Family              Fabaceae

Genus              Sophora

Used Part           Root

Introduction

Matrine and oxymatrine are the two major alkaloid components found in sophora roots. They are obtained primarily from Sophora japonica (kushen), but also from Sophora subprostrata (shandougen), and from the above ground portion of Sophora alopecuroides.

In China, the alkaloids are often given by injection, but this method of administration is not acceptable in the West, so oral dosing is used here instead. When taken orally, much of the oxymatrine is converted to matrine; to get high blood levels of oxymatrine, it must be given by injection. However, it is unclear whether oxymatrine is clinically more effective than matrine. Chinese researchers have also used the alkaloids in capsule form, with results that appear similar to the injection. Sophora is also administered in complex formulas made as decoctions and taken orally.

Character

Brown liquid or brown-yellow powder to white powder

Specification

Matrine 1%-98% HPLC

Pharmacological function

1.     Improve the leucocyte deficiency symptoms so as to enhance the body's immune function.

2.     Resist fungi, antibiotic, and it is effective in dealing with trichomonad vaginitis, flagellate disease, amoeba dysentery and fungus dysentery, etc.

3.     It can cure tonsillitis, mastitis, smooth the asthma etc. when taken orally.

4.     It is also be widely used in pesticide because of it is cheap price.

Application

Pharmaceutical raw materials, Biological Pesticide, Fungicide