MICROBIAL SUPPORT
C. angustifolia (bark) may help with single-celled microbial support, and thus, may help to maintain health of erythrocytes and macrophages.*6,12,13 It may also help with microbial support of varied gram status.*13,14 Additionally, C. angustifolia may help with mycelial support.*14
H. cordata may help with both intracellular and extracellular microbial support. It may help with microbial support for diverse strains with dose-dependent zone diameters of inhibition,20 and may also help with microbial support for a variety of morphological forms.*21 Additionally, it may provide microbial support for smaller intracellular microbes and help to maintain normal host immunity.*22,23 In addition to intracellular microbial support, H. cordata may help to support relevant respiratory and intestinal mucosa through maintaining cytokines/chemokines, secretory IgA (sIgA), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1)/tight junction protein, TLR4, and NF-kappaB already within the normal range.*24 H. cordata may help to maintain a healthy gut-lung axis.*24 Additionally, it may help to support healthy gingival epithelium as well as balanced oral microbiota, including mycelial support.*21
IMMUNE SUPPORT
H. cordata may help with immune system support through maintaining healthy levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that are already within the normal range.*25 It may help to support the innate immune response by maintaining levels of reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI), such as nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI), such as superoxide, that are already within the normal range. It may also help to support the morphological change of macrophages from the round form to the dendritic form, supporting normal phagocytic activity as well as normal NO production.*26 H. cordata may assist with immune system support through the maintenance of a healthy Th1/Th2 ratio, in addition to the maintenance of Th2-dependent cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 already within the normal range.*27 Additionally, it may help with IgE-mediated immune support by maintaining IL-4, TNF-alpha, and NF-kappaB already within the normal range.*28 H. cordata may help to maintain MIP-1-alpha, MIP-1-beta, and RANTES in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) already within the normal range.*29 It may also help to support health through its effect on the complement cascade.*30,31
INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SUPPORT
H. cordata may help with antioxidant support and healthy inflammatory response support.*32 It may help to support healthy function of the NF-kappaB and MAPK pathways and may help to maintain cytokine levels already within the normal range.*32 It may also help to maintain levels of TNF-alpha, NO, IL-6, IL-8 and PGE2 already within the normal range.*33,34 The constituent houttuynamide A (becatamide) may additionally help to maintain levels of COX-1 and COX-2 already within the normal range.*35,36 In traditional Chinese health practices, H. cordata is used to clear heat.*15,16
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