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To explore the potential mechanisms of Houttuynia cordata in the treatment of CRC using network pharmacology combined with experimental validation. The major active components of Houttuynia cordata were identified using the TCMSP database, and their related targets were mined. CRC-related target genes were obtained through the Genecards and OMIM databases. The R software Ven Diagram package was used for visualization of the intersection of drug and disease targets. The intersection target genes were subjected to GO function enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis using the R software clusterProfiler package. A "Drug - active component - target - Disease" network was constructed and analyzed using Cytoscape software. Intersection target genes were uploaded to the STRING database, and the resultant data were imported into Cytoscape software to construct a PPI network and filter core target genes. Expression analysis, diagnostic efficacy, and survival analysis were used to demonstrate the function and clinical value of the core target genes. The correlation between core genes in CRC samples and immune cell infiltration was analyzed using the R software and ssGSVA algorithm. Molecular docking validation of core active components with core target genes was performed using AutodockVina 1.2.2 software. Finally, the effects of quercetin and kaempferol, core active components of Houttuynia cordata, on the growth of HCT116 cells and the regulation of core target genes were validated through CCK8 assay, flow cytometry, and RT-qPCR. Seven effective active components and 147 component-related targets were selected, along with 3806 CRC-related target genes. GO analysis mainly involved biological processes such as epithelial cell proliferation, with KEGG pathway analysis focusing on pathways including AGE-RAGE signaling. Quercetin and kaempferol were identified as two core components, with IL1B, MMP9, CXCL8, and IL6 as four core target genes. Immune infiltration analysis showed that IL1B, MMP9, CXCL8, and IL6 primarily exert anti-CRC effects by promoting neutrophil activity. Molecular docking results indicated stable binding capacities of quercetin and kaempferol with IL1B, MMP9, CXCL8, and IL6. Experimental validation showed that quercetin and kaempferol could inhibit the viability of HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner, promote apoptosis, and downregulate the expression of IL1B, MMP9, CXCL8, and IL6 genes. Houttuynia cordata may exert therapeutic effects on CRC by modulating the immune microenvironment and anti-inflammatory responses, providing new research directions and theoretical guidance for the treatment of CRC with Houttuynia cordata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experiment, the effects of different proportions of substrate on growth and quality of Houttuynia cordata were obtained by recording and observing various physiological indexes of growth, and the most suitable matrix ratio was selected. The results showed that the most suitable matrix ratio was peat : perlite : vermiculite = 1 : 2 : 1 (T3), the average growth of root length was 4.61 cm, and the average growth of root nodes was 3. The soluble sugar content was 5. 78%. The peroxidase activity was 177. 89 U/(g · min). The content of VC was 137.200 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prevalence of diabetes and dyslipidemia poses significant health challenges, impacting millions of people globally and leading to high rates of illness and death. This study aimed to explore the potential antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of Plu kaow (Houttuynia cordata Thunb.) ethanolic extract (PK) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats, focusing on its molecular mechanisms. Diabetes was induced in fasting Long Evans rats using streptozotocin (65 mg/kg b. w.), with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg/day) used as the standard experimental drug. The treated groups received oral supplementation of PK (500 mg/kg/day) for 28 days. The study evaluated blood glucose levels, lipid status, body weight, liver, kidney, and heart function biomarkers, antioxidant activity, and histological examination of various organs. Additionally, untargeted metabolomics, cheminformatics, and molecular docking were employed to elucidate the probable mechanisms of action of PK. Based on metabolomic profiling data, the PK was found to contain various putative antidiabetic agents such as kaempferol 7-neohesperidoside, isochlorogenic acid C, rutin, datiscin, and diosmin and they have been proposed to significantly (p < 0.001) reduce blood glucose levels and modulated hyperlipidemia. PK also improved the tested liver, kidney, and heart function biomarkers and reversed damage to normal pancreatic, liver, kidney, and heart cells in histological analysis. In conclusion, PK shows promise as a potential treatment or management option for diabetes and hyperlipidemia, as well as their associated complications in diabetic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising prevalence of obesity has resulted in an increased demand for innovative and effective treatment strategies. Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (H. cordata) has demonstrated promising potential in preventing obesity. However, the mechanism underlying the anti-obesity effects of H. cordata and its bioactive component, sodium houttuybonate (SH), remains unclear. Our study reveals that SH treatment promotes the browning of inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) and prevents the obesity induced by a high-fat diet. SH significantly mitigates ferroptosis by upregulating glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) and decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while also enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Furthermore, SH promotes the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which subsequently increases the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the iWAT. However, the effects of SH were attenuated by ML385, an Nrf2 inhibitor. Collectively, our findings suggest that SH induces iWAT browning and prevents diet-induced obesity primarily through the AMPK/NRF2/HO-1 pathway by inhibiting ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology is the property of Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Facial skin that often looks dull and not glowing can be caused by the accumulation of dead skin cells. The solution to this problem is to exfoliate using a scrub. The content of secondary metabolites in Amis-amisan leaves (Houttuynia cordata Thunb) has antibacterial activity. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of the face scrub ethanol extract of amis-amisan leaves against Staphylococcus aureus. The extract was obtained using the remaceration method using 96% ethanol. Concentrations of face scrub are 10%, 20%, and 30%. Antibacterial activity using the pour plate method. The results antibacterial activity of face scrub with concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 30% are 1.127 cm, 1.282 cm and 1.460 cm, respectively. The best antibacterial activity is a 30% concentration face scrub. The physical characteristics of the organoleptic, homogeneity, pH, spreadability, adhesion, and irritation tests of the face scrub meet the specified requirements.

Summary: The biological synthesis of functionalised nanoparticles using plant materials is considered more cost‐effective and eco‐friendly than chemical and physical methods. Hence, this study demonstrated the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Houttuynia cordata Thunb rhizome (HCR). The extract, prepared with distilled water, provided the required phytochemical components, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, proteins and other essential bio‐reducing agents. The AgNPs were exposed to reaction conditions, such as temperatures, pH values and AgNO3 concentrations, to identify the optimum synthesis condition and explore their impacts on particle size and antibacterial action against Gram‐positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram‐negative (Salmonella enterica and Shigella dysenteriae) foodborne pathogens. The formation of AgNPs was indicated by specific surface plasmon resonance (SPR) intensity at 440–450 nm and colour changes under different reaction conditions. The structure and size distribution characterised by SEM and TEM revealed that the AgNPs exhibited a spherical‐shaped structure with irregular contours, regular distribution and aggregation. Although the average particle size ranged from 2 to 100 nm, relatively smaller sizes were detected at 10 mM (54.30), 80 °C (49.50 nm) and pH 6 (60.16 nm) conditions. The FTIR spectrum and EDX spectral signals affirmed the presence of reducing and stabilising agents in HCR extract, following the reduction of AgNPs from Ag+ to Ag0. AgNPs also exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. enterica and Sh. dysenteriae, indicating a broad spectrum for various applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the polysaccharide (RHCP) extracted from Houttuynia cordata rhizome was acetylated through the acetic anhydride method. The physicochemical properties of RHCP and its acetylated derivatives (Ac‐RHCP) were determined by infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopy, and Congo red test. Meanwhile, the α‐glucosidase inhibition mechanism of RHCP and Ac‐RHCP was analyzed by inhibition kinetics, and circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. Ac‐RHCP resulted in a more porous surface structure and 1.83‐fold higher solubility compared with RHCP. At a concentration of 6 mg/mL, the α‐glucosidase inhibition rate of Ac‐RHCP was 75.40%, while that of RHCP was 44.68%. RHCP and Ac‐RHCP inhibited α‐glucosidase in a mixed‐type manner, reduced the endogenous fluorescence of α‐glucosidase, affected the microenvironment of amino acid residues, and changed the conformation of α‐glucosidase. The study indicates that Ac‐RHCP exhibits a certain level of α‐glucosidase inhibition, demonstrating its potential as a functional food for glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a rapid and simple approach was used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Houttuynia cordata plant extract. The biomolecules present in the plant extract acts both as a reducing agent and a capping agent. To identify the compounds responsible for the reduction of silver ions, the functional groups present in the plant extract were investigated by FTIR. Various techniques were used to characterize the synthesized silver nanoparticles such as UV-Visible spectrophotometry, SEM and XRD. The UV-Vis spectrophotometer showed an absorbance peak at 429 nm. SEM analysis showed the average particle size of the Hc-AgNPs, which ranged from 15 nm to 100 nm. The XRD pattern showed the characteristic Bragg peaks of (111), (200), (220) and (311) planes of the face center cubic (FCC) AgNPs. XRD analysis verified the crystalline nature and presence of silver in the synthesized nanoparticles. The results confirm this protocol as a simple, rapid, one-step, eco-friendly, non-toxic and alternative to conventional physical/chemical methods, without the involvement of any hazardous chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata) is a medicinal and edible homologous plant. The abundant water-soluble polysaccharides of H. cordatahave been proved to have a variety of biological activities. However, the current research on polysaccharides from H. cordata mainly focuses on the whole plant or aboveground parts. The differences in the structure and activity of polysaccharides from different parts of H. cordataare rarely reported. In this study, the polysaccharides from the rhizome (RHCP), stem (SHCP) and leaf (LHCP) of H. cordata were extracted and separated, and their structural characterization, antioxidant activity in vitro and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were determined. The aim was to explore the relationship between the structure and biological activity of H. cordata polysaccharides (HCPs). Results showed that polysaccharides in different parts of H. cordata were acidic polysaccharides, which were composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose uronic acid, and a small amount of fucose, mannose, xylose, and glucuronic acid, but the proportions are different; The molecular weight was 4.11 x104 u to 1.20x104 u; The infrared structure was basically the same; LHCP had higher content of methyl and acetyl groups, and their contents were 0.95% and 1.05% respectively; The surface morphology of the three polysaccharides was smooth and flat; LHCP was not triple helix polysaccharide, while RHCP and SHCP existed triple helical structure. The in vitro antioxidant and °-glucosidase inhibition ability of LHCP were the strongest. It was found that the structure and activity of polysaccharides from different parts of H. cordata were different, providing a theoretical basis for the study of the structure -activity relationship of HCPs and providing a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of HCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Houttuynia cordata Thunb. is an edible medicinal herb belonging to the Saururaceae family. Although the effects of the plant extracts on several diabetic-related parameters have been documented in the past, there is no documentation of the effects of this plant on sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 or dipeptidyl peptidase-IV- key drug targets for type 2 diabetes. The present study identified and screened phytoconstituents present in H. cordata Thunb. and characterized their ADME/Tox properties. The compounds present in aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of H. cordata Thunb. were identified using High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography, and Gas Chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Compounds obeying the Lipinski's Rule of 5 and having high gastrointestinal absorption were then selected and docked with dipeptidyl peptidase-IV and sodium/glucose cotransporter 2. Results: Chromatographic analysis showed the presence of several compounds by matching their recorded spectra with the data bank mass spectra from the NIST library. ADME/Tox properties and docking of the identified compounds indicate the potentiality of the compounds as antidiabetic drug candidates. Conclusions: The compounds from Houttuynia cordata have good binding affinities to peptidase-IV and sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 and can therefore be used as their inhibitors. However, isolation of these phytoconstituents and their in vivo activity will help give a better insight and will open a new area of investigation of individual components and their pharmacological potency.

Cadmium (Cd) pollutes 7.0 % of China’s land area. This study examined the potential of Houttuynia cordata for Cd phytoremediation because of its ability to accumulate Cd in its growth matrix. H. cordata were planted in plastic pots filled with paddy field soils having low (LCd), medium (MCd), and high (HCd) Cd levels of 0.19, 0.69, and 2.91 mg/kg, respectively. After six months of growth, harvested plant parts were evaluated for Cd uptake and tolerance mechanisms. Metabolomics and metagenomics approaches were employed to investigate the soil rhizosphere mechanism. Results showed that the average plant biomass increased as soil Cd increased. The biomass Cd contents surpassed the allowable Cd limits for food (≤ 0.2 mg/kg) and medicinal uses (≤ 0.3 mg/kg). Cd contents were higher in H. cordata roots (30.59–86.27 mg/kg) than in other plant parts (0.63–2.90 mg/kg), with significantly increasing values as Cd soil level increased. Phenolic acids, lipids, amino acids and derivatives, organic acids, and alkaloids comprised the majority (69 in MCd vs HCd and 73 % in LCd vs HCd) of the shared upregulated metabolites. In addition, 13 metabolites specific to H. cordata root exudates were significantly increased. The top two principal metabolic pathways were arginine and proline metabolism, and beta-alanine metabolism. H. cordata increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Glomeromycota across all three Cd levels, and also stimulated the growth of Patescibacteria, Rozellomycota, and Claroideoglomus in HCd. Accordingly, H. cordata demonstrated potential for remediation of Cd-contaminated soils, and safety measures for its production and food use must be highly considered.

Houttuynia Cordata (HC) is a widely distributed plant in Asia and is used extensively for both food and medicinal purposes. A preliminary investigation found that HC is often bleached with sodium metabisulfite solution during its field processing, leading to health risks. In this study, the effects of sodium metabisulfite on the quality of HC were comprehensively evaluated using volatile and non-volatile targeted metabolomic methods. The results revealed a positive correlation between the extent of chemical composition changes and the bleaching time. These notable changes mainly occurred at the initial stage of bleaching. Subsequently, an untargeted UPLC/Q-TOF MS method was used to explore the potential chemical bleaching markers in bleached HC. The marker 1-hydroxy-3-oxodecane-1-sulfonic acid was subsequently prepared, isolated, and identified. Market sample verification further validated the accuracy and effectiveness of this marker.

In order to study the distribution characteristics and health risk status of heavy metals in Houttuynia cordata in Zunyi City, the Hg, Se and Zn contents in Houttuynia cordata in the local market were measured. The distribution differences of Hg, Se and Zn in roots and underground stems of Houttuynia cordata were analyzed, and the health risk of residents consuming Hg, Se and Zn through Houttuynia cordata was preliminarily evaluated using the target hazard coefficient (THQ) and total target hazard coefficient (TTHQ). The results showed that the contents of Hg, Se and Zn in roots were 10, 21 and 4 times higher than those in rhizomes, respectively. The levels of Hg and Zn in underground parts of Houttuynia cordata were lower than the national limit values (0.01 and 20 mg/kg). The contents of Se in 16 samples exceeded the national limit values (0.1 mg/kg), accounting for 80% of all samples. The THQ and TTHQ of Hg, Se, and Zn consumed by residents in Zunyi City through consumption of Houttuynia cordata were all less than 1, indicating a lower health risk, with Se being relatively higher. The estimated weekly intake values for Hg and Zn were also less than the provisional tolerable weekly intake value (4,7000 µg/kg). Due to the strong enrichment ability of Houttuynia cordata to both Hg and Se in soil, more attention should be paid to health risk of Hg and Se for residents in Zunyi City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main components of Houttuynia cordata include volatile oils, flavonoids, alkaloids, vitamins, etc. It possesses effects such as antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immune-regulating properties. As a feed additive, Houttuynia cordata can improve feed conversion rates, enhance poultry production performance, boost immune function, promote poultry growth and development, and improve overall health. The article reviews the biological functions, mechanisms, and applications of Houttuynia cordata as a feed additive in poultry farming. The aim is to provide references for the application of Houttuynia cordata in poultry production and disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

He Zhu,1,2,&ast; Mujun Chang,1,3,&ast; Qiulan Wang,1 Jing Chen,1 Dong Liu,1 Wenxi He1 1Department of Pharmacy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 2The Center for Biomedical Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Center for Translational Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Dong Liu; Wenxi He, Department of Pharmacy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China, Email ld2069@outlook.com; wxhe@tjh.tjmu.edu.cnIntroduction: Pathogenic respiratory RNA viruses, including influenza A virus (IAV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2, are major causes of causes of acute respiratory infection globally. Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles containing miRNAs have shown substantial cross-kingdom regulatory effects on both viral and human transcripts. Houttuynia cordata (H. cordata), a traditional Chinese medicine frequently used to treat respiratory diseases. However, the role of H. cordata-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (HELNs) and the miRNA they encapsulated are unclear.Methods: HELNs were isolated from fresh underground roots (uHELNs) and above ground stems and leaves (aHELNs) using differential centrifugation. The HELNs were identified using transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and zeta potential. Small RNA sequencing and RT-PCR were employed to determine the miRNA expression in uHELNs and aHELNs. All genomes were sourced from the NCBI database. Target prediction of viral genomes was performed using RNAhybrid, while human target prediction was conducted using both RNAhybrid and Miranda. Functional enrichment analysis was applied to the predicted human targets to explore the hub targets and their roles in antiviral effects. The accessibility of miRNA target sites was determined through the MFOLD web server, and customized dual-luciferase reporter assays were administered to validate the computational findings.Results: A total of 12 highly enriched miRNAs were identified in both uHELNs and aHELNs. Upon prediction and verification, miR858a and miR858b were shown to target the NP gene in H1N1, while miR166a-3p targeted the ORF1ab in SARS-CoV-2. However, no valid miRNA targets were found for RSV. Regarding human transcripts, miR168a-3p, miR168b-3p, and miR8175 were found to inhibit MAPK3 expression, and novel_mir2 could suppress both AKT1 and MAPK3 expression.Discussion: This study sheds light on the collaborative antiviral mechanism of miRNAs in HELNs across two species and explores the potential antiviral scopes of both H. cordata miRNAs and HELNs.Keywords: plant exosome, nanoparticles, Houttuynia cordata, traditional Chinese medicine, respiratory virus, miRNAs

The rising prevalence of obesity has resulted in an increased demand for innovative and effective treatment strategies. Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (H. cordata) has demonstrated promising potential in preventing obesity. However, the mechanism underlying the anti-obesity effects of H. cordata and its bioactive component, sodium houttuybonate (SH), remains unclear. Our study reveals that SH treatment promotes the browning of inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) and prevents the obesity induced by a high-fat diet. SH significantly mitigates ferroptosis by upregulating glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) and decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while also enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Furthermore, SH promotes the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which subsequently increases the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the iWAT. However, the effects of SH were attenuated by ML385, an Nrf2 inhibitor. Collectively, our findings suggest that SH induces iWAT browning and prevents diet-induced obesity primarily through the AMPK/NRF2/HO-1 pathway by inhibiting ferroptosis.

The increasing prevalence of diabetes and dyslipidemia poses significant health challenges, impacting millions of people globally and leading to high rates of illness and death. This study aimed to explore the potential antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of Plu kaow (Houttuynia cordata Thunb.) ethanolic extract (PK) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats, focusing on its molecular mechanisms. Diabetes was induced in fasting Long Evans rats using streptozotocin (65 mg/kg b. w.), with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg/day) used as the standard experimental drug. The treated groups received oral supplementation of PK (500 mg/kg/day) for 28 days. The study evaluated blood glucose levels, lipid status, body weight, liver, kidney, and heart function biomarkers, antioxidant activity, and histological examination of various organs. Additionally, untargeted metabolomics, cheminformatics, and molecular docking were employed to elucidate the probable mechanisms of action of PK. Based on metabolomic profiling data, the PK was found to contain various putative antidiabetic agents such as kaempferol 7-neohesperidoside, isochlorogenic acid C, rutin, datiscin, and diosmin and they have been proposed to significantly (p < 0.001) reduce blood glucose levels and modulated hyperlipidemia. PK also improved the tested liver, kidney, and heart function biomarkers and reversed damage to normal pancreatic, liver, kidney, and heart cells in histological analysis. In conclusion, PK shows promise as a potential treatment or management option for diabetes and hyperlipidemia, as well as their associated complications in diabetic rats.

Background: Houttuynia cordata Thunb. has long been widely used as a daily vegetable and traditional medicine. The flavonoid component of H. cordata has plenty of pharmacological effects, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. In this study, we applied the aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) combined with ultrasonic extraction for extracting H. cordata leaves. Methods: We optimized the extraction process to improve the extraction efficiency of the two flavonoids, hyperin and quercitrin, by Surface Method Response - Central Composite Design (RSM-CCD). Next, we investigated the antibacterial ability of H. cordata ATPS extract from optimal conditions against two bacterial strains, Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Results: The results showed that using 10% (NH4)2SO4 and 35% ethanol for ATPS extraction resulted in the highest hyperin and quercitrin contents. From the RSM-CCD results, the optimal extraction conditions were determined to be ultrasonic extraction at 50 °C for 30 min, giving results consistent with the predicted model and obtaining hyperin and quercitrin contents at 1.5681 ± 0.0114 and 4.6225 ± 0.0327 mg/g, respectively.Furthermore, ATPS extract has excellent antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 250 μg/mL on both C. acnes and S. epidermidis. This MIC is significantly lower than the H. cordata ultrasound-assisted (UA) extract, with MICs of 1500.00 and 156.25 μg/mL on C. acnes and S. epidermidis, respectively. In addition, the results from the disk diffusion assay also showed that ATPS extraction has superior internal antibacterial activity with a zone of inhibition diameter at 250 μg/mL of 8.67 ± 1.15 and 5.00 ± 2.00 mm. Meanwhile, those of UA extract on C. acnes is 5.67 ± 1.53 mm (at 1500 μg/mL), and on S. epidermidis is 1.34 ± 0.58 mm (at 156.25 μg/mL). Conclusion: To sum up, our research highlights the potential of H. cordata ATPS extracts as the starting material for topical preparations for effectively treating acne.

Background of the Study: Houttuynia cordata is an herbal medicinal plant with a variety of ethnomedicinal properties. The plant extract has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which may help to reduce the complications associated with diabetes. Additionally, it is used as an anti-inflammation, antidote, astringent, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral. Objectives: The present study is a scientometric analysis of Houttuynia cordata during 1992-2021 as covered in the SCOPUS database to find out the citation impact, growth rate, and research output of Houttuynia cordata research during a three-decade period. Materials and Methods: SCOPUS database was used to download data for three decades. The information gathered was quantified using bibliometrics; further, VOS viewer was used for visualizing the keyword network. Results: The study revealed that from 2005 onwards, there was an increase in Houttuynia cordata research and publication. China turns out to be at the top with the maximum number of research publications on Houttuynia cordata. Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmaceutics were the top subject areas that constituted the leading publication. Keywords 'Traditional Medicine' and 'Medicinal Plants' were used mainly during the year 1992-2018, however, from 2019-2021 there is a tremendous shift from the keywords such as 'Traditional Medicine', and 'Medicinal Plants' to keywords such as 'Coronavirus' 'COVID-19' and 'Pandemic', indicating that research on Houttuynia cordata relating to COVID-19 and Pandemic has become an extensive area of research from 2019 onwards. Conclusion: This study concludes that research on Houttuynia cordata has been slow since the early years, with a significant surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly reconfirmed the relevance of Houttuynia cordata as a medicinal herb. Additionally, this study will help researchers understand the current state of the Houttuynia cordata research and can act as an information road map to further explore research on its medicinal importance which may benefit humanity in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical profiling for quality monitoring and evaluation of medicinal plants is gaining attention. This study aims to develop an HPLC method followed by multivariate analysis to obtain HPLC profiles of five specific flavonoids, including rutin (1), hyperin (2), isoquercitrin (3), quercitrin (4), and quercetin (5) from Houttuynia cordata leaves and powder products and assess the quality of H. cordata samples. Eventually, we successfully established HPLC-based flavonoid profiles and quantified the contents of 32 H. cordata fresh leave samples and four powder products. The study also quantified the contents of those five essential flavonoids using an optimized RP-HPLC method. Peak areas of samples were then investigated with principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to evaluate the similarity and variance. Principal components in PCA strongly influenced by hyperin and quercetin showed that the samples were clustered into subgroups, demonstrating H. cordata samples' quality. The results of HCA showed the similarity and divided the samples into seven subgroups. In conclusion, we have successfully developed a practical methodology that combined the HPLC-based flavonoid profiling and multivariate analysis for the quantification and quality control of H. cordata samples from fresh leaves and powder products. For further studies, we will consider various environmental factors, including climate and soil factors, to investigate their effects on the flavonoid contents of H. cordata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by amyloid‐β (Aβ) deposition, accompanied by neuroinflammation and memory dysfunction. Houttuyniae Herba (aerial parts of Houttuynia cordata, also known as fish mint; HH), an herbal medicine traditionally used to treat fever, urinary disorders, and pus, is revealed to protect neurons from Aβ toxicity and regulate cholinergic dysfunction in AD models. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of HH on excessive accumulation of Aβ followed by neuroinflammation, synaptic degeneration, and memory impairment. Two‐month‐old 5xFAD transgenic mice were administered HH at 100 mg/kg for 4 months. We observed that HH treatment ameliorated memory impairment and reduced Aβ deposits in the brains of the mice. HH directly inhibited Aβ aggregation in vitro using the Thioflavin T assay and indirectly suppressed the amyloidogenic pathway by increasing alpha‐secretase expression in the mice brain. In addition, HH exerted antineuroinflammatory effects by reducing of glial activation and p38 phosphorylation. Moreover, HH treatment increased the expression of synaptophysin, a presynaptic marker protein. Overall, HH alleviates memory impairment in AD by facilitating nonamyloidogenic pathway and inhibiting neuroinflammation. Therefore, we suggest that HH can be a promising herbal drug for patients with AD requiring multifaceted improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Houttuynia cordata on inflammation and pathological injury in mice with ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Seventy-two male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into blank, model, positive control, Houttuynia cordata juice low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups. All groups except the blank one were induced for UC by using 3% DSS solution. Four days later, the animals were intragastrically administered with physical saline, mesalazine or Houttuynia cordata juice (HCJ) for 10 consecutive days. Disease activity index (DAI) was calculated and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the colon tissues of mice, and serum lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and D-lactic acid (D-La) levels were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate histopathological changes in the colon. The results showed that compared with the model group, hematochezia in the low-, medium- and high-dose HCJ groups was improved, and the mental status was better. The body mass, colon length and thymus index of mice in the medium- and high-dose HCJ groups were significantly increased (P < 0.01), DAI, spleen index and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly increased (P < 0.01), the content of MDA and the activity of MPO were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), the activity of SOD was significantly increased (P < 0.01), serum D-La and LPS levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), colon tissue injury was significantly reduced, and pathological score was significantly decreased (P < 0.01). In conclusion, Houttuynia cordata juice can improve the inflammatory response of mice with DSS-induced UC, reduce the intestinal permeability, regulate the level of oxidative stress and alleviate intestinal injury.

Jiaosu is a healthy food that has received increasing attention in recent years, while it mainly uses fruits as raw materials. In order to explore the feasibility of using Chinese medicinal plants to make Jiaosu, the study took Houttuynia cordata and Gynostemma pentaphyllum as examples to make Jiaosu products, and measured the main components and antioxidant capacity. The results showed that the color of the Jiaosu was dark yellow and the pH was acidic. Jiaosu products were rich in total protein, total sugar, vitamin E, and total0 phenols, of which total protein content was the highest. At the same time, Jiaosu products had strong antioxidant capacity. Enriching the form of healthy food is of great significance for maintaining human health in the post-epidemic era and the ageing era.

