View source for Sophora flavescens

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{{taxobox
| image =  Sophora flavescens.jpg
| image_caption = ''S flavescens''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]
| unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]]
| unranked_ordo = [[Rosids]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Faboideae]]
| tribus = [[Sophoreae]]
| genus = ''[[Sophora]]''
| species = '''''S. flavescens'''''
| binomial = ''Sophora flavescens''
| binomial_authority = [[William Aiton|Aiton]]
}}

[[Image:Chinolizidin alkaloid.svg|thumb|Matrine and its oxide]]

'''''Sophora flavescens''''' is a species of plant in the genus ''[[Sophora]]'' a genus of the Fabaceae family, that contains about 52 species, nineteen varieties, and seven forms that are widely distributed in Asia, 
Oceanica, and the Pacific islands.About fifteen species in this genus have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicines.<ref>http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0102-695X2012005000043&script=sci_arttext</ref>
Ku shen (the root)<ref>You-Ping Zhu 1998 Chinese Materia Medica – Chemistry, Pharmacology and Applications
ISBN 90-5702-285-0</ref> or [[kushenin]] (a pterocarpan, an isoflavonoid compound) is a typical [[traditional Chinese medicine]]<ref>Schwarte A 2002 [http://deposit.ddb.de/cgi-bin/dokserv?idn=965213773&dok_var=d1&dok_ext=pdf&filename=965213773.pdf Phytochemische und pharmakologische Untersuchungen der Wurzeln von ''Sophora flavescens'',unter besonderer Berücksichtigung ihrer Wirkung auf die Leukotrien- und Prostaglandinbiosynthese]</ref> that is found in this plant. It is commonly used for the treatment of viral hepatitis, enteritis, cancer, viral myocarditis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage<ref>Yamazaki M.2000. The pharmacological studies on matrine and oxymatrine. Yakugaku Zasshi 120(10) 1025–1033 [http://yakushi.pharm.or.jp/abst_2000/No10/no10.html Abtracts]</ref>{{Primary source-inline|date=February 2012}} and skin diseases (such as colpitis, psoriasis and eczema).
Its roots contain [[quinolizidine]] alkaloids, includying [[matrine]] and its oxide, [[matrine oxide]]<ref>Yoshikawa et al. (1985) [http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/cpb/52/7/870/_pdf Chem. Pharm. Bull. 33, 4267.]</ref> that interfere TNF-alpha and IL-6, suggesting that oxymatrine may inhibit the expression of the above pro-inflammatory cytokines.<ref>{{cite journal|pmid=16097071|url=http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/11/4912.pdf|year=2005|last1=Zheng|first1=P|last2=Niu|first2=FL|last3=Liu|first3=WZ|last4=Shi|first4=Y|last5=Lu|first5=LG|title=Anti-inflammatory mechanism of oxymatrine in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis of rats|volume=11|issue=31|pages=4912–5|journal=World journal of gastroenterology : WJG }}</ref> Matrine also inhibited expression of [[Substance P]] and NK-1R in a human model of skin inflammation,<ref>{{Cite journal|pmid= 17466915|year= 2007|last1= Liu|first1= JY|last2= Hu|first2= JH|last3= Zhu|first3= QG|last4= Li|first4= FQ|last5= Wang|first5= J|last6= Sun|first6= HJ|title= Effect of matrine on the expression of substance P receptor and inflammatory cytokines production in human skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts|volume= 7|issue= 6|pages= 816–23|doi= 10.1016/j.intimp.2007.02.003|journal= International immunopharmacology}}</ref> as well as acting as an agonist at mu and kappa [[opioid receptor]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal|doi=10.1055/s-1999-14080|pmid= 10232067|title=Kappa-Opioid Receptor-Mediated Antinociceptive Effects of Stereoisomers and Derivatives of (+)-Matrine in Mice|year=1999|last1=Xiao|first1=Ping|last2=Kubo|first2=Hajime|last3=Ohsawa|first3=Masahiro|last4=Higashiyama|first4=Kimio|last5=Nagase|first5=Hiroshi|last6=Yan|first6=Yu-Ning|last7=Li|first7=Jia-Shi|last8=Kamei|first8=Junzo|last9=Ohmiya|first9=Shigeru|journal=Planta Medica|volume=65|issue=3|pages=230–3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|doi=10.1248/bpb.28.845| pmid =15863891|title=Implication of the Descending Dynorphinergic Neuron Projecting to the Spinal Cord in the (+)-Matrine- and (+)-Allomatrine-Induced Antinociceptive Effects|year=2005|last1=Higashiyama|first1=Kimio|last2=Takeuchi|first2=Yosuke|last3=Yamauchi|first3=Takayasu|last4=Imai|first4=Satoshi|last5=Kamei|first5=Junzo|last6=Yajima|first6=Yoshinori|last7=Narita|first7=Minoru|last8=Suzuki|first8=Tsutomu|journal=Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin|volume=28|issue=5|pages=845–8}}</ref>

