Thyroid Stimulatory Activity of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. Ethanolic Extract in 6-Propyl-Thiouracil-Induced Hypothyroid and STZ Induced Diabetes Rats: In Vivo and In Silico Studies

Nutrients. 2025 Feb 6;17(3):594. doi: 10.3390/nu17030594.

Abstract

Houttuynia cordata Thunb. holds a longstanding reputation as a traditional folk remedy in East Asia, where it has been employed to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions, nephritis, hepatitis and cancer. Despite its extensive use, there exists a paucity of research examining its efficacy in managing thyroid disorders and diabetes. Moreover, the bioactive components responsible for modulating the molecular pathways remain elusive.

Objectives: This research aimed to determine the key bioactive components in the ethanolic extract of H. cordata Thunb. (HCEE) responsible for its thyroid-modifying properties and examine its effects on rats with experimentally induced hypothyroidism and diabetes.

Methods: Molecular docking was performed to investigate the possible mechanisms of thyroid regulation of HCEE constituents. Researchers induced hypothyroidism in rats by adding 6-propyl-2-thiouracil to their drinking water for a period of four weeks. To induce diabetes, the rats received an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The animals were then given daily oral doses of HCEE (500 mg/kg b.w.), levothyroxine (50 mg/kg b.w.), or glibenclamide (5 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days. Following this treatment, standard methods were employed to measure biochemical parameters in the rats' serum.

Results: The results demonstrate that HCEE ameliorated hypothyroidism by increasing serum T3 (14.38%) and T4 (125.96%) levels and decreasing TSH (p < 0.01; -41.75%) levels. In diabetic rats with induced hypothyroidism, HCEE significantly (p < 0.001) increased T3 (149.51%) and T4 (73.54%) levels with reduced TSH (-64.39%) levels. In silico analysis demonstrated that the identified bioactive compounds from HCEE may enhance thyroid hormone function through interaction with the thyroid hormone receptor protein TRβ1 (PDB:3GWS), similar to the conventional pharmaceuticals levothyroxine and triiodothyronine (T3).

Conclusions: HCEE exhibits potential as a natural alternative to synthetic medications in the prevention and treatment of thyroid dysfunctions.

Keywords: Houttuynia cordata; cheminformatics; diabetes; hypothyroidism; molecular docking; phytochemical profiling.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Computer Simulation
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental* / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental* / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental* / drug therapy
  • Ethanol / chemistry
  • Houttuynia* / chemistry
  • Hypothyroidism* / blood
  • Hypothyroidism* / chemically induced
  • Hypothyroidism* / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Plant Extracts* / pharmacology
  • Propylthiouracil
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Streptozocin
  • Thyroid Gland* / drug effects
  • Thyroid Gland* / metabolism
  • Thyroxine / blood

Substances

  • Propylthiouracil
  • Plant Extracts
  • Ethanol
  • Streptozocin
  • Thyroxine