• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1977-1981
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• 2012

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) is a native herb found in Southeast Asia which features various pharmacological activities against allergy, inflammation, viral and bacterial infection, and cancer. The aims of this study were to determine the cytotoxic effect of 6 fractions obtained from silica gel column chromatography of alcoholic HCT extract on human leukemic Molt-4 cells and demonstrate mechanisms of cell death. Six HCT fractions were cytotoxic to human lymphoblastic leukemic Molt-4 cells in a dose-dependent manner by MTT assay, fraction 4 exerting the greatest effects. Treatment with $IC_{50}$ of HCT fraction 4 significantly induced Molt-4 apoptosis detected by annexinV-FITC/propidium iodide for externalization of phosphatidylserine to the outer layer of cell membrane. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential was reduced in HCT fraction 4-treated Molt-4 cells. Moreover, decreased expression of Bcl-xl and increased levels of Smac/Diablo, Bax and GRP78 proteins were noted on immunoblotting. In conclusion, HCT fraction 4 induces Molt-4 apoptosis cell through an endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1584-1592
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• 2006

Houttuynia cordata Thunb, well known as 'E-Sung-Cho' in Korea, is traditional medicinal plant generally used in Oriental medicine therapy. We previously reported that the water extract of H. cordata inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in human breast carcinoma cells. In the present study, we investigated the biochemical mechanisms of anti-proliferative effects by the methanol extract of H. cordata (MEHC) in human lung carcinoma A549 cells. It was found that MEHC could inhibit the cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with morphological change and apoptotic cell death as determined by formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase cells. Apoptosis of A549 cells by MEHC was also connected with a down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) expression. MEHC treatment induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9, and a concomitant inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), ${\beta}$-catenin and phospholipase (PLC)-${\gamma}$1 protein expression. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. cordata.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2017

We conducted this study to determine the recommended application rate of fertilizer for Houttuynia cordata Thunb cultivation. The effects of various application levels of N, $P_2O_5$, and $K_2O$ fertilizers on the growth of this plant were investigated and the associated changes in soil properties were evaluated in the field. Soil pH at harvest time of Houttuynia cordata Thunb did not differ from that before fertilization, whereas EC tended to decrease during cultivation. The soil organic matter (SOM) and available phosphorus increased after treatment, and the amount of applied fertilizer ($P_2O_5$) and available phosphorus were proportional. The nitrogen absorption amount increased in N 100% treatment, but decreased in N 150% treatment. The phosphorus absorption amount rose with the fertilizer treatment concentration until $P_2O_5$ 150% treatment. The amount of absorbed potassium decreased in treatments with $K_2O$ 150% and $K_2O$ 200%. The plant length was the longest in N 100%, $P_2O_5$ 150%, and $K_2O$ 200%. The stem diameter was estimated to be 3.46 - 3.67 mm in N 100 - 200% treatment, 3.55 - 3.67 mm in $P_2O_5$ 100 - 150%, and 3.79 mm in $K_2O$ 200%. The number of tillers did not differ amongst fertilization treatments. The fresh weight was summed to be 3.67 ton/10 a in N 100% treatment, 3.79 Mg/10 a in $P_2O_5$ 150%, and 3.83 Mg/10 a in $K_2O$ 150%. Thus, the relationship between the fertilizer amount and yields of the plant showed that the most economical quantity of fertilizers should be 10.2 N kg/10 a, 5.5 $P_2O_5$ kg/10 a, and 8.2 $K_2O$ kg/10 a for Houttuynia Cordata Thunb.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.400-406
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• 1997

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. were investigated to develop a natural food preservative from it. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine and arginine were major amino acids of Houttuynia cordata Thunb., but were present in a trace amount. Free sugars were composed of glucose, fructose, sucrose and maltose and major fatty acids were linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. Mineral elements were potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper. Antimicrobial activities were shown in acidic, neutral and phenolic fraction of Houttuynia cordata Thunb., but not in basic fraction. Among the four fractions, neutral fraction showed the strongest antimicrobial activities against microorganisms tested, such as Pseudomnas aeruginosa, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum lethal concentration (MLC) of the neutral fraction varied according to microoganisms tested. The lowest values of MIC (0.0075 g eq./mL) and MLC (0.10 g eq./mL) were obtained from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.108-112
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• 2000

Proximate composition , volatile compounds, free amino acids, fatty acids and inorganic compounds in leaf, stem and root of Houttyunia cordata Thunb cultivated from two different area, Bosung and Sunchon , were analyzed. Each part of Houttuynia cordata Thunb from both local area showed moisture contents of 80-84% and crude ash contents of 2.1 ∼2.8%. Crude fat and protein contents were less than 3 % showing slightly higher contents in leaf than in both stem and root . Twenty six volatile compunds were identified from the parts of the plant, the volatile contents were high in the oder of leaf, root and stem. Major volatile compounds were mostly derivatives of decanoic acid ; decanoic acid, 20 tridecanoie, decanal and dodecanoic acid. Of free amino acids in leaf asparagine was the highest, while in stem hydroxyproline, proline and arginine were the major free amino acids. Linoleic acid was the highest in the stem and root, and linolenic acid was highest in leaf. the major minerals of all parts were K, Ca. Mg, P, Fe, Zn and Cu, showing highest with K.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.217-227
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• 2021

In this study, Korean-cultivated Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (HC) was extracted anti-inflammatory effects of extracts were compared in order to confirm the possibility of natural cosmetics as a raw material. HPLC pattern analysis, cell viability assay, total phenolic contents, ABTS/DPPH radical scavenging analysis, measurement of ROS production, griess reagent assay, and luminex technique. The content of quercetin was higher in fresh Houttuynia cordata (HC-F) than in dried Houttuynia cordata (HC-D). Also, content of HC extracts shows a difference in the content of the two representative compounds (polyphenol and flavonoid) according to the stored differently. ROS production showed higher inhibitory rates at HC-F. The anti-inflammatory activity of HC-D was shown higher than that of HC-F. But, in the measurement of the reduction in inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β showed that HC-D had a relatively high reduction effect, and IL-6 and TNF-α showed a high reduction effect. And these results will be a basis for the development of cosmetology in skin care and improvement of skin problem.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.690-696
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• 2006

Houttuynia cordata Thunb, well known as 'E-Sung-Cho' in Korea, is a traditional medicinal plant generally used in Oriental medicine therapy. In the present study, we investigated the effect of water extract of H. cordafa (WEHC) on the growth of human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. Exposure of MCF-7 cells to WEHC resulted in growth inhibition and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay and fluorescent microscope. The anti-proliferative effect of WEHC was associated with a dose-dependent up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 in a p53-independent fashion. We found WEHC decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthease (iNOS) expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1 , which was correlated with a decrease in prostaglandin $E_2{\;}(PGE_2)$ synthesis. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. cordata.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.121.1-121.1
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• 2003

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) is a herbal plant growing in China, Japan and Korea. According to the records of the Chinese medicine, this plant has been used as folk medicine for analgesics, beriberi, edema, hepatitis, icterus, etc. TCDD (2, 3, 7, 8 -tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), one of the notorious toxic environmental pollutants, damages various organs including liver and is regarded as an endocrine disrupter. After 7 days from TCDD (1$\mu$g/kg) injection, HCT (200 mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.208.2-208.2
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• 2003

TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), one of the notorious toxic environmental pollutants, damages various organs including liver and is regarded as an endocrine disrupter. To investigate the effects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) on the biochemical parameters of function, liver and serum of TCDD-treated rats were used. After 7 days from TCDD (1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) injection, HCT (200 mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. The lipidperoxide content was examined by measuring the level of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total lipid and triglyceride (TG) in serum, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue of rats. (omitted)

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1223-1229
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• 1998

This study was designed to observe the effects of feeding Houttuynia cordata juice and powder on the improvement of the lipids in the serum of dietary hypercholesterolemic rats. Experimental groups such as 5% cellulose for control group, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% H. cordata powder for group 2, 3, 4, 5, respectively, and 5%, 10%, 15% H. cordata juice for group 6, 7, 8, respectively, were admi nistered to the male rats of the Sprague Dawley for 4 weeks. Concentrations of total cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in all experimental groups than in the control group, and particularly, the lowest in group 8. The ratio of HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol was the highest in group 5. Atherosclerotic index was lower in group 5 and 8. Concentrations of free cholesterol and cholesterol ester in serum were significantly lower in all experimental groups than in the control group, and then concentrations of free cholesterol and cholesterol ester were the lowest in group 5 and 8, re spectively. Concentrations of triglyceride and phospholipid were the lowest in the group 5. Con centrations of chylomicron and VLDL were significantly lower in all experimental groups than in the control group. And the concentration was remarkably the lowest in group 5. Concentration of glucose in blood was not significantly different, but lower in the group 5 and 8. Concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, Fe were not significantly different in all experimental groups. The GOT and GPT activites were lower in all experimental groups than in the control group, especially the lowest in group 7 of GOT and group 8 of GPT. The LDH activity was the lowest in group 8.