==Pharmacology==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2010}}
[[Matrine]] is an effective antiarrthymic with an [[aquinidine]]-like effect; it slows the heart rate, increases cardiac conduction time and decreases myocardial excitability. It directly inhibited artrial muscle reduced the maximal driving frequency, inhibited arrhythmias induced by [[aconidine]] and [[chloroform]]-[[epinephrine]].

==Modern research==
[[Matrine]], one of the main components extracted from ''Sophora flavescens'', has displayed anti-cancer activity in several types of cancer cells ''in vitro''.<ref>Li H., Tan G., Jiang X., Qiao H., Pan S., Jiang H., Kanwar J.R., Sun X. "Therapeutic effects of matrine on primary and metastatic breast cancer" Li H., Tan G., Jiang X., Qiao H., Pan S., Jiang H., Kanwar J.R., Sun X.  [[American Journal of Chinese Medicine]] 2010 38:6 (1115–1130)</ref><ref>Liu T., Song Y., Chen H., Pan S., Sun X."Matrine inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo",  Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2010 33:10 (1740–1745)</ref><ref>Han Y., Zhang S., Wu J., Yu K., Yu Z., Yin L., Bi L.  "Matrine induces apoptosis of human multiple myeloma cells via activation of the mitochondrial pathway", ''Leukemia and Lymphoma'' 2010 51:7 (1337–1346)</ref><ref>Qin X.-G., Hua Z., Shuang W., Wang Y.-H., Cui Y.-D."Effects of matrine on HepG2 cell proliferation and expression of tumor relevant proteins in vitro",   [[Pharmaceutical Biology]] 2010 48:3 (275–281)</ref><ref>Li T., Wong V.K.W., Yi X.Q., Wong Y.F., Zhou H., Liu L. "Matrine induces cell anergy in human jurkat T cells through modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor of activated t-cells signaling with concomitant up-regulation of anergy-associated genes expression  Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2010 33:1 (40–46)</ref><ref>Dai Z.-j., Gao J., Ji Z.-z., Wang X.-j., Ren H.-t., Liu X.-x., Wu W.-y., Kang H.-f., Guan H.-t."Matrine induces apoptosis in gastric carcinoma cells via alteration of Fas/FasL and activation of caspase-3   [[Journal of Ethnopharmacology]] 2009 123:1 (91–96)</ref>

Matrine possesses strong antitumor activities ''in vitro'' and ''in vivo''. Inhibition of [[cell proliferation]] and induction of [[apoptosis]] are the likely mechanisms responsible for matrine's antitumor activities.<ref>Ma L., Wen S., Zhan Y., He Y., Liu X., Jiang J."Anticancer effects of the Chinese medicine matrine on murine hepatocellular carcinoma cells" [[Planta Medica]] 2008 74:3 (245–251)</ref>{{Primary source-inline|date=February 2012}}

It promotes hair growth, possibly due to [[5-alpha-reductase inhibitor]]y activity.<ref>Roh S.-S., Kim C.D., Lee M.-H., Hwang S.-L., Rang M.-J., Yoon Y.-K.   "The hair growth promoting effect of Sophora flavescens extract and its molecular regulation" ''Journal of Dermatological Science'' 2002 30:1 (43–49)</ref>{{Primary source-inline|date=February 2012}}

Sophorae injection can reduce the toxicity and adverse effects caused by chemotherapy <ref>Zhu Z.-C., Wang H.-Z., Yang F."Composite sophorae injection in prevention of toxicity and adverse effects caused by chemotherapeutic agents"  ''Journal of Practical Oncology'' 2009 24:6 (592–594)</ref>{{Primary source-inline|date=February 2012}}

It is anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant.<ref>Dong H.L., Dong S.S., Dai Y.C., Beom J.K., Yun Y.L., Young H.K.  "Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of Sophora flavescens root extraction in lipopolysaccharide-activated raw 264.7 cells", ''Korean Journal of Medical Mycology'' 2010 15:2 (39–50)</ref>

Anti-[[atherosclerosis]] <ref>Han J.-M., An S., Kim M.-J., Jin Y.-Y., Baek S.-W., Park J.-S., Lee W.S., Park K.-H., Jeong T.-S."Sophora flavescens attenuates atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia in LDL receptor-deficient mice"   [[Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology]] 2008 28:6</ref> May be an effective cholesterol-lowering agent and useful for preventing hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis.<ref>Kim H.Y., Jeong M., Jung H.J., Jung Y.J., Yokozawa T., Choi J.S."Hypolipidemic effects of Sophora flavescens and its constituents in poloxamer 407-induced hyperlipidemic and cholesterol-fed rats." ''Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin'' 2008 31:1 (73–78)</ref>{{Primary source-inline|date=February 2012}}

[[7,9,2',4'-Tetrahydroxy-8-isopentenyl-5-methoxychalcone]], a prenylated chalcone can be effective against [[atopic dermatitis]].<ref>{{Cite journal|pmid=20512474|doi=10.1007/s12272-010-0515-8|title=Prenylated chalcone from Sophora flavescens suppresses Th2 chemokine expression induced by cytokines via heme oxygenase-1 in human keratinocytes|year=2010|last1=Choi|first1=Byung-Min|last2=Oh|first2=Gi-Su|last3=Lee|first3=Jang Won|last4=Mok|first4=Ji Ye|last5=Kim|first5=Dae Keun|last6=Jeong|first6=Seung-Il|last7=Jang|first7=Seon Il|journal=Archives of Pharmacal Research|volume=33|issue=5|pages=753–60}}</ref>{{Primary source-inline|date=February 2012}}

''Sophora flavescens'' may have the potential for treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.<ref>Jin J.H., Kim J.S., Kang S.S., Son K.H., Chang H.W., Kim H.P."Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of total flavonoids of the roots of Sophora flavescens"   [[Journal of Ethnopharmacology]] 2010 127:3 (589–595)</ref>{{Primary source-inline|date=February 2012}}

[[Neuroprotective]] in focal cerebral ischemia.<ref>Park S.J., Nam K.W., Lee H.J., Cho E.Y., Koo U., Mar W. "Neuroprotective effects of an alkaloid-free ethyl acetate extract from the root of Sophora flavescens Ait. Against focal cerebral ischemia in rats" [[Phytomedicine]] 2009 16:11 (1042–1051)</ref>{{Primary source-inline|date=February 2012}}

A mix of ''Sophora flavescens'' and licorice ([[Glycyrrhiza glabra]]) gave better liver protective and anti-hepatocarcinogenic effects than licorice or Sophora alone. In addition, glycyrrhiza + sophora had a protective effect on immunosuppression, a strong non-specific anti-inflammatory effect, and  reduced the incidence of sodium and water retention, protecting against pseudohypercorticosteroidism.<ref>Wan X.-y., Luo M., Li X.-d., He P."Hepatoprotective and anti-hepatocarcinogenic effects of glycyrrhizin and matrine"   ''Chemico-Biological Interactions'' 2009 181:1 (15–19)</ref>{{Primary source-inline|date=February 2012}}

[[Sophoraflavanone G]] obtained from ''Sophora flavescens'' was evaluated against 10 clinical isolates of [[methicillin]]-resistant [[Staphylococcus aureus]]. The combination showed a synergistic effect<ref>Cha J.-D., Moon S.-E., Kim J.-Y., Jung E.-K., Lee Y.-S. "Antibacterial activity of sophoraflavanone G isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus" Phytotherapy Research 2009 23:9 (1326–1331)</ref>

Various compounds from the plant have exhibited significant antibacterial activities against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, S. epidermidis, and [[Propionibacterium acnes]]. They also exhibited [[antiandrogen]] activities.<ref>Kuroyanagi M, Arakawa T, Hirayama Y, Hayashi T "Antibacterial and antiandrogen flavonoids from Sophora flavescens."   Journal of Natural Products 1999 Dec;62(12):1595-9.</ref>

[[Sophoridine]] possesses antiviral activities against [[Coxsackievirus]] B3<ref>hang Y., Zhu H., Ye G., Huang C., Yang Y., Chen R., Yu Y., Cui X.  Antiviral effects of sophoridine against coxsackievirus B3 and its pharmacokinetics in rats Z [[Life Sciences]] 2006 78:17 (1998–2005)</ref>

[[Trifolirhizin]], a [[pterocarpan]] [[flavonoid]], was isolated from the roots of ''Sophora flavescens'' and showed potential anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities.<ref>Zhou H., Lutterodt H., Cheng Z., Yu L.L."Anti-Inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of trifolirhizin, a flavonoid from Sophora flavescens roots."   ''Journal of agricultural and food chemistry'' 2009 57:11 (4580–4585)</ref>

Sophora could possibly be used as a treatment for mast cell-derived allergic inflammatory diseases.<ref>Hong M.H., Lee J.Y., Jung H., Jin D.-H., Go H.Y., Kim J.H., Jang B.-H., Shin Y.-C., Ko S.-G,"Sophora flavescens Aiton inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines through inhibition of the NF κB/IκB signal pathway in human mast cell line (HMC-1)" ''Toxicology in Vitro'' 2009 23:2 (251–258)</ref>

Inhibitory effects on [[cytochrome P450]] 3A4 (CYP450 3A4)<ref>Lee S.S., Zhang B., He M.L., Chang V.S.C., Kung H.F. "Screening of active ingredients of herbal medicine for interaction with CYP450 3A4  [[Phytotherapy Research]] 2007 21:11 (1096–1099)</ref>

The methanol extract of ''Sophora flavescens'' showed a potent [[glycosidase]] inhibitory activity.<ref>Kim J.H., Ryu Y.B., Kang N.S., Lee B.W., Heo J.S., Jeong I.-Y., Park K.H.  Glycosidase inhibitory flavonoids from Sophora flavescens  Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2006 29:2 (302–305)</ref>

==Chemistry==
More than 20 [[alkaloids]] are found in ''S. flavescens''.  [[Oxymatrine]], [[sophoridine]], [[oxysophocarpine]], and [[sophocarpine]] are the major [[alkaloid]]s present.<ref>Liu G., Dong J., Wang H., Hashi Y., Chen S. "Characterization of alkaloids in Sophora flavescens Ait. by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry"   [Article in Press] ''Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis'' 2011</ref>

The [[prenylflavonoid]] [[8-Prenylkaempferol]] can be found in Sophora flavescens.<ref name="8pk">{{cite web | url=http://pubmedcentralcanada.ca/pmcc/articles/PMC3137797/ | title=8-Prenylkaempferol Suppresses Influenza A Virus-Induced RANTES Production in A549 Cells via Blocking PI3K-Mediated Transcriptional Activation of NF-κB and IRF3 | publisher=Hindawi Publishing Corporation | year=2011 | accessdate=January 28, 2013 | author=Chiou, Wen-Fei; et al.}}</ref>

