Sodium New Houttuyfonate: a comprehensive review of pharmacological advances in antimicrobial, antitumor, and adjuvanticity effects

Sodium New Houttuyfonate (SNH) is a structurally modified derivative of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. , emerging as a promising multi-target agent with potential applications in antimicrobial, antitumor, and adjuvant therapies. Here, we present the first review comprehensively summarizing recent pharmacological advances of SNH, with a focus on its broad-spectrum bioactivities and therapeutic repurposing potential. Literature up to December 2025 was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and CNKI, prioritizing experimental studies on SNH’s synthesis, detection, and biological functions. SNH exhibits potent antibacterial and antifungal effects against drug-resistant pathogens through mechanisms involving membrane disruption, quorum-sensing inhibition, and oxidative stress induction. Moreover, it demonstrates antitumor activity in lung, breast, and liver cancer models by regulating non-coding RNA networks, inducing apoptosis and pyroptosis, and provoking oxidative damage. Notably, SNH also acts as an immunoadjuvant, enhancing both cellular and humoral immune responses in vaccination settings. Although the preclinical evidence is compelling, further research is needed to clarify its mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, and safety in vivo . This review underscores the multifaceted potential of SNH and highlights the importance of translational efforts toward its clinical development against resistant infections, cancer, and as a vaccine component.