Chinese Herbs In Western View - Yu Xing Cao (Herba Houttuyniae) Health Benefits and Side Effects

Home of Kyle J. Norton for The Better of Living & Living Health Yu Xing Cao is also known as Houttuynia. The acrid, bitter and slightly cool herb has been used in TCM to improve blood flow, promote urination, treat diarrhea, etc., as it clears Heat, expels toxins and pus, promotes urination, etc., by enhancing the functions of lung and large intestine channels.

Ingredients
1. Decanoylacetaldehyde
2. Myrcene
3. α- Pinene
4. d-Limonene
5. 2-Methyheptenone
6. Camphene
7. Bornyl acetate
8. Linalool
9. Caryophyllene
10. Dodecanaldehyde
11. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Anti cancers
Houttuyninum, an active constituent of Chinese herbal medicine, Houttuynia cordata Thunb inhibited phosphorylation of HER2 in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 5.52 μg/ml without reducing HER2/neu protein expression in MDA-MB-453 cells. Houttuyninum also inhibited the activation of ERK1/2 and AKT, downstream molecules in the HER2/neu-mediated signal transduction pathway(1).

2. Neuro-protective effects
In the study of the effects of Houttuyniae Herba, the aerial part of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Saururaceae) and a commonly used herb in traditional Asian medicine  against Aβ(25-35)-induced neurotoxicity, indicate that HCW protects rat primary cortical neurons against Aβ(25-35)-induced toxicity via the regulation of calcium and the inhibition of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis(2).

3. HSV infection
 A water extract of H. cordata exhibits activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) and the virus of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS),  blocking HSV-2 infection through inhibition of NF-κB activation(3).

4. HL-60 and Molt-4 cells
In the study to to compare cytotoxic effects, apoptosis induction, and mechanism(s) with the ethanolic and water extracts of fermented and non-fermented HCT, showed that the ethanolic extract of fermented HCT was cytotoxic to HL-60 >Molt- 4 > PBMCs, to a greater extent than the non-fermented preparation and the number of apoptotic cells was higher. The alcoholic (fermented) extract produced more radicals than the non-fermented in HL-60 cells but the converse was observed in Molt-4 cells. Reduction of MTP was found in HL-60 and Molt-4 cells treated with the alcoholic (fermented) extract and caspase-9 was cleaved dose-dependently in both cells(4). Other researchers suggested that HCT induced apoptotic cell death in human primary colorectal cancer cells through a mitochondria-dependent signaling pathway(5).

5. Anti inflammatory effects
In the study to assess the effects of HC on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced prostaglandin (PG) E(2) production, an indirect indicator of COX-2 activity, and COX-2 gene and protein expression in mouse peritoneal macrophages, showed that HC mediates inhibition of COX-2 enzyme activity and can affect related gene and protein expression. HC works by a mechanism of action similar to that of NSAIDs. These results add a novel aspect to the biological profile of HC(6).

6. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
2. Etc.

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For other Chinese herbs in western view, visit http://chineseherbsinnutrientsperspective.blogspot.com/2011/10/chinese-herbs-in-western-view-health.html

For other health articles, please visit http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com/  

Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22525372
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22262263
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21951655
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22393956
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20944136
(6) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21073936

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