==Other uses==
A promising source of a natural, novel, new antifoulant.<ref>Feng D.Q., Ke C.H., Lu C.Y., Li S.J."Herbal plants as a promising source of natural antifoulants: Evidence from barnacle settlement inhibition."  [[Biofouling]] 2009 25:3 (181–190)</ref>

May make skin whiter color by inhibition on [[tyrosinase]]-dependent [[melanin]] biosynthesis.<ref>Hyun S.K., Lee W.-H., Jeong D.M., Kim Y., Choi J.S. Inhibitory effects of kurarinol, kuraridinol, and trifolirhizin from Sophora flavescens on tyrosinase and melanin synthesis   Biological and ''Pharmaceutical Bulletin'' 2008 31:1 (154–158)</ref> Therefore a potential source of novel whitening agents for ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive skin  <ref>Hwang J.-H., Lee B.M."Inhibitory effects of plant extracts on tyrosinase, L-DOPA oxidation, and melanin synthesis"   ''Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health'' – Part A: Current Issues 2007 70:5 (393–407)</ref>

Antifeedant effect against [[Formosan subterranean termite]] ([[matrine]] and [[oxymatrine]]).<ref>Mao L., Henderson G. Antifeedant activity and acute and residual toxicity of alkaloids from Sophora flavescens (Leguminosae) against formosan subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)"   ''Journal of Economic Entomology'' 2007 100:3 (866–870)</ref>

==Growing, cultivation==
An evergreen, slow growing shrub growing to 1.5 m by 1 m. It is hardy to US zone 6. Hardy to about 0–10 °F. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. Like many other species in the [[Fabaceae]] family, this species can [[Nitrogen fixation|fix nitrogen]].{{citation needed|reason=for this exact species, not guesswork from non-authoritative sites|date=January 2011}}

==Other links==
[http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0102-695X2012005000043&script=sci_arttext A review on phytochemical, ethnomedical and pharmacological studies on genus Sophora, Fabaceae]

[http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/373219/ Antitumor Activities of Kushen: Literature Review]

[http://www.academicjournals.org/jmpr/PDF/pdf2011/18May/Cao%20et%20al.pdf Chinese traditional medicine matrine: A review of its antitumor activities.]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*Terada, M.; Sano, M.; Ishii, A.I. et al. – Studies on chemotherapy of parasitic helminths. (IV). Effects of alkaloids from Sophora flavescens on the motility of parasitic helminths and isolated host tissues. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi, 79: 105–111, 1982.
*[http://www.wpro.who.int/internet/files/pub/97/269.pdf medicinal plants in the Republic of Korea]
*[http://www.tautobiotech.com/download/%E6%96%87%E7%8C%AE/%E5%BA%94%E7%94%A8%E9%A2%86%E5%9F%9F/%E4%B8%AD%E8%8D%AF%E9%A2%86%E5%9F%9F/%E7%94%9F%E7%89%A9%E7%A2%B1/%E8%BF%90%E7%94%A8%E9%AB%98%E9%80%9F%E9%80%86%E6%B5%81%E8%89%B2%E8%B0%B1%E6%B3%95%E4%BB%8E%E8%8B%A6%E5%8F%82%E4%B8%AD%E5%88%86%E7%A6%BB%E7%BA%AF%E5%8C%96%E5%96%B9%E8%AF%BA%E9%87%8C%E8%A5%BF%E5%95%B6%E7%94%9F%E7%89%A9%E7%A2%B1.pdf pdf] Jian Ya Ling, Guo Ying Zhang, Zhao Jie Cui, Chang Kai Zhang, 2007. Supercritical fluid extraction of quinolizidine alkaloids from ''Sophora flavescens'' Ait. and purification by high-speed counter-current chromatography. ''Journal of Chromatography A'', 1145: 123–127

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[[Category:Sophora|flavescens]]
[[Category:Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine]]