Houttuynia cordata (Heartleaf · Hair Follicle)

INTRODUCTION: Dermatophytes are a group of common pathogenic fungi that infect the skin, nails, and hair of humans and other animals, affecting approximately 25% of the global human population. Their antifungal resistance has intensified, underscoring the urgent need for novel antifungal agents. Sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH), a derivative of the Houttuynia cordata Thunb., a plant native to Southeast Asian, shows broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, but its effects on dermatophytes are unclear. METHODS: The in vitro activity of SNH against Trichophyton mentagrophytes standard strain ATCC MYA-4439 and Trichophyton rubrum clinical strain S136 was evaluated through broth dilution assays, growth assays on solid medium, conidia germination rate assessments, biomass quantification, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production assay, with its mechanism further investigated by RNA-seq and qPCR. RESULTS: SNH exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration of 100 μg/ml against both strains, significantly suppressing colony expansion, conidia germination, biomass and promoting the production of ROS. Transcriptome analysis revealed SNH upregulated peroxisome biogenesis gene (PEX5) while downregulating superoxide dismutase (SOD), and dysregulated key energy metabolism genes (ICL, HK, GLU). DISCUSSION: These findings demonstrate that SNH possesses potent antifungal activity against dermatophytes, primarily by disrupting redox homeostasis and interfering with energy metabolism. This provides a theoret

Houttuynia cordata (HC) is a traditional oriental herbal medicinal plant widely used as a component of complex prescriptions in Asia for alopecia treatment. The effect of HC on hair growth and its underlying mechanism, however, have not been demonstrated or clarified. In this study, we investigated the hair growth promoting effect of HC in cultured human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs). HC extract was found to stimulate the proliferation of hDPCs and this stimulation might be in part a consequence of activated cellular energy metabolism, because treatment of HC extract increased the generation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and ATP through increasing the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ). In the context of cell cycle, HC extract increased the expression of CDK4 and decreased the expression of CCNA2 and CCNB1, implying that HC extract might induce G1 phase progression of DPCs which resulted in enhanced proliferation. HC extract increased the expression of Bcl2 essential for maintaining hair follicle anagen stage and cell survival. On the contrary, the expression of p16 and p21 was down-regulated by HC extract. In addition, HC extract enhanced the secretion of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-aa and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and AKT. Furthermore, HC extract prolonged anagen stage in organ cultured human hair follicles. Our data strongly suggest that HC extract could support hair growth by stimulating proliferation of DPCs and elongating anagen stage, resulted from enhanced cellular energy metabolism and modulation of gene expression related to cell cycle, apoptosis, and growth factors.

BACKGROUND: Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HC) is a traditional herbal medicine widely used in Asia for the treatment of patients with alopecia, usually in combination with other two herbal medicines (Perilla frutescens var. acuta (PFVA) and green tea (GT)). However, the effect of this herbal complex has not been clearly demonstrated. We sought to determine the hair growth-promoting effect of this herbal complex (HC, PFVA, and GT) in the animal model. METHODS: Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (negative control, finasteride (1 mg/kg) as a positive control, and two (200 and 400 mg/kg) concentrations of the herbal complex as experimental groups) and were fed its corresponding medications orally for 25 days. Hair growth was evaluated visually and microscopically. Western blot analysis for insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and transf

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) features oxidative stress, macrophage dysfunction, and barrier disruption, with limited safe therapies. Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (PENs) delivered noninvasively to the lung are promising but understudied. Methods: In vitro, HELNs were evaluated for their ability to scavenge ROS, restore mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) modulate M1/M2 polarization, and suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines. RNA-seq was also used to evaluate the TNF/NOD-like pathway and mitochondrial-related gene expression. In vivo, the evaluated parameters included biodistribution, therapeutic outcomes (lung wet/dry weight ratio, BALF protein concentration, MPO and MDA levels, histology), immune cell profiles, and cytokines. Biosafety was assessed via hematology, serum biochemistry, and histology. Results: In vitro, HELNs acted dose-dependently by scavenging ROS, recovering MMP, promoting M2 and suppressing M1 polarization, and reducing TNF-α, IL-6 release. Additionally, RNA-seq confirmed downregulation of TNF/NOD-like signals and regulated mitochond

