Comparison on the Origin and Development of Sophora flavescens in China and Japan

Sophora flavescens , which was first recorded in Shen Nong s Herbal Classic , has the functions of clearing away heat, drying dampness, killing parasites and promoting urination. In its long-term application, traditional Chinese medicine has gradually deepened its understanding of the origin and efficacy of S. flavescens . In order to explore changes in the origin and efficacy of traditional Chinese herb S. flavescens in the history of China and Japan, in this paper, the origin and development of S. flavescens in China and Japan were compared from three aspects: the origin, medicinal efficacy, and processing methods of S. flavescens in China and Japan, hoping to provide clear understanding of the medicinal plant S. flavescens .

Analysis of Lavandulyl Flavonoids from Sophora flavescens with Antiinflammatory Activity Based on Molecular Network Technology

[Objectives]This study was conducted to screen lavandulyl flavonoids with anti-inflammatory activity from Sophora flavescens.[Methods]35 compounds were screened from traditional Chinese medicine S.flavescens using the nitric oxide(NO)anti-inflammatory activity model.[Results]Five components,8(xanthohumol),13(kurarinol),27(4-methoxysalicylic acid),28(b-resorcic acid)and 30(b-resorcic acid),exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity,with IC 50 values of 5.99,4.76,6.96,3.41 and 5.22μM,respectively.Especially,8(xanthohumol)and 13(kurarinol)were typical lavandulyl flavonoids in S.flavescens,which were worth further exploration.Furthermore,UPLC-Q-Exactive and GNPS molecular networking technique were used for rapid analysis of lavandulyl flavonoids from S.flavescens.A total of 15 components were identified.[Conclusions]This work lays a theoretical foundation for further separation and analysis of lavandulyl flavonoids with anti-inflammatory activity from S.flavescens.

Mechanisms of Sophora flavescens in the treatment of cervical squamous cell carcinoma based on comprehensive biological analysis,network pharmacology,and experimental verification

Objective:This study used comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and network pharmacology analysis to investigate the potentially relevant mechanisms of Sophora flavescens against cervical squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:Consistently altered genes involved in cervical squamous cell cancerization were analyzed in the GEO database.The chemical ingredients and target genes of Sophora flavescens were explored using the TCMSP database.We obtained the potential therapeutic targets of Sophora flavescens by intersecting the above genesets and validated them in the GEPIA database.The interaction between Sophora flavescens and target genes was predicted by molecular docking.RT-qPCR was used to verify the changes of target genes in HeLa cells treated with Sophora flavescens.Single-gene GSEA functional analysis were performed to determine the molecular mechanisms.Results:Fifteen genes related to the transformation of cervical squamous cell carcinoma were identified,among which AR and ESR1 were confirmed as targets for kaempferol,wighteone,formononetin,and phaseolinon.These compounds are the active ingredients in Sophora flavescens.Low expressions of AR and ESR1 correlate with a poor prognosis,while Sophora flavescens treatment increases the expression of AR and ESR1 in HeLa.GSEA analysis showed that AR and ESR1 mainly participate in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.Conclusion:Sophora flavescens exert anti-tumor effects by targeting AR and ESR1,which may regulate cancer metastasis.

Cloning and Sequencing of a Lectin Protein Gene from the Roots of Sophora flavescens

A lectin protein(SFL) with molecular weight about 32 kD which markedly agglutinated rabbit and human red blood cells was purified from the roots of Sophora flavescens Ait. This protein, and apparently inhibited the growth of Fusarium vasinfectum Atk., Gibberella saubinetii (Mont.) Sacc., and Piricularia oryzae Cav. A set of degenerate PCR primer was synthesized according to the N-terminal sequence of the purified protein. The full-length cDNA coding the lectin was cloned by RT-PCR and 5'-RACE and sequenced (GenBank AF285121). The deduced amino acid sequence indicates that a preprotein with 284 amino acid residues is firstly translated and then processed to a mature protein with 254 amino acids. A N-Glycosylation site is the Asn 182 residue.

土壤添加蛇床子(Cnidium monnieri)和苦参(Sophora flavescens)对茄子黄萎病及根际微生物的化感影响

研究了蛇床子、苦参对茄子黄萎病菌的化感抑制作用及对茄子根际微生物数量的影响。结果表明,蛇床子、苦参的提取物抑制了茄子黄萎病菌菌丝生长,并随提取物浓度的增加抑制作用增强。在土壤中施入蛇床子、苦参提取物处理茄子苗后表现出一定的抗病效果,其中蛇床子处理的植株发病率最低。在土壤中添加蛇床子和苦参粉末,经腐解后,苦参处理的茄子植株株高、茎粗均高于对照处理,且二者处理后植株干物质含量高于对照。处理后茄子根际微生物中放线菌数量增加,真菌的数量变化差异不明显,细菌的数量相对减少,在初花期微生物的总量均高于初果期和定植期。

Two New Antibacterial Flavanones from Sophora flavescens

Two new lavandulylated flavanones,（2R, 3R）-8-1avandulyl-2＇-methoxy-5, 7, 4＇-trihydroxyflavanonol （1） and 8-1avandulyl-5,7, 4＇-trihydroxyflavonol （2）,were isolated from the dry roots of S opharaflavescens.Their structures were eiucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant antibacterial activities.

Research progress on flavonoids from the roots of Sophora flavescens Alt.and their biological activities

Sophora flavescens Alt.,a perennial herb of Sophora in Leguminosae family,was widely distributed in the north and south of China.Its root is utilized as a traditional Chinese medicine to clear heat,drain dampness,kill insect and promote urination by virtue of bitter and cold.Its chemical components are complex and diverse,mainly including alkaloids and flavonoids.Modern pharmacological studies have found that prenylflavonoids and quinolicidine alkaloids are the characteristic chemical constituents and the main active ingredients,with anti-inflammatory,anti-tumor,anti-oxidation,and other various biological activities.This study reviewed the chemical constituents of S.flavescens and the pharmacological effects of flavonoids in it in order to provide reference for further development.

Exploring the anti-diabetic effects and the underlying mechanisms of ethyl acetate extract from Sophora flavescens by integrating network pharmacology and pharmacological evaluation

Background:Sophora flavescens,a traditional Chinese herb medicine,has been used to prevent and cure type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)both in folk medicine and medical institutions.Modern pharmacological studies have also demonstrated that the flavonoids obtained from Sophora flavescens ethyl acetate extract(SFE)exhibited potential anti-diabetic activity.Our previous study elucidated that SFE exerts anti-T2DM effects by regulating the host-microbial metabolic axis.In the present study,we further explored the pharmacodynamic effect and the potential targets of the anti-T2DM activity of SFE by integrating network pharmacology and pharmacological evaluations.Methods:The diabetic rat model was created by streptozotocin and oral administration with SFE for 8 weeks.Then,the T2DM-related index was estimated to assess the interventional effect of SFE.Network pharmacology was applied to identify the likely targets and the pathways modulated by SFE components.Furthermore,Western blotting was applied to verify the prediction.Results:Pharmacological evaluation in vivo revealed that SFE could markedly improve the blood glucose,serum insulin secretion,insulin resistance,liver glycogen synthesis,and the liver tissue structure in T2DM rats.Through network pharmacology analysis,101 active compounds of SFE and 114 targets belonging to 128 pathways were identified.The insulin,TNF,IL-6,and PI3K/Akt pathway may be the key targets and pathway.Based on the results of network pharmacology analysis,IRS/PI3K/Akt and IKK/NF-κB/TNF pathways were selected for further validation.Subsequently,experimental results of Western blotting confirmed that SFE may exert anti-T2DM effects by modulating the IRS/PI3K/Akt and IKK/NF-κB/TNF pathways.Conclusion:SFE may protect the T2DM rats by relieving the insulin resistance and inflammation through regulating the IRS/PI3K/Akt and IKK/NF-κB/TNF pathways.The results of the present study would improve the comprehension of the pharmacological basis of SFE against T2DM and provide a theoretical basis for the clinical use of Sophora flavescens.

Uncovering the mechanism of Sophora flavescens in the treatment of glioma based on network pharmacology

Glioma is a common primary intracranial tumor with high mortality and postoperative recurrence.Developing efficient therapies with lower toxicity is urgently needed.Sophora flavescens(SF)is a common Chinese medicine used to treat eczema,wet ulcers and itchy skin.Modern pharmacological studies have showed that SF has anti-glioma effects,but the mechanism of action remains unclear.This study aims to reveal the pharmacological mechanism of SF in treating glioma.The active components and related targets of SF were obtained from TCMSP.Genecard and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM)databases were used to explore the therapeutic targets for glioma.By making Venn diagram,we obtained 132 common targets of compounds and diseases.STRING databases and Cytoscape were used to construct diagrams of Protein-Protein Interaction(PPI)networks.Through the construction of PPI network,potential targets with degree value greater than the median were taken as core targets for further analysis.A total of 66 core targets were screened out.The degree values of TP53,HSP90AA1,MAPK1,and AKT1 were higher,indicating that these genes played important roles in this network.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses were used to further discover the mechanism of active components in SF.Through enrichment analysis,it was found that the core targets were mainly enriched in PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,cell senescence related signaling pathway and IL-17 signaling pathway.In order to further explore the binding between active components and selected target,molecular docking was carried out.Finally,SwissADME was used to determine whether the compound could cross the blood-brain barrier.Based on network pharmacology,we speculated that matrine and formononetin in SF might inhibit PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and cellular senescence related signaling pathway by targeting AKT1,TP53,MAPK1 and other key targets.In summary,this study preliminarily explored the target and mode of action of SF in the treatment of glioma,laying the foundation for further research on its mechanism.

Network-pharmacology and molecular docking-based investigation of mechanism of Sophora flavescens on cancer and inflammation

Objective:In order to explore the systematical regulatory mechanism of Kushen(Sophora flavescens,SF)on inflammation and cancer,we analyzed inter-molecular interactions between herbal ingredients of SF and human inflammation and cancer through network-pharmacology and molecular docking-based approaches.Methods:Firstly,ingredients and potential targets were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform,GeneCards database,Therapeutic Targets Database and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database.Then,protein-protein interaction network and medicine-ingredient-target-disease network were established and analyzed via STRING and Cytoscape.Surflex-dock was performed by SybylX-2.0.Finally,functional enrichment and pathway enrichment were achieved by Gene Ontology database and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database.Results:The results showed that 113 components of SF and 53 potential targets were related in the study.SF exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer mechanism through key targets located in nucleus,such as JUN,MYC,RELA,NCOA,PPARG which may trigger the NF-κB pathway,the Bcl-2/Bax pathway and other pathways to effect DNA transcriptional activity.Conclusions:The study predicted the mechanism of SF on cancer and inflammation.According to the results,we suggest that the ingredients of SF effect on DNA bingding and transcription in nuclear receptors-like JUN,MYC,RELA,NCOA,PPARG.the receptors trigger several pathways including NF-κB pathway,the Bcl-2/Bax pathway and others.Eventually,it regulats inflammatory factors and cell proliferation,senescence and apoptosis.

Five quinolizidine alkaloids with anti-tobacco mosaic virus activities from two species of Sophora

Three novel matrine-type alkaloids(1-3)and two unprecedented aloperine-type alkaloids(4 and 5)were isolated from the root of Sophora tonkinensis and the seeds of Sophora alopecuroides respectively.Notably,compound 1 possessed an unprecedented 6/5/6 tricyclic skeleton,while compounds 2 and 3 characterized by rare 6/6/5/6 tetracyclic system and 6/6/6/6/6 pentacyclic system respectively.Moreover,compound 4 possessed an unprecedented 6/7/6/6 tetracyclic core,and compound 5 characterized by rare 6/6/6/6tetracyclic skeleton.Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis and electronic circular dichroism(ECD)calculations.Biological tests indicated that compound 5 displayed significant anti-tobacco mosaic virus(TMV)activity compared with the positive control ningnanmycin.

Neosophoflavonoids A–C, A class of highly oxidized hybrid flavonoids from Sophora flavescens with antidiabetic effects

Three highly oxidized hybrid flavonoids neosophoflavonoids A–C(1,2a,and 2b)were isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens.Neosophoflavonoid A possesses a unique highly oxidized heptacyclic6/6/6/6/6/6/5 system.Neosophoflavonoids B and C are isomers and share the same highly oxidized hexacyclic 6/6/6/6/6/6 systems.Their planar structures were elucidated from 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR),ultraviolet spectroscopy(UV),infrared spectroscopy(IR),and high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy(HRESIMS)data.Their absolute configurations were determined by thorough GIAO13C NMR(DP4+)calculation protocol and electronic circular dichroism(ECD)calculation method.The plausible biosynthetic routes for the compounds were also proposed.All compounds exhibited significant protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B(PTP1B)inhibitory activity with half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC_(5)0)values 3.94±0.01,0.38±0.13,and 0.70±0.01μmol/L,respectively.In addition,compared to a positive control fenofibrate(Feno)at 20μmol/L,compounds 2a and 2b exhibited stronger inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation in the oleic acid(OA)-induced cell model at 5 and 10μmol/L.

Synergistic Action between Jasmonic Acid and Nitric Oxide in Inducing Matrine Accumulation of Sophora flavescens Suspension Cells

Secondary metabolites not only play important ecological roles in plants but also are important pharmaceutical and source compounds for derivative synthesis. Production of plant secondary metabolites is believed to be controlled by the endogenous signal network of plants. However, the molecular basis is still largely unknown. Here we show that matrine production of Sophora flavescens Ait. cells treated with low levels of jasmonic acid （JA） and nitric oxide （NO） is significantly increased although treatment with low concentrations of JA or NO alone has no effects on matrine production, showing that JA and NO may act synergistically in triggering matrine production. Moreover, treatment with NO triggers lipoxygenase （LOX） activity and enhances JA levels of the cells, showing that NO may activate the endogenous JA biosynthesis of S. flavescens cells. External application of JA induces nitric oxide synthase-like activities and stimulates NO generation of S. flavescens cells, which suggests that JA may trigger NO generation of the cells. Thus, the results reveal a mutually amplifying reaction between JA and NO in S. flavescens cells. Furthermore, JA and NO inhibitors suppress not only the mutually amplifying reaction between JA and NO but also the synergistic effects of NO and JA on matrine production. Therefore, the data demonstrate that the synergistic action of JA and NO in inducing matrine production might be due to the mutually amplifying reaction between JA and NO in the cells.

Protective Effect of Total Alkaloids of Sophora Alopecuroides on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Chronic Colitis

Objective：To investigate the effect of total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides（TASA） on dextran sulfate sodium（DSS）-induced colitis in mice.Methods：Chronic experimental colitis was induced by administration of 4 cycles of 4%DSS.Fifty mice were randomly distributed into 4 groups（normal,DSS,DSS/high-dose TASA, and DSS/low-dose TASA groups） by a random number table with body weight stratification.Mice in the normal group（n=11） and DSS-induced colitis control group（n=15） received control treatment of 20 mL/kg distilled water; DSS plus TASA high- and low-dose groups（n=12 each） were treated with TASA solution（20 mL/kg） at the doses of 60 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg,respectively.The severity of colitis was assessed on the basis of clinical signs, colon length,and histology scores.Moreover,secretory immunoglobulin A（slgA） and haptoglobin（HP） were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay;intercellular adhesion molecule 1（ICAM-1） and macrophage-migration inhibitory factor（MIF） gene expressions were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase realtime polymerase chain reaction（qRT-PCR） using SYBA greenⅠ;and nuclear factorκB（NF-κB） expression and activation and p65 interaction with the promoter of ICAM-1 gene were assessed by Western blotting and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay.Results：TASA administration significantly attenuated the damage and substantially reduced HP elevation and maintained the level of cecum slgA.TASA inhibited the ICAM-1 gene expression and had no effect on MIF gene expression.Also,TASA was able to reduce phospho-lκBα（p-lκBα） protein expression;however,it had no effect on the activation of IκB kinaseα（IKKα） and inhibitor of NF-κBα（IκBα）.Moreover,TASA inhibited the p65 recruitment to the ICAM-1 gene promoter.Conclusions：TASA had a protective effect on DSS-induced colitis.Such effect may be associated with its inhibition of NF-κB activation and blockade of NF-κB-regulated transcription activation of proinflammatory mediator gene.

Total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides-and matrine-induced reactive oxygen species impair biofilm formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis and increase bacterial susceptibility to ciprofloxacin

Objective:To investigate the mechanism by which total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides(TASA)and matrine(MT)impair biofilm to increase the susceptibility of Staphylococcus epidermidis(S.epidermidis)to ciprofloxacin.Methods:The minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration(mBIC)was determined using a 2-fold dilution method.Structure of biofilm of S.epidermidis was examined by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope(CLSM).The cellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)was determined using a DCFH-DA assay.The key factors related to the regulation of ROS were accessed using respective kits.Results:TASA and MT were more beneficial to impair biofilm of S.epidermidis than ciprofloxacin(CIP)(P<0.05).TASA and MT were not easily developed resistance to biofilm-producing S.epidermidis.The mBIC of CIP decreased by 2-6-fold following the treatment of sub-biofilm inhibitory concentration(sub-BIC)TASA and MT,whereas the mBIC of CIP increased by 2-fold following a treatment of sub-BIC CIP from the first to sixth generations.TASA and MT can improve the production of ROS in biofilmproducing S.epidermidis.The ROS content was decreased 23%-33%following the treatment of submBIC CIP,whereas ROS content increased 7%-24%following treatment with TASA+CIP and MT+CIP combination from the first to sixth generations.Nitric oxide(NO)as a ROS,which was consistent with the previously confirmed relationship between ROS and drug resistance.Related regulatory factorssuperoxide dismutase(SOD)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH)could synergistically maintain the redox balance in vivo.Conclusion:TASA and MT enhanced reactive oxygen species to restore the susceptibility of S.epidermidis to ciprofloxacin.

Five Novel Pterocarpan Derivatives from Sophora flavescens

Main observation and conclusion Five novel pterocarpan derivatives(1—5)and three known pterocarpans were isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens Ait.Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic data(UV,IR,1D and 2D NMR,and HR-ESI-MS).Notably,compounds 1—5 were the first reported natural products,which possess unique pterocarpan-glucose-long chain aliphatic acid structures.The kinds of aliphatic acids were determined by comparison with authentic aliphatic acids using HPLC-ELSD analysis after acid hydrolysis.The absolute configurations of 1—5 were confirmed by analysis of their ECD spectra.All compounds were evaluated against lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced TNF-αproduction in RAW264.7 cells,and compound 1 showed significant inhibitory activity with inhibition rate of 86.22%,IC_(50)=0.79μmol/L(dexamethasone as positive control,inhibition rate of 71.38%).

Flavonoids rather than alkaloids as the diagnostic constituents to distinguish Sophorae Flavescentis Radix from Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma: an HPLC fingerprint study

Sophorae Flavescentis Radix(Sophora flavescens Ait., SFR) and Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma(S. tonkinensis Gapnep., STR) are two commonly used traditional Chinese medicines from Sophora(Leguminosae) plants, which are believed to possess similar bioactive components with entirely different clinical applications. In order to find out the characteristic chemical constituents potentially leading to the unique medicinal properties claimed for each of the two closely related TCMs, an HPLC fingerprint method was developed for analyses of the alkaloid and flavonoid constituents of SFR and STR, respectively, which were further evaluated and compared through similarity calculation and hierarchical clustering analysis(HCA). The results from the present study showed that the alkaloid fingerprints of the two herbs were similar, with many components co-existing in both drugs and various batches of samples from different species being mixed together in the HCA dendrogram. However, their flavonoid constituents were totally different with specific fingerprints being yielded for each herb, and further HCA analysis showed that the tested samples could almost be clearly divided into two groups based on their origins of species. The results from the present study indicated that the flavonoid constituents could serve as the differentially diagnostic constituents of SFR and STR and might potentially attributed to their distinct therapeutic effects.

Sophaloseedlines A-G: Diverse Matrine-Based Alkaloids from Sophora alopecuroides with Potential Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Activities

Sophaloseedlines A-G(1-7),seven new matrine-based alkaloids along with two known analogues,were isolated from the seeds of Sophora alopecuroides.The new structures were determined based on extensive spectroscopic data,electronic circular dichroism calculations,and X-ray crystallography.Notably,sophaloseedline A(1)represents a novel rearranged 6(5→17)-abeo-matrine alkaloid featuring unprecedented highly constructed 7/6/5/6 tetracyclic fused ring skeleton.The hypothetical biosynthetic pathways for sophaloseedli nes A-F were proposed based on co-existing precursors.Additionally,all the isolated alkaloids were screened for their antiviral activities against hepatitis B virus,and new alkaloids 1 and 2 displayed more potent activities than those of matrine(a parent alkaloid of title plant)and positive control(lamivudine).

Anti-helicobacter pylori effect of total alkaloids of sophora alopecuroides in vivo

Background Helicobacterpylori （H.pylori） infection could lead to most gastroduodenal diseases and is even identified as a carcinogen of gastric cancer.Total alkaloids of sophora alopecuroides （TASA） is widely used in herbal remedies to treat various infectious diseases,including stomach-associated diseases.This study is aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial activity of TASA on H.pylori-infected BALB/c mice mouse gastritis.Methods Totally 120 BALB/c mice were orally inoculated with H.pylori Bacterial liquid to construct BALB/c mice H.pylori infection gastritis animal model,after the model was successfully created.We randomly assigned 100 infected mice into 10 treatment groups,the first group （normal saline）; the second group （bismuth pectin）; the third group （omeprazole）; the fourth group （TASA 2 mg/d）; the fifth group （TASA 4 mg/d）; the sixth group （TASA 5 mg/d）; the seventh group （TASA ＋ bismuth pectin）; the eighth group （TASA ＋ omeprazole）; the ninth group （bismuth pectin ＋ clarithromycin ＋ metronidazole）;the tenth group （omeprazole ＋ clarithromycin ＋ metronidazole）,5 other non-infected mice as negative control.Mice were orally inoculated twice a day and 7 days continuously.Then the mice were killed 4 weeks after treatment,we used realtime PCR to detect 16sDNA of H.pylori to test both the colonization and the clearance mice of bacteria of each treatment.We applied hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining and immunostaining of mice gastric mucosa to observe the general inflammation and related factors interleukin 8 （IL-8）,cyclooxygenase 2 （COX-2）,and nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-KB） expression change after treatments.Results Firstly,we ensured that after 6-week intragastric administration,the bacteria colonization reached an exceed peak which is far higher than positive threshold （P ＜0.001）; secondly,after treatments,it is revealed that TASA combined with omeprazole or bismuth pectin showed promising antimicrobial activity against H.pylori as well as conventional triple therapy （P ＜0.001）; thirdly,HE staining showed that the inflammation on mice gastric mucosal membrane were also relieved obviously in TASA combined treatments and conventional triple therapy compared with normal saline treated mice,moreover,from immunohistochemistry results,H.pylori-induced IL-8,COX-2,and NF-KB were consistently suppressed in seventh,eighth,ninth,and tenth group to a certain extent.Conclusion These results open the possibility of taking TASA as an anti-inflammatory agent for H.pylori gastritis.