Chemopreventive Agents
David E. Thurston, Ilona Pysz in Chemistry and Pharmacology of Anticancer Drugs, 2021
Matrine (Figure 12.23) is a tetracyclo-quinolizidine, and the predominant alkaloid in Sophora plants. It has a structure based on four saturated six-membered rings with two ring-junction nitrogen atoms, making it rich in stereochemistry. Matrine is reported to have both in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity, and is the main bioactive compound in Kushen at a concentration of 1 g/10 kg. It is also a constituent of the herb Sophora flavescens used in Chinese medicine. Structure of the alkaloid matrine.
Herbs in Cancer Therapy
Anil K. Sharma, Raj K. Keservani, Surya Prakash Gautam in Herbal Product Development, 2020
G. lucidum is medicinal fungus having effects on immune system. It stimulates the immune system by activating the macrophages, t-cells and NK cells (natural killer cells). It also causes an increase in TNF, interleukins and interferon’s by stimulating their production (Smith-Hall et al. 2012). Leukocytes increase and improved immune system was shown by the use of Sophora flavescens (Yang et al. 2006). Heat and toxin clearing plant group includes S. baicalensis. This plant also has anti-tumor and immune system stimulatory effects which includes inhibition of platelet aggregation and induction of apoptosis.
Integrative hyperthermia treatments for different types of cancer
Clifford L. K. Pang, Kaiman Lee in Hyperthermia in Oncology, 2015
Proven prescription 3: Sanhuang Lotion: take 30 g each of Cortex phellodendri, rhubarb, Radix scutellariae, and Sophora flavescens Ait. Decoct them and wash the affected area. Efficacy: purges fire for detoxification, relieves itching, and induces astringency. It is applicable for radiodermatitis, skin ulceration, watering, and itching induced by radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Inhibitory effects of flavonoids isolated from Sophora flavescens on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 activity
Published in Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 2019
Mincheol Kwon, Sung-Kyun Ko, Mina Jang, Gun-Hee Kim, In-Ja Ryoo, Sangkeun Son, Hyung Won Ryu, Sei-Ryang Oh, Won-Kyu Lee, Bo Yeon Kim, Jae-Hyuk Jang, Jong Seog Ahn
Sophora flavescens has been used traditionally to treat skin diseases, viral hepatitis, and cancer owing to the presence of medicinal components such as alkaloids and flavonoids1–3. Although many studies have focused on the medicinal properties of alkaloids than those of flavonoids, some studies have evaluated flavonoids and their bioactive mechanisms of action. The polyphenol structure of flavonoids is responsible for their various pharmacological activities, which are elicited by chelating metal ions or scavenging free radicals4–8. Indeed, it has been proved that the existence of prenyl and lavandulyl residue could intensify the pharmacological activity of the flavonoids9. Because prenylation and lavandulylation increase lipophilicity, which results in an increased membrane-binding affinity and a stronger interaction with the target proteins10,11.
Acute and 13 weeks subchronic toxicological evaluation of the flavonoid-rich extract of Sophora flavescens
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2023
Chaoqun Wu, Yun Huang, Huiqi Huang, Yuanren Ma, Qinxiong Lin, Xinzhou Yang, Kejian Pang
The roots of Sophora flavescens were collected from Lingyuan City, Liaoning province, PR China in September 2012, and identified by Dr. Dingrong Wan of School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, PR China. A voucher specimen (no. SF20120520) was deposited in the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities. Air-dried roots of S. flavescens (30 kg) were ground and then extracted sequentially by maceration at room temperature with n-hexane (3 × 50 L, 3 d each), followed by ethyl acetate (3 × 50 L, 3 d each) and methanol (3 × 50 L, 3 d each). The solvents were evaporated at reduced pressure to yield 183.8 g, 863.5 g, and 1426.9 g of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol fractions, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction of S. flavescens was chemically characterized based on off-line semi-preparative HPLC and NMR, similar to our previous study (Yang et al.2015).
Herbal medicine for psychiatric disorders: Psychopharmacology and neuroscience-based nomenclature
Published in The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 2019
Siu W. Tang, Wayne H. Tang, Brian E. Leonard
Many herbs, including most of the ones we mentioned for the treatment of mental ailments in traditional medicine such as Poria cocos and Ganoderma lucidum (Vazirian et al. 2014), exhibit significant anti-bacterial, anti-viral (Zhao et al. 2012) and anti-parasitic properties, and even have anti-microbial properties against multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections (Miyasaki et al. 2013), These properties are probably an evolutionary defence mechanism that plants use against their natural enemies. Some other herbs with a primary indication in traditional medicine, but not for mental ailments, are anti-microbial. The herb Sophora flavescens (Ku shen) is used for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections, skin rashes, parasites and jaundice, but is neuroprotective in models of brain ischaemia and Alzheimer’s disease (Hwang et al. 2008; Jung et al. 2011; Ding et al. 2016; Zhao et al. 2015). Another herb, Scutellaria baicalensis (Huang Qin), has broad-spectrum anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-allergy actions. It is also neuroprotective in addition to its sedative action (Martin & Dusek 2002; Gasiorowski et al. 2011).
Related Knowledge Centers
- Alkaloid
- Fabaceae
- Nitrogen Fixation
- Flavonoid
- Matrine
- Oxymatrine
- Kushenin
- Pterocarpan
- Sophoraflavanone G
- Prenylflavonoid