Can Houttuynia cordata cause cancer?

Houttuynia cordata, commonly known as fish mint or chameleon plant, has been a subject of debate in recent years due to concerns about its potential carcinogenic properties. This article aims to shed light on the topic and provide a comprehensive understanding of the current scientific knowledge surrounding this plant.

Table of Contents

Understanding Houttuynia cordata and its compounds

Houttuynia cordata is a flowering plant native to Southeast Asia, often used in traditional medicine and as a culinary herb. It’s known for its unique fishy smell, hence the nickname “fish mint.”

To address the question of whether Houttuynia cordata can cause cancer, we need to delve into the plant’s chemical composition. The concern stems from the presence of certain compounds called aristolochic acid and aristolactams.

Aristolochic acid vs. Aristolactams

Here’s where things get a bit tricky, so bear with me as we navigate through some scientific jargon:

Aristolochic acid: This is a known carcinogen, classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It’s primarily found in plants of the Aristolochia genus¹.
Aristolactams: These are a group of compounds related to aristolochic acid. Some aristolactams are metabolites of aristolochic acid, while others occur independently in nature².

Now, here’s the kicker: Houttuynia cordata doesn’t belong to the Aristolochia genus. In fact, it’s not even in the same family! It’s like comparing apples to oranges, or as one might humorously say, rabbits to tigers in the plant world.

What’s actually in Houttuynia cordata?

Research has shown that Houttuynia cordata contains certain types of aristolactams, specifically³:

Aristolactam AII
Aristolactam BII
Aristolactam FII

But here’s the crucial point: It does NOT contain aristolochic acid or aristolactam I, which are the most toxic and carcinogenic compounds in this family.

The confusion and misinformation

Some articles on the internet claim that Houttuynia cordata contains aristolactam I. However, this appears to be a case of mistaken identity. A closer look at the research papers reveals that the quantities mentioned (7 mg of aristolactam I and 25 mg of aristolactam II per 2 kg of plant material) actually refer to aristolactams AII and BII, not I and II.

As my old biology professor used to say, “In science, details matter!” This mix-up has led to unnecessary concern about the plant’s safety.

Current state of research

So, are the aristolactams found in Houttuynia cordata (AII, BII, and FII) carcinogenic? Here’s what we know:

There’s currently no evidence suggesting that aristolactams AII, BII, or FII are carcinogenic⁴.
⁵All known conclusions about the carcinogenicity of aristolactams are specifically about aristolactam I, which is not found in Houttuynia cordata.

The bottom line

While it’s true that Houttuynia cordata contains certain aristolactams, the current scientific evidence does not support the claim that it causes cancer. The plant does not contain the most toxic compounds (aristolochic acid and aristolactam I) associated with cancer risk.

However, it’s worth noting that some in vitro studies have shown that extracts from Houttuynia cordata may have cytotoxic effects, particularly on liver cells. But remember, folks, there’s a world of difference between cell studies in a petri dish and what happens in a living, breathing human body.