Clean-label natural antioxidants are increasingly important for limiting meat quality deterioration caused by protein oxidation. However, the effects of lactic acid bacteria fermentation on plant-derived antioxidants remain unclear. This study investigated Lactiplantibacillus paraplantarum L-ZS9 fermentation on phenolic transformation of Houttuynia cordata and its protection against myofibrillar protein oxidation. Fermentation increased total polyphenols 2.45-fold, with flavonoids peaking on day 5, and increased isoquercitrin, rutin, and quercitrin while reducing hyperoside; isoquercitrin and rutin showed the strongest correlations with antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity increased 61-100% in DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide scavenging assays. FHC6 dose-dependently suppressed carbonylation, maintained solubility, reduced surface hydrophobicity, and restored intrinsic fluorescence. Protective effects may involve reactive oxygen species scavenging, interactions between oxidized phenolics and protein thiols, and inhibition of aggregation by glycosylated flavonols. These indicated L-ZS9 fermentation enhanced the antioxidant and protein-protective properties of H. cordata, highlighting its potential as a clean-label antioxidant for muscle foods. © 2026 The Authors.

polyglutamic acid-functionalized carbon dots improve Cadmium tolerance in Houttuynia cordata by reducing Cadmium accumulation, restoring physiological functions, and reshaping rhizosphere microbial communities. Cadmium (Cd) pollution significantly inhibits the growth and development of H. cordata and poses a serious threat to the safe production of this medicinal plant. In this study, polyglutamic acid-functionalized carbon dots (PGA-CDs) were synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and the mechanism of their role in alleviating Cd stress in H. cordata was systematically investigated. The results showed that compared with the Cd group, the biomass of H. cordata in the Cd+PGA-CDs group significantly increased, and the Cd2+ concentration in the plant decreased. At the same time, PGA-CDs effectively removed reactive oxygen species and regulated the activity of related antioxidant enzymes to alleviate oxidative damage. Moreover, PGA-CDs significantly alleviated the damage to the ultrastructure of chloroplasts caused by Cd stress and enhanced the photosynthetic capacity of the plants. Transcriptome analysis indicated that PGA-CDs treatment significantly changed the expression patterns of genes related to photosynthesis, secondary metabolism, lipid metabolism, and signal response, and regulated the expression of multiple transcription facto

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) are immune-mediated ocular surface diseases in which itching, conjunctival hyperemia, tearing, mucus secretion, epithelial injury and recurrence may substantially affect comfort and quality of life. Standard care is based on allergen avoidance, lubricants, topical antihistamines, mast-cell stabilizers, corticosteroids and topical immunomodulators when clinically indicated. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) modalities are used in some clinical settings as adjunctive strategies, but their evidence base is heterogeneous and should not be interpreted as a substitute for established ophthalmic therapy. This structured narrative review synthesizes ocular clinical evidence, indirect mechanistic evidence and ocular surface safety considerations for TCM modalities in AC and VKC. Five bibliographic databases-PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, CNKI, Wanfang Data and VIP Database-were searched for literature published from 1 January 2010 to 31 May 2026. The database searches were supplemented by targeted Google Scholar searches, reference-list screening and citation tracking, while earlier landmark sources were retained when clinically or mechanistically relevant. The retrieved clinical evidence was concentrated in AC/SAC/PAC and VKC. No eligible AKC- or GPC-specific TCM clinical studies were identified within the search scope; these conditions are therefore discussed only for contextual and safety relevance. Oral herbal formulas and integrated TCM-

Bovine Mycoplasma bovis pneumonia (MBP) is an important component of bovine respiratory disease, and its management is complicated by persistent infection and antimicrobial stewardship concerns. Houttuynia cordata Thunb. has reported anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities, but its potential host-directed mechanisms in MBP remain unclear. This in silico study used network pharmacology and molecular docking to identify candidate compounds, common drug-disease targets, enriched biological functions, and predicted ligand-target interactions. A total of 145 putative targets of H. cordata and 474 MBP-associated disease targets were obtained from TCMSP, GeneCards, OMIM, and CTD, yielding 43 common drug-disease targets. Dual-confidence STRING analysis, cytoHubba ranking, and MCODE module analysis prioritized TNF, IL6, IL1B, PTGS2, PPARG, IFNG, CASP3, and MMP9 as candidate core targets. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment indicated convergence on cytokine-mediated signaling, inflammatory response, immune regulation, oxidative stress, IL-17 signaling, and TNF signaling. Molecular docking suggested favorable predicted interactions for quercitrin-PTGS2, quercetin-TNF, quercetin-IL6, and quercitrin-CASP3. These computational findings suggest that H. cordata may be associated with host inflammatory and immune-response modulation in MBP, mainly through flavonoid-related interactions with inflammation- and apoptosis-related targets. Further bovine-specific experimental validatio

