Sophora flavescens. 苦 参  Kǔ shēn- "bitter root"   Yellow Sophora   Family: Leguminosae  
PART USED: Root- harvested in Spring and Autumn.
Nature: Cold  Dissolve Damp  FLAVOR: Bitter  CHANNEL: Liver, Heart, Bladder, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Stomach,
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Clearing Internal Heat- Drying Dampness
1. Clears Heat and dries Dampness.[4] Clears fevers, detoxifies.[1] Counteracts moisture.[1]
2. Disperses Wind, kills parasites, and stops itching.[4] Destroy worms. Reduces flatulence.[1]
3. Clears Heat and promotes urination.[4]
ACTIONS
INDICATIONS- Mainly external use
1. Damp Heat: Enteritis, bacterial dysentery.[1] Dysenteric disorder, vaginal discharge, jaundice, and sores.[4] Bacterial dysentery- colitis, intestinal infection.[3]
2. Damp toxin skin lesions or infestions with chronic itching, seeepage, and bleeding.[4] Also for genital itching and vaginal discharge.[4] Used both externally and internally.[4]
3. Damp Heat in the Small intestine, dysuria, and hot edema.[4]
4. External usage for trichomonas vaginitis, and itching of external genitals.[3] Hives, scabies, carbuncles, weeping rash.[1] Damp rash: Boils, abscesses.[3] Bleeding hemorrhoids, bloody vaginal discharge and leukorrhea.[1]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
- Skin lesions due to Damp Heat or Heat and toxicity: Clears Damp Heat, Clear Heat and resolves Toxicity Sophora & Atractylodes- Qu shi bao tong chong ji.
COMBINATIONS
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency.[3] Do not use unless there is full Heat.[3]
PREPARATIONS: Decoction. Roots 6-15 g each dose.[1] For external use, the decoction may be used for bathing the affected parts.[1,3] Dried root 4-9 g.[2] Up to 30 g when made into a soak and applied topically.[4] Good quality is intact with a yellowish white interior and a bitter taste.[4]

HABITAT: Mostly found growing on hillsides and sunny slopes.
DESCRIPTION: Yellow Sophora is a deciduous shrub. Root; thick and long, yellow. Stem; cylindrical, with irregular longitudinal furrows, small branches pubescent. Leaves; alternate, oddly pinnate compound, leaf axis pubescent, leaflets opposite or almost opposite, long oval or broadly lanceolate, apexes obtuse, bases cuneate or obtuse, margins intact, leaf undersides pubescent, petioled. Flowers; in early summer, yellow disc-like flowers, axillary or terminal, forming racemose inflorescences. Legumes; seeds, black and globose.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research

The hair growth promoting effect of Sophora flavescens extract and its molecular regulation.
Roh SS, Kim CD, Lee MH, Hwang SL, Rang MJ, Yoon YK.
Abstract
In search of natural extracts for hair growth, we found that the extract of dried root of Sophora flavescens has outstanding hair growth promoting effect. After topical application of Sophora flavescens extract onto the back of C57BL/6 mice, the earlier conversion of telogen-to-anagen was induced. The growth of dermal papilla cells cultured in vitro, however, was not affected by Sophora flavescens extract treatment. RT-PCR analysis showed that Sophora flavescens extract induced mRNA levels of growth factors such as IGF-1 and KGF in dermal papilla cells, suggesting that the effects of Sophora flavescens extract on hair growth may be mediated through the regulation of growth factors in dermal papilla cells. In addition, the Sophora flavescens extract revealed to possess potent inhibitory effect on the type II 5alpha-reductase activity. Taken together, these results suggest that Sophora flavescens extract has hair growth promoting potential and can be used for hair growing products.
PMID: 12354419
J Dermatol Sci. 2002 Oct;30(1):43-9. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Extract of Roots of Sophora flavescens Enhances the Recovery of Motor Function by Axonal Growth in Mice with a Spinal Cord Injury.
Tanabe N, Kuboyama T, Kazuma K, Konno K, Tohda C.
Abstract
Although axonal extension to reconstruct spinal tracts should be effective for restoring function after spinal cord injury (SCI), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) levels increase at spinal cord lesion sites, and inhibit axonal regrowth. In this study, we found that the water extract of roots of Sophora flavescens extended the axons of mouse cortical neurons, even on a CSPG-coated surface. Consecutive oral administrations of S. flavescens extract to SCI mice for 31 days increased the density of 5-HT-positive axons at the lesion site and improved the motor function. Further, the active constituents in the S. flavescens extract were identified. The water and alkaloid fractions of the S. flavescens extract each exhibited axonal extension activity in vitro. LC/MS analysis revealed that these fractions mainly contain matrine and/or oxymatrine, which are well-known major compounds in S. flavescens. Matrine and oxymatrine promoted axonal extension on the CSPG-coated surface. This study is the first to demonstrate that S. flavescens extract, matrine, and oxymatrine enhance axonal growth in vitro, even on a CSPG-coated surface, and that S. flavescens extract improves motor function and increases axonal density in SCI mice. PMID: 26834638 PMCID: PMC4712302 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00326
Front Pharmacol. 2016 Jan 14;6:326. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00326. eCollection 2015. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hepatotoxicity Induced by Sophora flavescens and Hepatic Accumulation of Kurarinone, a Major Hepatotoxic Constituent of Sophora flavescens in Rats.
Jiang P, Zhang X, Huang Y, Cheng N, Ma Y.
Abstract
Our previous study showed that kurarinone was the main hepatotoxic ingredient of Sophora flavescens, accumulating in the liver. This study characterized the mechanism of Sophora flavescens extract (ESF) hepatotoxicity and hepatic accumulation of kurarinone. ESF impaired hepatic function and caused fat accumulation in the liver after oral administration (1.25 and 2.5 g/kg for 14 days in rats). Serum metabolomics evaluation based on high-resolution mass spectrometry was conducted and real-time PCR was used to determine the expression levels of CPT-1, CPT-2, PPAR-α, and LCAD genes. Effects of kurarinone on triglyceride levels were evaluated in HL-7702 cells. Tissue distribution of kurarinone and kurarinone glucuronides was analyzed in rats receiving ESF (2.5 g/kg). Active uptake of kurarinone and kurarinone glucuronides was studied in OAT2-, OATP1B1-, OATP2B1-, and OATP1B3-transfected HEK293 cells. Our results revealed that after oral administration of ESF in rats, kurarinone glucuronides were actively transported into hepatocytes by OATP1B3 and hydrolyzed into kurarinone, which inhibited fatty acid β-oxidation through the reduction of l-carnitine and the inhibition of PPAR-α pathway, ultimately leading to lipid accumulation and liver injury. These findings contribute to understanding hepatotoxicity of kurarinone after oral administration of ESF.
PMID: 29068394 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22111809 Molecules. 2017 Oct 25;22(11). pii: E1809. doi: 10.3390/molecules22111809. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improvement of androgenetic alopecia with topical Sophora flavescens Aiton extract, and identification of the two active compounds in the extract that stimulate proliferation of human hair keratinocytes.
Takahashi T, Ishino A, Arai T, Hamada C, Nakazawa Y, Iwabuchi T, Tajima M.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a hair loss disorder that commonly affects middle-aged men. To date, the properties of a number of natural or synthetic substances have been investigated for their ability to improve the condition.
AIM:
To evaluate the hair growth-promoting activities of an extract from the root of Sophora flavescens Aiton.
METHODS:
We used a human hair keratinocyte proliferation assay and ex vivo organ cultures of human hair follicle to examine the potential of the extract to stimulate hair growth via anagen elongation. We isolated the compounds promoting the growth of epithelial cells, and determined their chemical structures. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study for S. flavescens extract was carried out for 6 months with patients with AGA.
