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Houttuynia cordata Thunb.


Botanical Name	:	Houttuynia cordata Thunb.
English Name	:	Chameleon plant
Synonym(s)	:	Polypara cochinchinensis Lour.
Family	:	Saururaceae

General Info

Description

A herbaceous perennial plant growing to between 20 and 80 cm. The proximal part of the stem is trailing and produces adventitious roots, while the distal part of the stem grows vertically. The leaves are alternate, broadly heart-shaped, 4-9 cm long and 3-8 cm broad. Flowers are greenish-yellow, borne on a terminal spike 2-3 cm long with 4-6 large white basal bracts.

Herb Effects

Antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antimicrbial, antiphlogistic, antiviral, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, laxative and ophthalmic (whole plant); antidote and astringent (leaf juice)

Links

Plants for a Future
Global Invasive Species Database

Chemistry

Active Ingredients

Acetaldehyde, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, camphene, capric acid, hyperin, isoquercitrin, myrcene, quercetin, quercitrin, rutin (plant)

Chemistry of Active Ingredients

Name

CAS#

IUPAC Name

Formula

Structure

Acetaldehyde

108-62-3

2,4,6,8-tetramethyl-
1,3,5,7-tetraoxocane

C₈H₁₆O₄

alpha-Pinene

80-56-8

2,7,7-trimethylbicyc
lo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene

C₁₀H₁₆

beta-Pinene

23089-32-9

6,6-dimethyl-2-methy
lidene-norpinane

C₁₀H₁₆

Camphene

5794-04-7

2,2-dimethyl-3-methy
lidene-norbornane

C₁₀H₁₆

Capric acid

334-48-5

Decanoic acid

C₁₀H₂₀O₂

Hyperin

482-36-0

2-(3,4-dihydroxyphen
yl)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-
[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-
(hydroxyme thyl)oxa
n-2-yl]oxy-chromen-7
-one

C₂₁H₂₀O₁₂

Isoquercitrin

21637-25-2

3-[5-(1,2-dihydroxye
thyl)-3,4-dihydroxy-
oxolan-2-yl]oxy-2-(3
,4-dihydro xyphenyl
)-4,5-dihydroxy-chro
men-7-one

C₂₁H₂₀O₁₂

Myrcene

2153-31-3

7-methyl-3-methylide
ne-octa-1,6-diene

C₁₀H₁₆

Quercetin

Not Available

2-(3,4-dihydroxyphen
yl)-3,4,5-trihydroxy
-chromen-7-one

C₁₅H₁₀O₇

Quercitrin

6151-25-3

2-(3,4-dihydroxyphen
yl)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-
(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-
methyl-oxa n-2-yl)o
xy-chromen-7-one

C₂₁H₂₀O₁₁

Rutin

Not Available

2-(3,4-dihydroxyphen
yl)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-
[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-
[(3,4,5-tr ihydroxy
-6-methyl-tetrahydro
pyran-2-yl)oxymethyl
]tetrahydropyran-2-y
l] oxy-chromen-7-on
e trihydrate

C₂₇H₃₆O₁₉

Pharmacology

Medicinal Use

In the treatment of many ailments including cancer, coughs, dysentery, enteritis, fever, snake bites and skin disorders

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