Effective healing of diabetic wounds requires comprehensive management of bacterial infection, modulation of excessive inflammation, and promotion of cellular proliferation. Current clinical strategies include systemic blood glucose control combined with localized interventions such as debridement, antibiotic regimens, and advanced wound dressings. However, the efficacy of these strategies is often limited by challenges like antibiotic resistance. To overcome these challenges, we developed an anti-infection and immunoregulatory hydrogel loaded with two bioactive nanopreparations derived from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (H. cordata). The one component, comprising carbon dots (CDs) synthesized via hydrothermal method using H. cordata and then modified with polyethylenimine (PEI) to form PEI-modified CDs (PCDs), demonstrates potent antibacterial activity. The other consists of plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) that exhibit strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, effectively reducing reactive oxygen species levels, attenuating inflammatory responses, and promoting fibroblast proliferation and migration. These two components were co-incorporated into methylacrylated gelatin (GelMA) to form composite termed Gel@P&E. This system enables the sustained release of both PCDs and EVs, thereby coordinately regulating inflammation and facilitating tissue regeneration. In summary, this study successfully constructs multifunctional hydrogel platform that integrates anti-infective and immunoregulatory functions, presenting an alternative therapeutic strategy for diabetic wounds management. © 2026 American Chemical Society.

The gut-skin axis plays a crucial role in mediating systemic immune and metabolic responses, particularly in allergic disorders. This study investigated the protective effects of three natural extracts-Heartleaf Houttuynia P.E. (HH), green tea polyphenols (GTP), and Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE)-against ovalbumin (OVA)-induced intestinal and cutaneous damage in feline cells via the gut-skin axis. Feline intestinal epithelial cells (FIECs) were exposed to OVA to establish an injury model, and their conditioned medium was transferred to feline skin cells (FSCs) to simulate inter-organ crosstalk. Among the tested compounds, all three extracts alleviated OVA-induced barrier dysfunction in both tissues, with HH exhibiting the strongest protective effects. HH significantly attenuated OVA-induced inflammation (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), oxidative stress (SOD, CAT, GSH, MDA), and disruption of barrier integrity (mucins, tight junction proteins, filaggrin, loricrin) in both FIECs and FSCs. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that OVA disrupted core metabolic pathways-including pyrimidine metabolism, carbon metabolism, and quorum sensing-and activated inflammatory signaling networks such as TNF and IL-17. HH intervention effectively reversed these alterations by restoring folate biosynthesis, nicotinate metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and nucleocytoplasmic transport, while suppressing pro-inflammatory lipid mediators and bacterial quorum signals. Notably, HH modulated gut-skin communication by reprogramming both metabolic and transcriptional landscapes, thereby promoting cellular repair and homeostasis. These findings demonstrate that HH exerts multi-target protective effects on the feline gut-skin axis, highlighting its potential

The global phasing-out of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) has catalyzed an urgent search for efficacious and sustainable alternatives to maintain livestock health and productivity. Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (HC), a traditional pharmacophagous herb has emerged, as a promising candidate due to its pleiotropic bioactive profile. This review outlines the molecular mechanisms and clinical efficacy of HC extracts (HCE) as multifunctional feed additives. We elucidate that HCE, rich in volatile oils, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, systemically modulates host physiology by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling axis while concurrently suppressing hyper-inflammation via the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways. Crucially, HCE reinforces epithelial integrity across various biological barriers (intestinal and mammary) through the upregulation of tight junction proteins. Across diverse production systems, HCE has significant efficacy under experimental conditions. In ruminants, it alleviates heat stress-induced redox imbalance and mitigates mastitis. In monogastric species, it enhances viral resistance (notably against PRRSV) and optimizes meat quality. In aquaculture, it fortifies non-specific mucosal immunity against viral challenges. Despite technical hurdl

INTRODUCTION: The aqueous extract preparation of Houttuynia cordata, known as H. cordata injection (HCI), is frequently utilized for its antibacterial infection, i.e., Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Nevertheless, the precise anti-infective mechanism of HCI remains unclear. Here, we aim to elucidate the mechanism by which HCI combats pulmonary infection caused by P. aeruginosa. METHODS: The models of P. aeruginosa biofilm formation, murine acute lung infection, and macrophage cell co-culture caused by P. aeruginosa were established to evaluate the mechanism of HCI intervention in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: First, this study found that HCI modestly inhibits P. aeruginosa growth in vitro but effectively suppresses virulence factors. In vivo, HCI showed therapeutic efficacy in murine acute lung infection and Galleria mellonella infection models by reducing bacterial load, protecting lung tissue, and suppressing inflammation. Network pharmacology suggested the TLR4 and NF- κB pathways are important in HCI's action against P. aeruginosa pneumonia. Mechanistically, early HCI exposure induced LPS release from bacteria, promoted M1 macrophage polarization, enhanced secretion of effector molecules, upregulated TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling, and increased bacterial phagocytosis in Raw264.7 and THP-1 cells. Interestingly, prolonged HCI treatment inhibited LPS-induced TLR4/My