RESULTS:
The extract stimulated the proliferation of hair keratinocytes at a concentration of 0.1 ng/mL, while 100 ng/mL of the extract had a marked effect on hair shaft elongation in an organ culture of human hair follicle. Cell proliferation assay-directed fractionation led to the identification of two pterocarpan derivatives, L-smaackiain and medicarpin, as active compounds that promote the proliferation of human hair keratinocytes. Studies in human subjects showed that improvement in the inspected alopecia scores in the lotion plus extract group were significant over a period of 6 months (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS:
S. flavescens root extract is effective for the treatment of AGA. The isolated two pterocarpans might have important role in this effect.
PMID: 26453439 DOI: 10.1111/ced.12753 Clin Exp Dermatol. 2016 Apr;41(3):302-7. doi: 10.1111/ced.12753. Epub 2015 Oct 10. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Whitening effect of Sophora flavescens extract.
Shin DH, Cha YJ, Joe GJ, Yang KE, Jang IS, Kim BH, Kim JM.
Abstract
CONTEXT:
Sophora flavescens Ait. (Leguminosae) has been proposed as a new whitening agent for cosmetics, because it has a strong ability to inhibit tyrosinase, a key enzyme in the formation of melanin.
OBJECTIVE:
We conducted a study to determine whether ethanol extract of the roots of S. flavescens has the potential for use as a whitening cosmetic agent by investigating its underlying mechanisms of action.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
To elucidate the mechanism of action of S. flavescens extract, we used DNA microarray technology. We investigated the changes in the mRNA levels of genes associated with the formation and transport of melanosomes. We also identified the formation and transport of melanosomes with immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses. Finally, the skin-whitening effect in vivo of S. flavescens extract was analyzed on human skin.
RESULTS:
We found that S. flavescens extract strongly inhibited tyrosinase activity (IC50, 10.4 μg/mL). Results also showed that key proteins involved in the formation and transport of melanosomes were dramatically downregulated at both mRNA and protein level in keratinocytes exposed to S. flavescens extract. In addition, a clinical trial of a cream containing 0.05% S. flavescens extract on human skin showed it had a significant effect on skin whitening by mechanical and visual evaluation (1.14-fold).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:
This study provides important clues toward understanding the effects of S. flavescens extract on the formation and transport of melanosomes. From these results, we suggest that naturally occurring S. flavescens extract might be useful as a new whitening agent in cosmetics.
PMID: 24106757 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2013.799708 Pharm Biol. 2013 Nov;51(11):1467-76. doi: 10.3109/13880209.2013.799708. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Sophora Flavescens flavonoid compound trifolirhizin inhibits acetylcholine induced airway smooth muscle contraction
Nan Yang, Banghao Liang, Kamal Srivastava, Jia Zeng, Jixun Zhan, LaVerne Brown, Hugh Sampson, Joseph Goldfarb, Charles Emala, and Xiu-Min Li*
Abstract
Asthma is a serious health problem worldwide, particularly in industrialized countries. Despite a better understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma, there are still considerable gaps in knowledge as well as a need for new classes of drugs. ASHMI™ (Anti-asthma Herbal Medicine Intervention) is an aqueous extract of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst (Ling Zhi), Sophora flavescens Aiton (Ku Shen) and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC (Gan Cao). It prevents allergic asthma airway hyper-reactivity in mice and inhibits acetylcholine (ACh) induced airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction in tracheal rings from allergic asthmatic mice. The purpose of this research was to identify individual herb(s) and their active compound(s) that inhibit ASM contraction. It was found that Sophora flavescens (S. flavescens), but not Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) or Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis) aqueous extracts, inhibited ASM contraction in tracheal rings from asthmatic mice. Bioassay-guided isolation and identification of flavonoid fractions/compound(s) via methylene chloride extraction, preparative HPLC fractionation, and LC-MS and NMR spectroscopic analyses showed that trifolirhizin is an active constituent that inhibits acetylcholine mediated ASM contraction or directly relaxes pre-contracted ASM independent of β2-adrenoceptors.
