract
The antioxidant properties of Glechoma hederacea L. (Lamiaceae), of Serbian origin, were studied in respect to its potential use in foodstuffs. Ethanol-water (8:2, v/v) and purified ethyl acetate extracts of the plant were found to possess significant antioxidant activity. Tests were performed on two different substrates, prime steam pork lard and active-carbon-treated edible sunflower oil, using Schaal oven test storage conditions at 60 degrees C. The ethanol-water and purified ethyl acetate extracts of G. hederacea showed strong concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. On the contrary, under the Rancimat method conditions at 120 degrees C, the ethanol-water extract showed significantly stronger antioxidant activity, in comparison with the other tested extracts. All activities were compared with commercial antioxidants, such as BHA and a tocopherol mixture, respectively. For the first time, the activity of the flavonol quercetagetin was determined.
PMID: 20184023 Nat Prod Commun. 2010 Jan;5(1):61-3. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Glechoma hederacea Suppresses RANKL-mediated Osteoclastogenesis.
Hwang JK, Erkhembaatar M, Gu DR, Lee SH, Lee CH, Shin DM, Lee YR, Kim MS.
Abstract
Glechoma hederacea (GH), commonly known as ground-ivy or gill-over-the-ground, has been extensively used in folk remedies for relieving symptoms of inflammatory disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic action of GH are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that GH constituents inhibit osteoclastogenesis by abrogating receptor activator of nuclear ?-B ligand (RANKL)-induced free cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) oscillations. To evaluate the effect of GH on osteoclastogenesis, we assessed the formation of multi-nucleated cells (MNCs), enzymatic activity of tartrate-resistant acidic phosphatase (TRAP), expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), and [Ca(2+)]i alterations in response to treatment with GH ethanol extract (GHE) in primarily cultured bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). Treatment of RANKL-stimulated or non-stimulated BMMs with GHE markedly suppressed MNC formation, TRAP activity, and NFATc1 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, GHE treatment induced a large transient elevation in [Ca(2+)]i while suppressing RANKL-induced [Ca(2+)]i oscillations, which are essential for NFATc1 activation. GHE-evoked increase in [Ca(2+)]i was dependent on extracellular Ca(2+) and was inhibited by 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP), inhibitor of voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (VGCCs), but was independent of store-operated Ca(2+) channels. Notably, after transient [Ca(2+)] elevation, treatment with GHE desensitized the VGCCs, resulting in an abrogation of RANKL-induced [Ca(2+)]i oscillations and MNC formation. These findings demonstrate that treatment of BMMs with GHE suppresses RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis by activating and then desensitizing DHP-sensitive VGCCs, suggesting potential applications of GH in the treatment of bone disorders, such as periodontitis, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
PMID: 24850617 PMCID: PMC4293732 DOI: 10.1177/0022034514536579  J Dent Res. 2014 Jul;93(7):685-90. doi: 10.1177/0022034514536579. Epub 2014 May 21. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov