Houttuynia cordata, is a perennial herb belonging to the family Saururaceae. Houttuynia cordata is widely distributed in Asian countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan, and plays an important role in traditional health care and disease improvement.
The aboveground stems and leaves of Houttuynia cordata have a long history of medicinal use in China. The Compendium of Materia Medica records that Houttuynia cordata can "dissipate heat, poison, carbuncle, and detoxify natrium", and the Classification of Herbal Properties records that Houttuynia cordata "treats five stranguria, eliminates edema, removes food accumulation, replenishes weakness, and eliminates swelling". In clinical medicine, it is usually combined with other drugs to improve dysentery, colds, fever, and mumps. Modern pharmacological experiments have also shown that Houttuynia cordata has antibacterial, immunity-enhancing, and diuretic effects. In 2002, Houttuynia cordata was included in the "List of Items that are Both Food and Medicine" by the National Health Commission of China, officially becoming a medicine and food of the same origin.
Due to its antibacterial and other effects, Houttuynia cordata is deeply loved by people and has been widely consumed by the people, especially in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan. It can be used for cold dishes, porridge and stews. However, the decanoyl acetaldehyde component in Houttuynia cordata has a special fishy smell, and even tastes a bit fishy or bitter, which makes some people unacceptable. Therefore, Houttuynia cordata is also a kind of medicine and food that people "love and hate".
The effect of Houttuynia cordata
The chemical components isolated from Houttuynia cordata include volatile oils (bornyl acetate, β-myrcene, ethyl caprate, etc.), alkaloids (Houttuynia cordata saponin A, etc.), flavonoids (Houttuynia cordata A, etc.) , quercetin, etc.) and phenolic acid compounds (caffeic acid derivatives, chlorogenic acid, etc.), among which volatile oils and flavonoids are the main components of Houttuynia cordata’s pharmacological activity [2].
Protect the intestinal tract: Studies have found that the polysaccharides and houttuynin sodium in Houttuynia cordata have a protective effect on intestinal flora. The Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide extract can significantly reduce intestinal goblet cells, upregulate intestinal sIgA and tight Expression of connexin (ZO-1) to strengthen intestinal mechanical and immune barriers. Zhang et al. demonstrated that houttuynin sodium repaired the intestinal barrier by regulating the tissue distribution of tight junction proteins and reduced inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. These results indicate that Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide and Houttuynia cordata sodium enhance the intestinal barrier and exert intestinal protective effects by regulating intestinal flora and inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway [2].
Immune regulation: The polysaccharide HCP-2 isolated from Houttuynia cordata can regulate the expression of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell T cells at a concentration of 0.1 to 25 μg/ml, making the immune molecule interleukin-1β (IL-1β) , the levels of macrophage inhibitory proteins-1α and -1β are significantly increased, effectively enhancing the body's immunity.
Has anti-inflammatory activity: Compounds such as sodium houttuydin, flavonoids and polysaccharides in Houttuynia cordata have been used to treat pneumonia. Oral administration of quercetin (a flavonoid) extracted from Houttuynia Cordata reduces the amount of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Houttuynia cordata sodium inhibits intestinal inflammation caused by Salmonella typhimurium by upregulating tight junction proteins between intestinal mucosal cells and signaling pathways leading to interleukin production. A study found that Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide (HBHP-3) isolated from Houttuynia cordata is an active ingredient that inhibits mRNA expression and is involved in inflammatory activity and nitric oxide secretion, thereby reducing in a dose-dependent manner Inflammation[3][4].
Protect the lungs: The anti-inflammatory activity of Houttuynia cordata plays an indispensable role in alleviating lung diseases. This may be related to the flavonoids, sodium houttuynia cordata and polysaccharides in Houttuynia cordata. In the model, oral administration of 100 mg/ml quercetin from Houttuynia Cordata can significantly reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6). In addition, Houttuynia Cordata polysaccharide helps reduce lung injury by reducing pulmonary edema and protein leakage in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [4].
Houttuynia products have great potential
Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, contemporary consumers' health awareness continues to improve, and the global market demand for natural plant products continues to rise. Houttuynia is also favored for its natural and safe characteristics. According to relevant data statistics from China Report Hall and Fact.MR, the global houttuynia market size in 2022 is about US$120 million, and the compound annual growth rate of houttuynia products in the forecast period of 2021-2031 will exceed 10%.
This article was independently created and published by Herbfields.net.