The biological activities of Houttuynia cordata (H. cordata) fermented with Aureobasidium pullulans (A. pullulans) was investigated for human skin keratinocyte-induced chemical and photo oxidations. In this research, H2O2/UVA-induced HaCaT cell lines were treated with H. cordata water/ethanol extracts (HCW/HCE) and fermented with A. pullulans water/ethanol extracts (HCFW/HCFE). A. pullulans fermented with H. cordata (HCFW) increased in 5.4-folds of total polyphenol (HCFW 46.89 mg GAE/extract g), and 2.3-folds in flavonoids (HCFW 53.80 mg GAE/extract g) compared with water extracts of H. cordata (HCW). Further, no significant cytotoxicity for HaCaT cells showed by all the extracts of H. cordata fermented with A. pullulans. HCFW extracts have significantly lowered inflammation factors such as COX-2 and Hsp70 proteins in oxidative stressed HaCaT cells induced by H2O2 and UVA treatments. All H. cordata extracts significantly downregulated gene expression involved in oxidative stress and inflammation factors, including IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2, TNF-α, NF-κB, and MMP-1 in the H2O2/UVA-treated HaCaT cells. However, keratin-1 gene expression in the UVA-treated HaCaT cells was increased in twofolds by HCFW extracts. Further, A. pullulans fermented H. cordata extracts (HCFW/HCFE) reduced the genes involved in oxidative stresses more effectively than those of H. cordata extract only. Overall, the polyphenol-rich extracts of H. cordata fermented with A. pullulans showed synergistic protective effects for human epidermal keratinocytes to prevent photoaging and intrinsic aging by anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry / Zhongguo Wuji Fenxi Huaxue is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway hypersensitivity and remodeling. The current treatments provide only short-term benefits and may have undesirable side effects; thus, alternative or supplementary therapy is needed. Because intracellular calcium (Ca2+) signaling plays an essential role in regulating the contractility and remodeling of airway smooth muscle cells, the targeting of Ca2+ signaling is a potential therapeutic strategy for asthma. Houttuynia cordata is a traditional Chinese herb that is used to treat asthma due to its anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties. We hypothesized that H. cordata might modulate intracellular Ca2+ signaling and could help relieve asthmatic airway remodeling. We found that the mRNA and protein levels of inositol trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) were elevated in interleukin-stimulated primary human bronchial smooth muscle cells and a house dust mite–sensitized model of asthma. The upregulation of IP3R expression enhanced intracellular Ca2+ release upon stimulation and contributed to airway remodeling in asthma. Intriguingly, pretreatment with H. cordata essential oil rectified the disruption of Ca2+ signaling, mitigated asthma development, and prevented airway narrowing. Furthermore, our analysis suggested that houttuynin/2-undecanone could be the bioactive component in H. cordata essential oil because we found similar IP3R suppression in response to the commercially available derivative sodium houttuyfonate. An in silico analysis showed that houttuynin, which downregulates IP3R expression, binds to the IP3 binding domain of IP3R and may mediate a direct inhibitory effect. In summary, our findings suggest that H. cordata is a potential alternative treatment choice that may reduce asthma severity by targeting the dysregulation of Ca2+ signaling.

Houttuynia cordata (H. cordata) is the most common herb as a food and traditional Chinese medicine. Currently, studies on its toxicity have mainly focused on hepatotoxicity. However, its potential embryotoxicity by long-term exposure is often overlooked. Objective: To investigate the effects of H. cordata on embryonic development and its toxicity mechanism by combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experimental methods. Methods: The effects of H. cordata on embryos were evaluated. Zebrafish embryos and embryoid bodies were administered to observe the effects of H. cordata on embryonic development. Based on network pharmacological analysis, it was found that the main active agents producing toxicity in H. cordata were oleanolic acid, lignan, and aristolactam AII. H. cordata can affect PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways by regulating targets, such as AKT1, EGFR, CASP3, and IGF-1. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry results showed that the expression of AKT1 and PI3K in the embryoid body was significantly reduced after drug administration (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of network pharmacology and in vitro experiments suggest that H. cordata may affect embryonic development by influencing the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Houttuynia coriacea is a perennial herb with a fishy smell. It can be used for both medicinal and edible purposes and has high use value. Because of its cumbersome planting process, most places are still mainly cultivated artificially. In order to address the issue of high input costs and low yields associated with the current predominantly manual planting methods for Houttuynia cordata, a fertilizer seeder for Houttuynia Cordata (FSHC) was developed by this study. A seeding device capable of multi-level scattering had been specially designed to greatly improve planting efficiency compared to manual planting, which not only increased the yield of Houttuynia cordata and farmers' income, but also improved land utilization. From the perspective of sowing agronomy, the positions of the functional blocks of the sowing machine and the relevant design parameters were reasonably arranged. Through innovative design of the seeding device, the scattering of Houttuynia cordata could be achieved, meeting the requirements of sowing. Compared with the current planting methods, the resulted fertilizer seeder from this study could not only improve efficiency and reduce the costs, but also promote the development of agricultural mechanization to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Previous studies showed that crude Houttuynia cordata polysaccharides (CHCP) exerted therapeutic effects on acute lung injury induced by influenza A virus (IAV) in mice. Here, an acidic heteropolysaccharide from H. cordata , named HCPM (Mw , 19.1 kDa), was obtained directly from CHCP using sequential ultrafiltration membrane columns. The backbone of HCPM was consisted of 1, 3, 6-β-Man p , 1, 4-α-Gal p A, 1, 2-α-Rha p , and 1, 2, 4-α-Rha p , with main branches of glucan, arabinan, and galactan substituted at C-3 of 1, 3, 6-β-Man p or C-4 of 1, 2, 4-α-Rha p. The structural information was further validated by oligosaccharide sequencing analysis using UPLC-ESI-MS. Furthermore, HCPM exhibited a potent anti-complementary activity with CH 50 value of 254.1 ± 7.8 μg/mL in vitro and significantly attenuated IAV-induced lung and gut injuries in vivo by inhibiting viral replication, reducing inflammatory responses, and suppressing complement overactivation. These results suggested that HCPM might be a key H. cordata substance for pulmonary infection treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many biological properties of Houttuynia cordata have been found, its anti-aging and anti-acne effects have not yet been investigated. This study was aimed to evaluate the in vitro anti-aging and anti-acne activities of H. cordata extracts and their cytotoxic activities and phytochemicals analyzed with liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Dried aerial parts of H. cordata were given different extractions. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts obtained were named HCA and HCE, respectively, and used to screen total phenolic and flavonoid contents. In vitro anti-aging, skin-related antimicrobial, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in vitro cytotoxic, and LC-MS/MS analyses were performed. The total phenolic contents of the HCA and HCE were 5.11 ± 0.25 and 27.02 ± 1.07 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry extract while their total flavonoid contents were 104.94 ± 5.16 and 571.86 ± 2.86 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g dry extract, respectively. The HCA and HCE inhibited the activities of collagenase (28.33–46.00%), elastase (30.00–34.33%), and hyaluronidase (93.87–98.72%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the HCA against Cutibacterium acnes DMST14916 were 5.77 and 5.77 mg/mL while those of the HCE were 2.47 and 2.47 mg/mL, respectively. Cell collapses of C. acnes after treatment with the extracts were observed with SEM. The HCE was not toxic to macrophages, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts up to 400 mg/mL. The HCA showed toxicity against macrophages at 62.5 mg/mL and both skin cells at 250 mg/mL. The main phytochemicals in the extracts were identified with LC-MS/MS. Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and flavonoid derivatives in H. cordata extracts could be major phytochemicals to possess a broad spectrum of biological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-aging activities. The findings from this study showed that the HCE has potential anti-aging and anti-acne properties while having non-cytotoxic activities on the immune and skin cells. These results indicate that the extract is probably advantageous in the development of skincare cosmeceutics and beauty treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the low toxicity and easy decomposition of green plant extracts, they are gradually replacing traditional corrosion inhibitors. Generally, plant extracts have low corrosion inhibition efficiency in corrosive media and are difficult to exert corrosion inhibition effects. Therefore, it is urgent to find efficient plant resources as corrosion inhibitors. Houttuynia cordata (HC) was used as the raw material and the corrosion inhibition performance and mechanism on Q235 were studied in 1.0 mol/L HCl solution.The corrosion inhibition performance and mechanism were verified through weight loss and electrochemical experiments. SEM + EDS, ATR-IR and XPS were used to detect and analyse the protective film formed on the surface of Q235 after weight loss. DFT demonstrated the adsorption sites and reaction activity of the corrosion inhibitor, and MD further verified the corrosion inhibition mechanism.HC could spontaneously adsorb on the surface of Q235 and formed a stable protective film. With the temperature increased, the corrosion inhibition efficiency decreased gradually. At 293 K and 1.0 g/L, the corrosion inhibition efficiency could reach 96.97% in weight loss experiment, HC could simultaneously inhibit the anodic and cathodic reactions in 1.0 mol/L HCl solution, and followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (YXC) is a significant homologous plant valued for its medicinal and culinary properties. However, there are no reports on the study of YXC yogurt. The quantities of YXC liquid, starter culture, and white sugar were used to evaluate their impact on yogurt quality, followed by metabolite profiling analysis. The optimal formula for yogurt consisted of 23 g YXC liquid, 9 g white sugar, and 0.7 g starter culture, resulting in well-balanced coagulation, delicate and smooth taste, and a unique aroma of YXC. Additionally, most differential metabolites were significantly accumulated during the production process of YXC yogurt, of which amino acids, free fatty acids, organic acids, and saccharides were associated with the texture, taste, and flavor of yogurt. Correlation analysis further suggested that saccharides, amino acids, and lipids were positively correlated with sensory quality of YXC yogurt. Collectively, YXC-based yogurt enriches the variety of yogurt products and enhances their nutritional values and flavor properties. • This study is the first to incorporate YXC into yogurt. • YXC yogurt has good coagulation, delicate and smooth taste, and a unique aroma. • YXC yogurt has more abundant metabolites than regular yogurt. • The upregulated metabolites were the primary determinants of the function and quality of YXC yogurt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaloids are the main medicinal components in Houttuynia cordata. In this study, two accessions 6# and 7# of H. cordata underwent thorough metabolomic analyses to identify and quantify alkaloid phytometabolites. It turned out that the alkaloid types were largely similar between 6# and 7#, and the identified 81 alkaloids could be divided into nine structural classes. However, the content of alkaloids in the two accessions was quite different. According to transcriptome data, a total of 114 differentially expressed genes related to alkaloid metabolism were screened. The alkaloid synthesis pathway of the two varieties was mainly different in the isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis and indole alkaloid biosynthesis; four genes A22110063c_transcript_59323 , A22110063c_transcript_60118 , A22110063c_transcript_51672 and A22110063c_transcript_48784 were highly expressed in 7#, which could be key candidate genes of alkaloid metabolism and warrant further analysis. These results provide a reference for the medicinal application of H. cordata and breeding alkaloid rich varieties. • The alkaloid types were largely similar between 6# and 7#. • The identified 81 alkaloids could be divided into nine structural classes. • The content of alkaloids in the two accessions was quite different. • 44 differential metabolites between two accessions were screened. • 42 of the metabolites were highly accumulated in 7#. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Houttuynia cordata polysaccharides (PSY) are known to exhibit a variety of beneficial activities, but these are currently not specifically utilized in food. Hence, using the two edible parts of Houttuynia cordata, a herbaceous plant native to Southeast Asia, this study developed polysaccharides of a stem (HCPS)-whey protein concentrate (WPC) complex and a leaf (HCPL)-WPC complex, and studied their stability, structure and antioxidant activity. The results showed that stability differed in complexes with different proportions, exhibiting only relative stability in the two complexes in which the ratio of HCPS-WPC and HCPL-WPC was 1:4, but increased stability in the HCPL-WPC complex (ζ-potential of HCPL-WPC: | -21.87 mv| >ζ-potential of HCPS-WPC: | -21.70 mv|). Structural characterization showed that there was electrostatic interaction between HCPS and WPC and between HCPL and WPC. The HCPL-WPC was found to have better antioxidant activity. The findings of this study, thus, provide a reference for the development of Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide applications in food.

The development of new and novel drugs starts following a path of targeting possible candidate drug, elucidation their mechanism of action, animal studies, and finally after the completion of phases I/II and III clinical trials. The fundamental raw materials of drugs may be synthetic substances or plants. Many plants are habitually used in many countries as food or for the remedy of diseases. We found that a tribal population of Bangladesh use an herbal plant regularly and this plant has been shown to have potential positive effect for management of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The present observation assessed the incidence and fatality of this community inhabitants due to COVID-19. Although a conclusion cannot be reached due to small sample size, this approach and theological concept may be helpful for the development, discovery, and innovation of new drugs for different pathological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the experiment was to study the effects of dietary inulin combined with Houttuynia cordata on the growth performance, intestinal digestive enzyme activity and antioxidant performance of Hyline Brown chicks. A total of one hundred and eight 10-day-old Hyline Brown chicks with an average body weight of (55.00±0.08) g were randomly divided into three group (group A, group B and group C), with six replicates in each group and six chicks in each replicate. Chicks in group A were fed with a basal diet, chicks in group B were fed with basal diet +1% inulin, and chicks in group C were fed basal diet +1% inulin +0.4% Houttuynia cordata. The experiment lasted for 14 d. The results showed that compared with group A, group B and group C had no significant effects on growth performance and slaughter performance of Hyline Brown chicks (P>0.05). Compared with group A, the activity of amylase in duodenum, jejunum and ileum mucosa of Hyline Brown chicks in group B were significantly increased (P<0.05). The content of cholecystokinin (CCK) in jejunum of Hyline Brown chicks in group B and group C was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The content of CCK and Ghrelin in ileum of Hyline Brown chicks in group B were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in duodenum, jejunum and ileum mucosa of Hyline Brown chicks in group B and group C was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in duodenum and jejunum mucosa of Hyline Brown chicks in group B and group C was significantly increased (P<0.05). The experiment indicates that the supplementation of inulin or Houttuynia cordatacan increase the activities of endogenous digestive enzymes and antioxidant status, and reduce the secretion of intestinal satiety hormone, but have no obvious effect on growth performance and slaughter performance of Hyline Brown chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Houttuynia cordata, also known as Yuxingcao in Chinese, is a perennial herb in the Saururaceae family. It is highly regarded for its medicinal properties, particularly in treating respiratory infections and inflammatory conditions, as well as boosting the human immune system. However, a lack of genomic information has hindered research on the functional genomics and potential improvements of H. cordata. In this study, we present a near-complete assembly of H. cordata genome and investigate the biosynthetic pathway of flavonoids, specifically quercetin, using genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics analyses. The genome of H. cordata diverged from that of Saururus chinensis around 33.4 million years ago; it consists of 2.24 Gb with 76 chromosomes (4n = 76) and has undergone three whole-genome duplication (WGD) events. These WGDs played a crucial role in shaping the H. cordata genome and influencing the gene families associated with its medicinal properties. Through metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses, we identified key genes involved in the β-oxidation process for biosynthesis of houttuynin, one of the volatile oils responsible for the plant's fishy smell. In addition, using the reference genome, we identified genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, particularly quercetin metabolism, in H. cordata. This discovery has important implications for understanding the regulatory mechanisms that underlie production of active pharmaceutical ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. Overall, the high-quality genome assembly of H. cordata serves as a valuable resource for future functional genomics research and provides a solid foundation for genetic improvement of H. cordata for the benefit of human health., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Chemical profiling for quality monitoring and evaluation of medicinal plants is gaining attention. This study aims to develop an HPLC method followed by multivariate analysis to obtain HPLC profiles of five specific flavonoids, including rutin (1), hyperin (2), isoquercitrin (3), quercitrin (4), and quercetin (5) from Houttuynia cordata leaves and powder products and assess the quality of H. cordata samples. Eventually, we successfully established HPLC-based flavonoid profiles and quantified the contents of 32 H. cordata fresh leave samples and four powder products. The study also quantified the contents of those five essential flavonoids using an optimized RP-HPLC method. Peak areas of samples were then investigated with principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to evaluate the similarity and variance. Principal components in PCA strongly influenced by hyperin and quercetin showed that the samples were clustered into subgroups, demonstrating H. cordata samples’ quality. The results of HCA showed the similarity and divided the samples into seven subgroups. In conclusion, we have successfully developed a practical methodology that combined the HPLC-based flavonoid profiling and multivariate analysis for the quantification and quality control of H. cordata samples from fresh leaves and powder products. For further studies, we will consider various environmental factors, including climate and soil factors, to investigate their effects on the flavonoid contents of H. cordata.