In Chinese traditional medicine, Houttuynia cordata is used as an ethnomedicinal plant that has many therapeutic uses in this age-old healing method. With its antioxidant properties, this medicinal plant plays a crucial role in safeguarding body cells against various potential damages. More recently, silver nanoparticles green-mediated by ethnomedicinal plants have emerged as a promising treatment option for various ailments. We have conducted an examination of the silver nanoparticles produced through green synthesis methods following the green chemistry principles, utilizing the H. cordata leaf aqueous extract to remove the lung cancer cells. Various techniques including FE-SEM, EDX, UV-Vis, FT-IR, and TEM were employed to analyze the green-synthesized Ag NPs. Based on the results of TEM and FE-SEM, the nanoparticles' spherical shape, size range of 10 to 40 nm and average size of 26.55 nm have been verified. Ag NPs produced biologically were evaluated against lung carcinoma (HLC-1, A549, DMS273 and PC-14) cells. The MTT assay demonstrated that the Ag NPs possess remarkable anti-lung cancer properties dose-dependently. The IC50 values for the Ag NPs on HLC-1, A549, DMS273 and PC-14 lung carcinoma cells were 83, 78, 130 and 43 µg/mL, respectively. The DPPH technique was used to evaluate Ag NPs' antioxidant activity. Based on the IC50 value (64 µg/mL), it was observed that the nanoparticles exhibited significant antioxidant potential. Recent silver nanoparticles exhibit the an

Cytokine storm is a critical determinant of mortality in viral pneumonia. The TLR3-NF-κB signaling pathway mediates excessive inflammatory responses, with IL-6 as a key effector molecule. This study aimed to identify natural compounds capable of attenuating cytokine storm through modulation of this signaling axis. Network pharmacology was employed to screen active components from Houttuynia cordata and identify therapeutic targets for viral pneumonia. Molecular docking evaluated binding affinities between candidate compounds and core targets. A Poly(I:C)-induced inflammatory model in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells was established to validate protective effects and molecular mechanisms. Post-treatment experiments were conducted to evaluate therapeutic (vs. preventive) efficacy of quercetin. siRNA-mediated knockdown of TLR3 and TRIF was performed to verify pathway dependence. An epithelial-macrophage (BEAS-2B/THP-1) co-culture model and primary normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells were employed to enhance physiological relevance. Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) was used to confirm direct target engagement of quercetin with NF-κB p65 and TLR3. Comparative experiments with other Houttuynia cordata flavonoids (isorhamnetin and kaempferol) were conducted to validate the unique contribution of quercetin. Among nine active compo

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening respiratory condition with limited therapeutic options, requiring safer and more effective therapeutic strategies. This study aims to invest

During the extraction process of Houttuynia cordata polysaccharides (HCPs), different extraction methods significantly influence their structural characteristics, thereby influencing their biological activities. This study compared the structural differences of HCPs prepared by five extraction methods (hot water, ultrasound-assisted, enzymatic, acid, and alkaline extraction) and evaluated in vitro antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of HCPs. An orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model was applied to analyze the relationship between extraction techniques and structural characteristics of HCPs. The results revealed that distinct extraction methods primarily influenced molecular weight, degree of methylation (DM), and galacturonic acid (GalA) content of HCPs. Ultrasound, enzyme, and alkali treatments all disrupted the GalA structure, increased the molar ratio of neutral sugars, and reduced both molecular weight and DM. Notably, alkali-extracted HCPs exhibited the lowest molar ratio of GalA, the most significant reductions in DM (6.43%) and molecular weight (119 kDa). In contrast, acid extraction preserved relatively high DM (45.08%) and molecular weight (236 kD

