A Blend of Extracts from Houttuynia cordata, Nelumbo nucifera, and Camellia sinensis Protects Against Ethanol-Induced Liver Damage in C57BL/6 Mice

Evaluating the Efficacy of Hymexazol in Controlling Globisporangium spinosum, the Newly Identified Pathogen Causing Root Rot in Houttuynia cordata

Houttuynia cordata is a prevalent vegetable in several Asian countries and is commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb for treating various diseases in China. Unfortunately, its yield and quality are adversely affected by root rot. However, the pathogen responsible for the losses remains unidentified, and effective fungicides for its management have not been thoroughly explored. In this work, we demonstrate the first report of Globisporangium spinosum as the causative agent causing root rot of H. cordata. Moreover, we evaluated the efficacy of hymexazol to manage the disease, which displayed remarkable inhibitory effects against mycelial growth of G. spinosum in vitro, with EC50 values as low as 1.336 μg/ml. Furthermore, hymexazol completely inhibited sporangia in G. spinosum at a concentration of 0.3125 μg/ml. Specifically, we observed that hymexazol was highly efficacious in reducing the incidence of H. cordata root rot caused by G. spinosum in a greenhouse setting. These findings offer a potential management tool for utilization of hymexazol in controlling H. cordata root rot in field production.

Houttuynia Cordata Thunb.: A comprehensive review of traditional applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology and safety

BACKGROUND

Houttuynia Cordata Thunb. (H. cordata; Saururaceae) is a medicine food homology plant that is grown in many Asian countries. Its main phytochemical constituents are volatile oils, flavonoids, polysaccharides and alkaloids. It has considerable clinical applications and health benefits.

PURPOSE

This paper reviews the existing literatures and patents, summarizes the phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, safety and economic botanical applications of H. cordata, and provides a reference for systematic study of the pharmacological effects of H. cordata, improvement of quality standards and further development of its medicinal resources.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of literature and patents on H. cordata and its active ingredients published before June 2023 was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and China Knowledge Network.

RESULTS

H. cordata is not only edible and medicinal but also used in various aspects of daily life such as fermented beverages, nutraceuticals, feed and cosmetics. The main phytochemical constituents of H. cordata are volatile oils, flavonoids, organic acids and alkaloids. Several in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials have found that H. cordata extracts possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, hepatoprotective and renal, immunomodulatory and potent antiviral effects. The mechanisms of expression of these pharmacological effects are related to the blood-brain barrier, lipophilicity, cAMP signaling and skin permeability, including blocking the MAPK signaling pathway, inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-1β, and activating the AMPK pathway.

CONCLUSION

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the progress of research on the traditional applications, botany, chemical composition, pharmacological effects and safety of H. cordata and discusses for the first time the economic botanical aspects, which were not explored in the previous reviews. H. cordata has a wide range of bioactive substances whose therapeutic potential has not been fully exploited, and it could provide a new non-toxic approach to many diseases. This traditional medicinal food plant should receive more attention and in-depth research in the future.

Combination of Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P101 alleviates acute liver injury by regulating gut microbiota in mice

BACKGROUND

Polysaccharides and probiotics can play an outstanding role in the treatment of liver disease by regulating gut microbiota. Recently, the combined therapeutic effect of probiotics and polysaccharides has attracted the attention of researchers. Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide (HCP) combined with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P101 was used to prevent carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄ )-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice, and its effect on gut microbiota regulation was explored.

RESULTS

Results showed that, in mice, HCP combined with L. plantarum P101 significantly alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory injury in the liver by activating Nrf2 signals and inhibiting NF-κB signals. The analysis of gut microbiota revealed that the combination of HCP and L. plantarum P101 increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Alloprevotella, Roseburia, and Akkermansia, but reduced that of the pro-inflammatory bacteria Alistipes, Enterorhabdus, Anaerotruncus, and Escherichia-Shigella. Correlation analysis also indicated that the expression of Nrf2 and TLR4/NF-κB was connected to the changes in gut microbiota composition. Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide combined with L. plantarum P101 can regulate the gut microbiota and then mediate the gut-liver axis to activate the antioxidant pathway and inhibit inflammatory responses, thereby alleviating CCl₄ -induced ALI.

CONCLUSION

Our study provided a new perspective on the use of polysaccharides combined with probiotics in the treatment of liver disease. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Houttuynia cordata Thunb: An Ethnopharmacological Review

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata; Saururaceae) is widely distributed in Asian regions. It plays an important role in traditional health care and disease treatment, as its aboveground stems and leaves have a long medicinal history in China and are used in the treatment of pneumonia and lung abscess. In clinical treatment, it can usually be combined with other drugs to treat dysentery, cold, fever, and mumps; additionally, H. cordata is an edible plant. This review summarizes detailed information on the phytochemistry and pharmacological effects of H. cordata. By searching the keywords “H. cordata and lung”, “H. cordata and heart”, “H. cordata and liver”, and “H. cordata and inflammation” in PubMed, Web of Science and ScienceDirect, we screened out articles with high correlation in the past ten years, sorted out the research contents, disease models and research methods of the articles, and provided a new perspective on the therapeutic effects of H. cordata. A variety of its chemical constituents are characteristic of medicinal plants, the chemical constituents were isolated from H. cordata, including volatile oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Flavonoids and volatile oils are the main active components. In pharmacological studies, H. cordata showed organ protective activity, such as reducing the release of inflammatory factors to alleviate lung injury. Moreover, H. cordata regulates immunity, enhances the immune barriers of the vagina, oral cavity, and intestinal tract, and combined with the antibacterial and antiviral activity of its extract, effectively reduces pathogen infection. Furthermore, experiments in vivo and in vitro showed significant anti-inflammatory activity, and its chemical derivatives exert potential therapeutic activity against rheumatoid arthritis. Antitumour action is also an important pharmacological activity of H. cordata, and studies have shown that H. cordata has a notable effect on lung tumour, liver tumour, colon tumour, and breast tumour. This review categorizes the biological activities of H. cordata according to modern research papers, and provides insights into disease prevention and treatment of H. cordata.