Phytopharmacological Applications of Houttuynia Cordata

Houttuynia cordata Thunb., a perennial herb native to East and Southeast Asia, has garnered considerable attention for its rich phytochemical repertoire and diverse pharmacological activities. Traditionally employed in the management of respiratory infections, dysentery and skin ailments, modern investigations have identified volatile oils, flavonoids, phenolic acids and alkaloids as key bioactive constituents. These compounds collectively exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumour, antidiabetic and hypolipidemic properties. Mechanistic studies indicate modulation of intracellular signalling networks such as NF-κB, MAPK and Nrf2 pathways, alongside inhibition of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Preclinical models demonstrate the herb’s potential in metabolic syndrome, skin barrier repair and chemoprevention, while chromatographic quality-control protocols ensure standardisation for clinical translation. The global significance of H. cordata lies in its multifunctional applications and favourable safety profile, positioning it as a promising candidate for phytopharmacological development.

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Phytopharmacological Applications of Houttuynia Cordata publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in phytopharmacological applications of houttuynia cordata across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Phytopharmacology: Study of the pharmacological actions and therapeutic potential of plant-derived compounds.

Flavonoid: Class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Ethanolic extract: Concentrated solution of plant constituents obtained by solvent extraction using ethanol.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetic model: Animal model of type 1 diabetes generated by pancreatic β-cell toxicity of streptozotocin.

MAPK/NF-κB signalling pathway: Intracellular cascades regulating inflammatory gene expression and cellular stress responses.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC): Analytical technique for separation, identification and quantification of chemical constituents in complex mixtures.

References

1. Impacts of Plu kaow (Houttuynia cordata Thunb.) Ethanolic Extract on Diabetes and Dyslipidemia in STZ Induced Diabetic Rats: Phytochemical Profiling, Cheminformatics Analyses, and Molecular Docking Studies. Antioxidants (2024).
2. Inhibition of LPS-Induced Skin Inflammatory Response and Barrier Damage via MAPK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway by Houttuynia cordata Thunb Fermentation Broth. Foods (2024).
3. RP-HPLC-Based Flavonoid Profiling Accompanied with Multivariate Analysis: An Efficient Approach for Quality Assessment of Houttuynia cordata Thunb Leaves and Their Commercial Products. Molecules (2023).
4. Pharmacological Effects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata): A Comprehensive Review. Pharmaceuticals (2022).