Intestinal adhesion is one of the most prevalent clinical conditions, affecting millions of patients globally. However, effective strategies to decrease the incidence of intestinal adhesion remain insufficient. In this study, we developed a novel and unreported dual-functional methacrylated gelatin (nhGelMA) that can regulate inflammation and antifibrotic functions by integrating gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), Houttuynia cordata extract, and nintedanib. First, optimal concentrations of GelMA hydrogels were prepared and screened, followed by the selection of appropriate concentrations of Houttuynia cordata extract and nintedanib to prepare the final nhGelMA. Subsequently, nhGelMA was characterized, and its biocompatibility and biological functions were analyzed. The results indicated that nhGelMA exhibited good biocompatibility, no organ toxicity, and the ability to modulate the expression level of inflammation and fibronectin (FN). Finally, nhGelMA hydrogel was applied in the preventive treatment of hemorrhagic intestinal adhesion, and the results indicated that nhGelMA effectively reduced the deposition of FN, laminin (LAMA), and collagen type I (Col1), as well as decreased the infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils, thereby preventing the occurrence of intestinal adhesion. Importantly, the further transcriptomics demonstrated that nhGelMA could regulate protein digestion, absorption, and adhesion, as well as reconstruct the anatomical structure, contributing to the alleviation of hemorrhagic intestinal adhesion.

The present study investigates the effect of carboxymethylation modi

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Inflammation is a fundamental component of the immune response in host defense against pathogens and during tissue repair. Houttuynia cordata (HC), a herbaceous plant used in traditional Asian medicine, has significant anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. However, the underlying mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effects of HC are not fully understood. In this study, the immunomodulatory potential and macrophage polarization-modulating effects of HC were evaluated with a focus on cell signaling molecule expression, inflammatory cytokine production and macrophage polarization, with the aim of revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects and therapeutic potential of HC. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: We investigated the effects of HC extract on proinflammatory cytokine production, signaling pathway activity, macrophage surface marker expression, morphology, and phagocytic activity under different treatment conditions in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with LPS alone, HC treatment before LPS stimulation significantly reduced IL-1β, TNF-α, nuclear NF-κB, and pERK levels while increasing TGF-β levels. Compared with HC pretreatment, HC treatment after LPS stimulation further d

Background: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a major complication in liver surgery with limited therapeutic options. Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide (HCP), a key bioactive component of the traditional anti-inflammatory herb, has demonstrated immunomodulatory potential, but its effect on HIRI remains unclear. Methods: A murine model of 70% hepatic ischemia for 60 min followed by reperfusion was established. Mice were administered low-dose (50 mg/kg) or high-dose (100 mg/kg) HCP or the positive control N-acetylcysteine (150 mg/kg). Liver injury was assessed by serum ALT/AST levels, histopathology, oxidative stress markers, and inflammatory cytokines. Macrophage polarization and the TLR4/NF-κB pathway were analyzed using flow cytometry, qPCR, and Western blot. The TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242 was used for reverse validation, and molecular docking was performed to predict HCP binding to the TLR4/MD-2 complex. Results: HCP significantly attenuated HIRI-induced liver injury, as shown by reduce

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is one of the most common opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, poses severe clinical risks for individuals with compromised immune systems, particularly concerning lung infections. Sodium houttuyfonate (SH), an active constituent isolated from Houttuynia cordata, exhibits limited direct antibacterial efficacy in vitro yet demonstrates notable therapeutic effects against bacterial infections in vivo. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms underlying in vivo antibacterial pharmacological activity of SH remain unclear. Thus, here we investigate the mechanism by which SH alleviates P. aeruginosa-induced acute pulmonary infection, focusing on its influence on macrophage polarization signaling pathways. First, our findings demonstrate that SH effectively alleviated P. aeruginosa-induced acute pulmonary infection in mice, as evidenced by reduced inflammatory infiltration and alveolar damage in vivo. The results indicate that SH significantly modulated the expression of inflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, TGF-β, Arg-1) and key signaling molecules (NF-κB, TLR4, STAT6, p38MAPK). In vitro, 24-h SH treatment decreased NO production and attenuated macrophage phago

Ephedra and Houttuynia Herb Powder (MHYXD) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula widely used in veterinary medicine to treat respiratory infections, such as mycoplasma pneumonia in calves, although its active components and pharmacological mechanisms have remained unclear. To address this, the present study identified the bioactive compounds in MHYXD using LC-MS, which revealed a total of 32 active compounds, with ephedrine, quercetin, and houttuynin being the most prominent. Network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches were employed to predict potential targets and pathways, indicating that MHYXD acts on multiple targets-including TNF-α, IL-6, and TLR4-and regulates the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways; molecular docking further confirmed strong binding affinities between key compounds and these target proteins. The antimycoplasma and anti-inflammatory effects of key components were validated through in vitro and in vivo experiments, which demonstrated that MHYXD significantly reduced mycoplasma load and alleviated lung inflammation in calves. In conclusion, this study elucidates the multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway mechanisms of MHYXD in treating Mycoplasma pneumonia, thereby providing a scientific basis for its clinical application in veterinary medicine. © 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.