Houttuynia cordata Extract Inhibits Coxsackievirus B3 Replication through Attenuation of Pyroptosis

Hong-Gi Kim; Soo-Hyeon Yun; Byung-Kwan Lim

doi:10.4167/jbv.2026.56.2.151

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2026 Vol.56, Issue 2 Preview Page

Original Article

Houttuynia cordata Extract Inhibits Coxsackievirus B3 Replication through Attenuation of Pyroptosis

10 August 2026. pp. 151-162

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Abstract

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a major pathogen causing viral myocarditis, and pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death, is emerging as a key mechanism in its pathogenesis. Although Houttuynia cordata (H. cordata) possesses various pharmacological properties, its direct antiviral effects against CVB3 and the mechanisms regulating CVB3-mediated pyroptosis have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study was conducted with the goal of confirming the antiviral effects of H. cordata extract using a CVB3 infection model. In CVB3 infection, treatment with H. cordata extract strongly inhibited viral replication by suppressing the synthesis of both positive-strand (viral genome) and negative- strand (replication intermediate) viral RNA. Consistent with these transcriptional inhibitory effects, Western blot analysis confirmed a dose-dependent significant decrease in the expression of VP1, a major viral capsid protein. Furthermore, the extract effectively preserved host protein synthesis mechanisms by inhibiting virus- induced eIF4G1 cleavage and blocking damage caused by potently inhibiting PARP cleavage. The H. cordata extract demonstrated potent cytoprotective effects by comprehensively blocking the CVB3-induced pyroptosis pathway. Additionally, the extract prevented the formation of membrane-terminal pores and inhibited the extracellular release of HMGB1 by inhibiting caspase-1 activation and gasdermin D (GSDMD) cleavage. By demonstrating the successful control of CVB3-induced pyroptosis, this study provides strong scientific grounds for the development of safe, natural product-derived therapeutics for CVB3 myocarditis and related severe inflammatory diseases.

Keywords

Houttuynia cordata,

Coxsackievirus B3

Viral myocarditis

Pyroptosis

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society for Microbiology and The Korean Society of Virology
Publisher(Ko) :대한미생물학회‧대한바이러스학회
Journal Title :JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY
Volume : 56
No :2
Pages :151-162
Received Date : 2026-07-15
Revised Date : 2026-07-25
Accepted Date : 2026-07-31
DOI :https://doi.org/10.4167/jbv.2026.56.2.151

JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY ISSN:1598-2467(Print) 2093-0429(Online)

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