Published online 2013 Aug 27. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.07.023
PMCID: PMC4118489
NIHMSID: NIHMS513528
PMID: 23993294 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Identification and characterization of antioxidants from Sophora flavescens.
Piao XL, Piao XS, Kim SW, Park JH, Kim HY, Cai SQ.
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to investigate the radical-scavenging activity and protective potential of Sophora flavescens from oxidative damage by the radical generator 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride (AAPH) in renal epithelial LLC-PK(1) cells and to identify the active components using the bioassay-linked fractionation method. The MeOH extract and fractions of CH(2)Cl(2), BuOH, and H(2)O from S. flavescens showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging effects in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.01),whereas only the BuOH and CH(2)Cl(2) fractions showed protective effects against LLC-PK(1) cellular damage induced by AAPH in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.01). In particular, the BuOH fraction had the most effective (p<0.05) antioxidative capacity. Employing a bioassay-linked HPLC/MS method, the active constituents from the BuOH fraction of S. flavescens were isolated and characterized as sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone with potent antioxidant effects against the DPPH radical, with IC(50) values of 5.26 and 7.73 microg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the compounds dose dependently recovered cell viability decreased by AAPH treatment (p<0.01), suggesting their protective roles against cellular oxidative damage. The results of this study suggest that S. flavescens has excellent antioxidative and kidney-protective potential and that flavonoids from S. flavescens, i.e., sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone, are the active constituents.
PMID: 16946508 Biol Pharm Bull. 2006 Sep;29(9):1911-5. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sophora flavescens Aiton inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines through inhibition of the NF kappaB/IkappaB signal pathway in human mast cell line (HMC-1).
Hong MH, Lee JY, Jung H, Jin DH, Go HY, Kim JH, Jang BH, Shin YC, Ko SG.
Abstract
The dried roots of Sophora flavescens Aiton (SFA) has been used in traditional medicine for treatment of inflammation, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, diarrhea, and asthma. In the present study, we investigated the effect of SFA on the inflammatory allergic reaction using human mast cell-1 (HMC-1). SFA (200mg/kg) inhibited the mast cell-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction in vivo and the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells by compound 48/80. In addition, the expression levels of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 were also decreased by SFA treatment. In molecular mechanism level, this study showed that SFA inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF) kappaB through inhibition of the phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaB-alpha, which is an inhibitor of NF kappaB. Moreover, SFA suppressed PMA plus A23187-induced phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 and c-jun N-terminal kinase. The inhibited induction of NF kappaB promoter by SFA was determined using luciferase activity. These results suggest that SFA could be used as a treatment for mast cell-derived allergic inflammatory diseases.
PMID: 19118619 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2008.12.002
Toxicol In Vitro. 2009 Mar;23(2):251-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2008.12.002. Epub 2008 Dec 13. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The alkaloid matrine of the root of Sophora flavescens prevents arrhythmogenic effect of ouabain.
Zhou Y, Wu Y, Deng L, Chen L, Zhao D, Lv L, Chen X, Man J, Wang Y, Shan H, Lu Y.
Abstract
Matrine, a alkaloid of the root of Sophora flavescens, has multiple protective effects on the cardiovascular system including cardiac arrhythmias. However, the molecular and ionic mechanisms of matrine have not been well investigated. Our study aimed at to shed a light on the issue to investigate the antiarrhythmic effects of matrine by using ouabain to construct an arrhythmic model of cardiomyocytes. In this experiment, matrine significantly and dose-dependently increased the doses of ouabain required to induce cardiac arrhythmias and decreased the duration of arrhythmias in guinea pigs. In cardiomyocytes of guinea pigs, ouabain 10 μM prolonged action potential duration by 80% (p<0.05) and increased L-type Ca(2+) currents and Ca(2+) transients induced by KCl (p<0.05). Matrine 100 μM shortened the prolongation of APD and prevented the increase of L-type Ca(2+) currents and Ca(2+) transients induced by ouabain. Taken together, these findings provide the first evidence that matrine possessed arrhythmogenic effect of ouabain by inhibiting of L-type Ca(2+) currents and Ca(2+) overload in guinea pigs.
