Houttuynia cordata (Pwèv-Chin) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Houttuynia cordata (Pwèv-Chin, Chinese pepper, poivre de Chine) — family Saururacées.

Scientific synonyms : Houttuynia cordata f. viridis-Ohara, H emeiensis-ZY Zhu & SL Zhang, H foetida-Loudon, Polypara cordata -Kuntze..

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 17 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The Lapo v2 catalogue records 193 scientific references for this species (full detail in the application).

Important — scientific references on this public page: only a short excerpt of each cited source is shown (selected abstract sentences), kept in the original language of the publication (most often English), without translation. These excerpts are not the full article text and are not a complete bibliography. The full reference records and complete monographic detail are available in the Lapo v2 application (free 30-day trial).

1. 1

   Type II diabetes mellitus

   Plant part used: Sheet.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to SAKULUDOMKAN W (2021)

     Excerpt This study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic effects of fermented HC in high-fat diets & streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Taken together, these results demonstrate that HC can improve diabetic symptoms by enhancing insulin sensitivity, reducing oxidative stress, & suppressing inflammation.

   • According to RAHMAN SS (2025)

     Excerpt To induce diabetes, the rats received an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Objectives: This research aimed to determine the key bioactive components in the ethanolic extract of HC (HCEE) responsible for its thyroid-modifying properties & examine its effects on rats with experimentally induced hypothyroidism & diabetes.

   • According to RAHMAN S (2024)

     Excerpt This study aimed to explore the potential antidiabetic & hypolipidemic effects of Plu kaow (Houttuynia cordata Thunb.) ethanolic extract (PK) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats, focusing on its molecular mechanisms. In conclusion, PK shows promise as a potential treatment or management option for diabetes & hyperlipidemia, as well as their associated complications in diabetic rats.

   • According to Author (2022)

     Excerpt 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.

   • According to Hsu CC (2016)

     Excerpt The anti-glycative & anti-oxidative effects from Houttuynia cordata leaves aqueous extract (HCAE) in heart & kidney of diabetic mice were examined. HCAE reduced reactive oxygen species, protein carbonyl, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, N ε-(carboxymethyl)-lysine, pentosidine & fructose levels, & reserved glutathione content in heart & kidney of diabetic mice (P < 0.05).

2. 2

   Liver problems

   Plant part used: Sheet.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Chen HL (2021)

     Excerpt Houttuynia cordata has been used as a traditional medicine for more than 1500 years. However, long-term use of HCE with large doses exhibited some hepatotoxicity & nephrotoxicity in rats,.

   • According to Kim OK (2002)

     Excerpt This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of Houttuynia cordata Thunb on hepatotoxicity in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxicated rats. The examined effects hexane, chloroform, butanol & water fractions prepared from the Houttuynia cordata Thunb methanol extract & rats were administrated with those orally once a day for successive 6 days, followed by treatment with CCl4 on the sixth day.

   • According to Chen H (2021)

     Excerpt Houttuynia cordata has been used as a traditional medicine for more than 1500 years. However, long-term use of HCE with large doses exhibited some hepatotoxicity & nephrotoxicity in rats.

   • According to Tian L (2012)

     Excerpt This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant activity, hepatoprotective effect, & phenolic composition of the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) extracted from Houttuynia cordata tea. These results combined with liver histopathology indicate that EAF possesses a significant protective effect against acute hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4, which may be due to the strong antioxidant activity of phenolic components.

   • According to SUKAR S (2023)

     Excerpt Houttuynia cordata (Thunb.), an important medicinal plant of Northeast India, Korea, & China, is used to treat various ailments & for anticancer research. Network pharmacology analysis of the 14 compounds showed interaction with 232 different targets with their potential involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma.

3. 3

   Cancer: squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

   Plant part used: Whole plant.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Gao L (2021)

     Excerpt Most of reports of its anti-cancer activity were conducted in vitro, & its effects on cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has not been investigated yet. Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) is a medicinal & edible herb which has beneficial effects on various diseases due to its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-cancer & anti-diabetic properties.

   • According to SUKAR S (2023)

     Excerpt Houttuynia cordata (Thunb.), an important medicinal plant of Northeast India, Korea, & China, is used to treat various ailments & for anticancer research. Whole extracts impart cytotoxicity on variety of cell lines including HepG2.

   • According to Subhawa S (2020)

     Excerpt In this study, the inhibitory effects of HCT & PR ethanolic extracts on breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion & apoptosis were examined. Additionally, HCT & PR extracts also decreased the migration & invasion of both breast cancer cell lines through inhibition of MMP-2 & MMP-9 secretion.

   • According to Pawinwongchai J (2011)

     Excerpt Houttuynia cordata, a local plant in Northern Thailand, has many biological activities including anti-cancer, antileukemic, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory & immunomodulatory effects. In addition, our cytokine study found that Hc extract especially HC ethanolic extract substantially reduced the Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α).

   • According to CHEN YF (2021)

     Excerpt Conclusions: The anti-tumor effects of aristolactam BII, aristolactam AII, & noraristolodione on human lung carcinoma A549 cells were via cell cycle arrest & apoptosis. A549 lung cancer cell line was used to evaluate the effects of HC on the cell viability & possible anti-tumor effects.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use, and the <strong>full scientific references</strong> (complete records, not only the short excerpts above) are available in the complete monographic record in the Lapo v2 application.