This study evaluated the in vitro antiviral activities and the ex vivo immunomodulatory effects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (HC) ethanolic extracts in response to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). In addition, this study evaluated the in vivo effects of oral supplementation of HC extract on immune responses to and crossprotective efficacy of PRRSV-1 modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine against the highly pathogenic (HP)-PRRSV-2 challenge. In vitro experiments demonstrated that HC extracted in either 50%, 70%, or 95% ethanol (referred to as HC50, HC70, and HC95, respectively) significantly interfered with PRRSV replication in MARC-145 cells. Ex vivo experiments revealed that all HC extracts significantly enhanced mRNA expressions of type I interferon-regulated genes, type I and II interferon (IFN), and pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines in HP-PRRSV-2-inoculated monocyte-derived macrophages. An in vivo experiment included four groups of six pigs (4 weeks old; n = 24). Group 1 and group 2 were vaccinated with the PRRSV-1 MLV vaccine at 0 dpv (day post vaccination). Group 2 also received oral administration of HC50 extract at 0-49 dpv. Group 3 received the PRRSV-1 MLV vaccine solvent at 0 dpv, while group 4 served as strict control. Groups 1-3 were challenged intranasally with HP-PRRSV-2 at 28 dpv and immune-related and clinical parameters were monitored weekly until 49 dpv. Compared to group 1, group 2 demonstrated significantly increased IFN regulatory factor 3 mRNA expression of PRRSV-recalled peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and significantly reduced HP-PRRSV-2 viremia. No difference in PRRSV-specific antibody responses, rectal temperature, clinical scores, and average daily weight gain was detected. Our study reports the immunomodulatory and anti-PRRSV potentials of HC extract in PRRSV-1 MLV-vaccinated/HP-PRRSV-2 challenged pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Used in Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Thailand, Houttuynia cordata Thumb (H. cordata; Saururaceae, HC) is a traditional herbal medicine that possesses favorable antiviral properties. As a potent folk therapy used to treat pulmonary infections, further research is required to fully elucidate the mechanisms of its pharmacological activities and explore its therapeutic potential for treating pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. This study explores the pharmacological mechanism of HC on pneumonia using a network pharmacological approach combined with reprocessing expression profiling by high-throughput sequencing to demonstrate the therapeutic mechanisms of HC for treating pneumonia at a systemic level. The integration of these analyses suggested that target factors are involved in four signaling pathways, including PI3K-Akt, Jak-STAT, MAPK, and NF-kB. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were applied to verify these results, indicating a stable combination between four metabolites (Afzelin, Apigenin, Kaempferol, Quercetin) and six targets (DPP4, ELANE, HSP90AA1, IL6, MAPK1, SERPINE1). These natural metabolites have also been reported to bind with ACE2 and 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2, respectively. The data suggest that HC exerts collective therapeutic effects against pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 and provides a theoretical basis for further study of the active drug-like ingredients and mechanism of HC in treating pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a hot buffer soluble Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide (HBHP-3) with a molecular weight of 397.4 kDa was isolated from H. cordata. HBHP-3 was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, glucose, galactose and galacturonic acid with molar ratio of 16.0:12.6:4.6:18.1:15.6. Structural analysis showed that the main chain of HBHP-3 was composed of →2)- α -L-Rha p -(1→, →4)- α -D-Gal p A-(1→ and →4)- β -D-Gal p -(1→. There were branched chains of α -L-Ara f -(1→, →5)- α -L-Ara f -(1→, →4)- α -D-Glc p -(1→, →6)- β -D-Gal p -(1→, β -D-Gal p -(1→ connected to the O -4 positions of →2)- α -L-Rha p -(1→. HBHP-3 effectively inhibited the secretion of NO and the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner in macrophages. HBHP-3 inhibited the phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα proteins as well, illustrating that HBHP-3 exerted its anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB pathway. • A polysaccharide (HBHP-3) was isolated from Houttuynia cordata. • The structure of HBHP-3 was characterized. • HBHP-3 showed excellent inhibitory effect on the production of NO, iNOS, IL-1β and TNF-α. • HBHP-3 inhibited the activation of NF-κB pathway in macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Houttuynia cordata is a medicinal and edible plant with a wide biological interest. Many parts were discarded due to various modes of consumption, resulting in resource waste. In this study, a comprehensive study was conducted on various edible indicators and medicinal components of Houttuynia cordata to understand its edible and medicinal value. The edible indexes of each root, stem, and leaf were determined, and the metabolites of different parts were investigated using the headspace solid-phase micro-extraction technique (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The differential metabolites were screened by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and clustering analysis. The results of the study showed that the parts of Houttuynia cordata with high edibility values as a vegetable were mainly the roots and leaves, with the highest vitamin C content in the roots and the highest total flavonoids, soluble sugars, and total protein in the leaves. The nutrient content of all the stems of Houttuynia cordata was lower and significantly different from the roots and leaves (p < 0.05). In addition, 209 metabolites were isolated from Houttuynia cordata, 135 in the roots, 146 in the stems, 158 in the leaves, and 91 shared metabolites. The clustering analysis and OPLS-DA found that the parts of Houttuynia cordata can be mainly divided into above-ground parts (leaves and stems) and underground parts (roots). When comparing the differential metabolites between the above-ground parts and underground parts, it was found that the most important medicinal component of Houttuynia cordata, 2-undecanone, was mainly concentrated in the underground parts. The cluster analysis resulted in 28 metabolites with up-regulation and 17 metabolites with down-regulation in the underground parts. Most of the main components of the underground part have pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antiviral, which are more suitable for drug development. Furthermore, the above-ground part has more spice components and good antioxidant capacity, which is suitable for the extraction of edible flavors. Therefore, by comparing and analyzing the differences between the edible and medicinal uses of different parts of Houttuynia cordata as a medicinal and food plant, good insights can be obtained into food development, pharmaceutical applications, agricultural development, and the hygiene and cosmetic industries. This paper provides a scientific basis for quality control and clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search and development of new drugs for the treatment of numerous illnesses afflicting humans of all ages is an unending endeavour. Moreover, there is constant demand to identify more compounds exhibiting pharmacological properties with improved efficacy and minimal side effects compared to the existing ones. Plants have always served as rich sources of pharmaceuticals, and offer better advantages than synthetic compounds in terms of diversity, production scale and safety. Houttuynia cordata is a traditional medicinal plant that is widely distributed in East Asia. Apart from its consumption as a delicacy in many countries, it has a rich history of medicinal use and numerous studies have reported its pharmacological activity against inflammation, cancer, viruses, bacteria, hyperglycaemia, obesity, etc. The various phytoconstituents that have been isolated from this plant include flavonoids, phenolic acids, volatile/essential oils and alkaloids whose therapeutic potentials are yet to be fully harnessed. This review provides an updated summary of the biological activity and therapeutic potential of H. cordata, its phytocompounds and derivatives. The amalgamation of traditional plant-derived medicines with modern scientific methods can provide better insights to their mechanism of action and also contribute greatly to the discovery and synthesis of new pharmaceuticals.

This study evaluated the in vitro antiviral activities and the ex vivo immunomodulatory effects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (HC) ethanolic extracts in response to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). In addition, this study evaluated the in vivo effects of oral supplementation of HC extract on immune responses to and cross-protective efficacy of PRRSV-1 modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine against the highly pathogenic (HP)-PRRSV-2 challenge. In vitro experiments demonstrated that HC extracted in either 50%, 70%, or 95% ethanol (referred to as HC50, HC70, and HC95, respectively) significantly interfered with PRRSV replication in MARC-145 cells. Ex vivo experiments revealed that all HC extracts significantly enhanced mRNA expressions of type I interferon-regulated genes, type I and II interferon (IFN), and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in HP-PRRSV-2-inoculated monocyte-derived macrophages. An in vivo experiment included four groups of six pigs (4 weeks old; n = 24). Group 1 and group 2 were vaccinated with the PRRSV-1 MLV vaccine at 0 dpv (day post vaccination). Group 2 also received oral administration of HC50 extract at 0–49 dpv. Group 3 received the PRRSV-1 MLV vaccine solvent at 0 dpv, while group 4 served as strict control. Groups 1–3 were challenged intranasally with HP-PRRSV-2 at 28 dpv and immune-related and clinical parameters were monitored weekly until 49 dpv. Compared to group 1, group 2 demonstrated significantly increased IFN regulatory factor 3 mRNA expression of PRRSV-recalled peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and significantly reduced HP-PRRSV-2 viremia. No difference in PRRSV-specific antibody responses, rectal temperature, clinical scores, and average daily weight gain was detected. Our study reports the immunomodulatory and anti-PRRSV potentials of HC extract in PRRSV-1 MLV-vaccinated/HP-PRRSV-2 challenged pigs.

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) has attracted great interest over the past few years owing to its great capacity and versatility for the breakdown of developing antibiotic contaminants. It is under intensive investigation for its potential for alternative advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in wastewater treatment. In this study, we used activated cobalt-doped carbon as a new and excellent metal catalyst to activate PMS. The synthesis of novel Co3O4@C-900 hybrids with numerous active interfaces and superior surface electron transfer was achieved. Co3O4@C-900 and carbon matrix mixed evenly to create a stable catalytic structure. The Co3O4@C-900 structure equipped them with enhanced catalytic efficacy, thus decreasing environmental harm during actual Chlortetracycline (CTC) degradation. The CTC removal rate reached 100% within 10 min, exhibiting outstanding stability and high efficiency of Co3O4@C-900 hybrids. Additionally, we elucidated the PMS activation mechanism by Co3O4@C-900 via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, radical quenching studies, and characterization analyses. Free radical quenching experiments and EPR spectroscopy revealed that the degradation of CTC by the Co3O4@C-900 PMS system was a concomitant process of free-radical and non-radical reactions. The free-radical reactions were based on the activation of PMS by Co3O4@C-900 to generate O·2-, SO·4- and ·OH, whereas the non-radical reactions were based on the activation of PMS by C to generate the active species 1O2. Therefore, this study presents Co3O4@C-900 as a promising candidate for PMS activation and also demonstrates a novel mechanism of CTC degradation.

Cadmium (Cd) pollutes 7.0 % of China's land area. This study examined the potential of Houttuynia cordata for Cd phytoremediation because of its ability to accumulate Cd in its growth matrix. H. cordata were planted in plastic pots filled with paddy field soils having low (LCd), medium (MCd), and high (HCd) Cd levels of 0.19, 0.69, and 2.91 mg/kg, respectively. After six months of growth, harvested plant parts were evaluated for Cd uptake and tolerance mechanisms. Metabolomics and metagenomics approaches were employed to investigate the soil rhizosphere mechanism. Results showed that the average plant biomass increased as soil Cd increased. The biomass Cd contents surpassed the allowable Cd limits for food (≤ 0.2 mg/kg) and medicinal uses (≤ 0.3 mg/kg). Cd contents were higher in H. cordata roots (30.59–86.27 mg/kg) than in other plant parts (0.63–2.90 mg/kg), with significantly increasing values as Cd soil level increased. Phenolic acids, lipids, amino acids and derivatives, organic acids, and alkaloids comprised the majority (69 in MCd vs HCd and 73 % in LCd vs HCd) of the shared upregulated metabolites. In addition, 13 metabolites specific to H. cordata root exudates were significantly increased. The top two principal metabolic pathways were arginine and proline metabolism, and beta-alanine metabolism. H. cordata increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Glomeromycota across all three Cd levels, and also stimulated the growth of Patescibacteria , Rozellomycota , and Claroideoglomus in HCd. Accordingly, H. cordata demonstrated potential for remediation of Cd-contaminated soils, and safety measures for its production and food use must be highly considered. [Display omitted] • High Cd soil enhanced H. cordata growth and increased Cd uptake. • H. cordata roots in high Cd soil exuded amino, phenolic, and organic acids. • Root secretion of acids elevated the dissolution and mobility of soil elements. • Rhizosphere microbes contributed to Cd uptake and passivation by H. cordata roots. • Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provided nutrients for H. cordata growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]