PMID: 24680622 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2014.02.008 Phytomedicine. 2014 Jun 15;21(7):931-5. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2014.02.008. Epub 2014 Mar 26. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sedative Effect of Sophora flavescens and Matrine
Hyun-ju Lee, Sun-young Lee, Daehyuk Jang, Sun-Yong Chung,* and Insop Shim1,*
Abstract
The present study investigated the sedative effects of Sophora flavescens (SF) and its bioactive compound, matrine through performing locomotor activity test and the electroencephalography (EEG) analysis in the rat. The underlying neural mechanism of their beneficial effects was determined by assessing c-Fos immunoreactivity and serotonin (5-HT) in the brain utilizing immunohistochemical method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that SF and matrine administration had an effect on normalization of caffeine-induced hyperactivity and promoting a shift toward non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. c-Fos-immunoreactivity and 5-HT level in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO), a sleep promoting region, were increased in the both SF and matrine-injected groups. In conclusion, SF and its bioactive compound, matrine alleviated caffeine-induced hyperactivity and promoted NREM sleep by activating VLPO neurons and modulating serotonergic transmission. It is suggested that SF might be a useful natural alternatives for hypnotic medicine.
Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2017 Jul; 25(4): 390–395.
Published online 2017 Feb 13. doi: 10.4062/biomolther.2016.156
PMCID: PMC5499617
PMID: 28190318 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
 
Antipruritic effects of Sophora flavescens on acute and chronic itch-related responses in mice.
Yamaguchi-Miyamoto T, Kawasuji T, Kuraishi Y, Suzuki H.
Abstract
To find new antipruritic herbal medicines for pruritus, we screened the methanol extracts of seven herbal medicines which have been used to treat dermatologic diseases, testing them on mouse models of acute and chronic itch. When administrated perorally (p.o.) at a dose of 200 mg/kg, methanol extracts of Sophora flavescens and Cnidium monnieri, but not the others, significantly inhibited a serotonin (5-HT)-induced itch-related response (scratching) and the spontaneous scratching of NC mice, a mouse model of atopic dermatitis. The inhibitory effect of Sophora flavescens was stronger than that of Cnidium monnieri. The methanol extract from Sophora flavescens (50-200 mg/kg) inhibited 5-HT-induced scratching in a dose-dependent manner, without any effects on the locomotor activity. These results suggest that Sophora flavescens and its constituents widely affect acute and chronic pruritus, and are possible as new antipruritic agents.
PMID: 12736520 Biol Pharm Bull. 2003 May;26(5):722-4. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety and effectiveness of large dose compound Sophora flavescens Ait injection in the treatment of advanced malignant tumors- Article in Chinese
Li DR, Lin HS.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of large dose compound Sophora flavescens Ait injection in the treatment of advanced malignant tumors.
METHODS:
A non-randomized case control trial was conducted. Ninety six patients with pathologically confirmed advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer were divided into traditional Chinese medicine group and chemotherapy group, 48 cases each. Patients of the traditional Chinese medicine group received treatment with large dose of compound Sophora flavescens Ait injection (20 ml/d), and 21 days as a cycle.
RESULTS:
Forty-seven patients of the traditional Chinese medicine group and 46 patients of the chemotherapy group completed their treatment, respectively. The clinical benefit rate (CBR) in the traditional Chinese medicine group was 83.0%, significantly higher than that in the chemotherapy group (69.6%) (P < 0.01). The Karnofsky performance status and weight improvement in the traditional Chinese medicine group was superior to that in the chemotherapy group (P < 0.05). Except the skin irritation in one patient in the traditional Chinese medicine group, there were no other clinical adverse effects related with the large dose compound Sophora flavescens Ait injection.
CONCLUSIONS:
Large dose compound Sophora flavescens Ait injection in the treatment of advanced malignant tumors is safe and effective. The recommended dose is 20 ml/d.
PMID: 21575502 Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi. 2011 Apr;33(4):291-4. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov