Sophora tonkinensis. Sophora subprostrata  山 豆 根  Shān dòu gēn- "Mountain bean root"   Sophora root  Family: Leguminosae 
PART USED: Dry root- harvested Autumn (best) or Spring.
Nature: Cold   FLAVOR: Bitter  CHANNEL: Lung, Large Intestine, Heart
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Clear Heat- Neutralize toxins
1. Clear Heat.[3] Neutralize toxins.[3] Heal swelling, relieve pain.
2. Clear Lung.[3] Improves the condition of the throat.[3]
ACTIONS
INDICATIONS
1. Lung Heat swollen and sore throat,[2,3] cough due to Hot swelling and pain in gum.[2] Cough due to Lung Heat.[3]
2. Damp Heat jaundice.[3]
3. Carbuncles.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Diarrhea due to Spleen Cold from deficiency.[3]Deficient Heat.
PATENT COMBINATIONS
- Skin lesions due to Heat and Toxicity or Damp Heat: Clears Heat and resolved toxicity, clears Damp Heat Dandelion & Lycium- Qing re an chuang pian.
COMBINATIONS
- Pain and swelling of the throat, with Arctium lappa- Niu bang zi and Jie geng.[3]
- Pain and swelling of the throat, teeth, and gums, and sores of the mouth and tongue, with Isatis tinctoria- Ban lan gen.[3]
NOTE: Currently, this herb is being used as an emperor herb for the treatment of painful swelling in the throat.[3] Because it is a root, it has a descending action and because its flavour and nature are Cold and bitter, it can disperse poison blockage due to heat or fullness. If a sore throat is due to Wind perverse Qi, the condition is different and acrid cooling herbs should be used.
PREPARATIONS: Dried root/rhizome 3-9 g.[1,3] Recently used as a topically applied powder for pain, redness, and swelling of the oral cavity and uterine cervix.[3] Good quality is large, thick, and powdery.

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
Used as assistant herb in treating Lung and esophageal cancer at early stages.[1]

References
[1] Translation notes from Gary Seiford and Hocu Huhn- NSW College of Natural Therapies. Sydney Australia (1982).

SKI3301, a purified herbal extract from Sophora tonkinensis, inhibited airway inflammation and bronchospasm in allergic asthma animal models in vivo.
Yoo H, Kang M, Pyo S, Chae HS, Ryu KH, Kim J, Chin YW.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
Sophora tonkinensis (Leguminosae, ST) is a traditional herbal plant in Korea and China. Its roots and rhizomes have been used to dissipate heat, to clear toxic material and to treat acute pharyngolaryngeal infections and sore throats.
AIM OF STUDY:
In this study, we tried to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic effects of a purified extract (SKI3301) from Sophora tonkinensis using in vitro enzyme assay models and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma animal models.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The effect of SKI3301 on pro-inflammatory enzymes such as 5-lipoxygenase, phosphodiesterase 3 & 4, and thromboxane synthase was assayed in vitro. BALB/c mice were sensitized with OVA/Alum ip injection and nebulized with OVA to induce airway inflammation. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was collected and analyzed for leukocytes infiltration and IL-5 production along with lung histopathology. Guinea pigs passively sensitized with anti-OVA antiserum were used to investigate the effect of SKI3301 on bronchospasm in vitro and in vivo.
RESULTS:
SKI3301 potently inhibited the activities of 5-lipoxygenase, phosphodiesterase 3 & 4, and thromboxane synthase. Orally administered SKI3301 attenuated the total leukocytes and eosinophil infiltration and IL-5 level in BAL fluids. Histopathological changes associated with lung inflammation were also reduced by SKI3301. SKI3301 inhibited OVA-induced contraction of isolated trachea from sensitized guinea pigs. SKI3301 also protected OVA-induced bronchoconstriction in the sensitized guinea pigs. Maackiain, one of 3 major components of SKI3301, was effective in inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase and OVA-induced airway inflammation.
CONCLUSION:
In this study, SKI3301 potently inhibited pro-inflammatory enzymes and attenuated OVA-induced bronchospasm in animal model of allergic asthma. These results suggest that SKI3301 may have therapeutic potential for allergic asthma.
PMID: 28506902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.05.012 J Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Jul 12;206:298-305. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.05.012. Epub 2017 May 12. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hypoglycemic Activity and the Potential Mechanism of the Flavonoid Rich Extract from Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. in KK-Ay Mice.
Huang M, Deng S, Han Q, Zhao P, Zhou Q, Zheng S, Ma X, Xu C, Yang J, Yang X.
Abstract
This study investigated the active principles, hypoglycemic activity and potential mechanisms of the flavonoid rich extract from Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. (ST-EtOAc) in KK-Ay diabetic mice. An off-line semipreparative liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance (LC-NMR) and liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-UV-ESIMS) protocol was performed to determine 13 flavonoids from ST-EtOAc. ST-EtOAc administrated orally to the KK-Ay mice significantly increased their sensibility to insulin, reduced fasting blood-glucose levels and blood lipid indexes such as triglyceride and cholesterol. Moreover, ST-EtOAc exhibited a strong effect of stimulation on glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation by 2.7-fold in L6 cells. However, the selective AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor compound C can completely inhibit the activation of the AMPK pathway and prevent the GLUT4 translocation caused by ST-EtOAc. In vivo, phosphorylation of the AMPK expression in the liver and skeletal muscle was measured. The results showed phosphorylation of the AMPK had been improved and GLUT4 expression had been also enhanced. In this paper, we conclude that, ST-EtOAc seems to have potential beneficial effects on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with the probable mechanism of stimulating GLUT4 translocation modulated by the AMPK pathway.
PMID: 27656144 PMCID: PMC5011294 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00288 Front Pharmacol. 2016 Sep 5;7:288. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00288. eCollection 2016. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of 6,8-Diprenyl-7,4'-dihydroxyflavanone from Sophora tonkinensis on Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells.
Chae HS, Yoo H, Kim YM, Choi YH, Lee CH, Chin YW.
Erratum in Correction: Chae, H.S., et al. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of 6,8-Diprenyl-7,4'-dihydroxyflavanone from Sophora tonkinensis on Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells. Molecules. 2016, 21, 1049. [Molecules. 2016]
Abstract
The anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanism of 6,8-diprenyl-7,4'-dihydroxyflavanone (DDF), one of the flavanones found in Sophora tonkinensis, were assessed in vitro through macrophage-mediated inflammation in the present study. The anti-inflammatory effects of DDF were not previously reported. DDF inhibited the production of nitric oxide and the expression of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6. Furthermore, the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages was suppressed by treatment with DDF. Therefore, DDF demonstrated potentially anti-inflammatory effects via the blockade of NF-κB and ERK activation in macrophages.
PMID: 27529198 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21081049 Molecules. 2016 Aug 11;21(8). pii: E1049. doi: 10.3390/molecules21081049. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov