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To screen the microorganisms used for fermentation to improve the taste of Sophora japonica aqueous extract, optimize its fermentation process, and investigate the effect of fermentation on antioxidant activity. In this study, microorganisms were screened to improve the taste of the aqueous extract of Sophora japonica by using microbiota single-bacteria and mixed-bacteria fermentation techniques, and the optimal fermentation process of Sophora japonica aqueous extract was determined by a one-way combination of Box-Benhnken response surface optimisation test, and changes in antioxidant activity before and after fermentation were detected. The results showed that the optimal bacterial combination for improving the taste of Sophora japonica aqueous extract through fermentation was Lactobacillus suis:Lactobacillus bulgaricus:Streptococcus thermophilus=1:1:1. The optimal fermentation process conditions were: fermentation time of 24 h, inoculation amount of 3%, fermentation temperature of 21 ℃. Under these conditions, the sensory score of the fermentation broth was 79.01 points, and the total flavonoid concentration was 0.3225 mg/mL. The scavenging rate of DPPH radicals by the aqueous extract of Sophora japonica decreased from 86.5% to 67.39% (P

Environmental pollution is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to skin and scalp damage. Oral supplementation with a specific blend of four standardized botanical extracts (Rosmarinus officinalis, Lippia citriodora, Olea europaea leaf, and Sophora japonica) has been previously demonstrated to enhance skin health in individuals exposed to high environmental stress. Thus, it might represent a convenient strategy to also improve their scalp health aspect, particularly in subjects with sensitive scalps. To support these effects, a 12-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 66 women working outdoors in urban areas with high particulate matter (PM) levels and taking 250 mg of the botanical blend daily. Product efficacy was measured as follows: skin antioxidant status (FRAP); skin and scalp moisturization (corneometer), transepidermal water loss (tewameter), and oiliness (sebumeter); skin radiance and colour (spectrophotometer), elasticity and firmness (cutometer) and wrinkle depth (image analysis); and scalp clinical evaluation. Despite constant exposure to increased levels of PM, the tested product positively influenced all monitored parameters compared to both baseline and the placebo-treated group, in as early as 4 weeks. At the end of the study, key improvements included increased skin FRAP (21.9%), moisturization (9.5%), radiance (24.9%) and reduced wrinkle depth (−16.5%), dark spot pigmentation (−26.2%), and skin oiliness (−19.3%). For the scalp, moisturization increased (14.1%), TEWL decreased (−13.8%), and sebum content reduced by 16.2%. Additionally, 71% of subjects with sensitive scalps experienced reduced redness. These findings highlight the extensive benefits of the ingredient, expanding its application beyond conventional skin treatments to also alleviate scalp issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sophora japonica polysaccharides were extracted by compound enzyme method, and the extraction process was optimized. The antioxidant activity in vitro was evaluated. Methods: The effects of addition amount of compound enzyme, pH, proportion of compound enzyme and enzymatic hydrolysis time on the extraction yield were investigated by single factor experiment. On the basic of single factor experiment, response surface method was used to determine the optimal extraction parameters of Sophora japonica polysaccharide. Compared with VC, the antioxidant activity of Sophora japonica polysaccharides was investigated by measuring the scavenging rate of DPPH· and ABTS+· and the total reducing power. Results: The optimal extraction parameters of Sophora japonica polysaccharides were as follows: The addition amount of compound enzyme was 23.8 mg/g, pH4.8, and the ratio of pectinase to cellulase was 0.912:1. Under this process, the yield of Sophora japonica polysaccharides was 10.71%, and the extracted polysaccharide showed good scavenging ability for DPPH· and ABTS+·. When the concentration of the polysaccharide solution was 2.8 mg/mL, the scavenging rate of DPPH· and ABTS+· reached 94.19% and 99.79% of VC at the same concentration, respectively, and the total reducing power reached 75.99% of VC. Conclution: Sophora japonica polysaccharide could be effectively extracted by compound enzymatic method and its antioxidant activity could be improved, which provided a theoretical reference for the development of functional food of Sophora japonica polysaccharide .

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play a key role in mediating soil–plant relationships within karst ecosystems. Sophora japonica, a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties, is widely cultivated in karst areas of Guangxi, China. We considered limestone, dolomite, and sandstone at altitudes ranging from 100 to 800 m and employed Illumina sequencing to evaluate AMF diversity and identify the factors driving S. japonica rhizosphere AMF community changes. We showed that the increase in altitude increased S. japonica AMF colonization and the Shannon index. The colonization of limestone plots was higher than that of other lithology. In total, 3,096,236 sequences and 5767 OTUs were identified in S. japonica rhizosphere soil. Among these, 270 OTUs were defined at the genus level and divided into 7 genera and 35 species. Moreover, available nitrogen, soil organic matter, and available calcium content had a coupling effect and positive influence on AMF colonization and Shannon and Chao1 indices. Conversely, available phosphorus, available potassium, and available magnesium negatively affected AMF Shannon and Chao1 indices. Lithology, altitude, pH, and available phosphorus are important factors that affect the dynamics of AMF in the S. japonica rhizosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An HPLC-UV method with high sensitivity and good resolution, calculated by the principal component external standard method with correction factors and detailed methodological validation according to ICH guidelines, was developed for the accurate detection of impurities in three different extraction processes of rutin raw materials and their tablets, and the determination of impurity profiles by LC-MS/MS. In this study, nine impurities (>0.1%) were mainly isolated and identified, four of which were process impurities, and the other five were degradation products. The results of the correlation between impurity profiles and production processes showed that the impurity content of rutin tablets correlated positively with the impurity level of the raw materials used, which correlated significantly with the extraction process. The finished rutin under the alkali-dissolution and acid-sedimentation refining method had low purity and the highest impurity content. In contrast, the number of impurities and the total amount of impurities detected in rutin by the secondary recrystallization process with methanol washing were the lowest, and were mainly process impurities. This further indicates that generating degradation impurities could be avoided, and a suitable refining process could effectively reduce impurities. This study provides an essential basis for manufacturers to optimize the process parameters of rutin raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Quercetin (a predominant flavonoid) is considered to have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of graded doses of quercetin (QS) on growth efficiency, nutrient retention, faecal score, footpad lesion score, tibia ash and meat quality. In a 32‐day feeding test, a total of 576 1‐day‐old Ross 308 broilers (male) were allocated arbitrarily with an average body weight of 41 ± 0.5 g. The trial had four dietary treatments with eight repetitions of 18 birds per pen and a basal diet incorporating 0%, 0.02%, 0.04% and 0.06% of QS. As the QS dosage increased, body weight gain tended to increase linearly on Days 9–21 (p = 0.069) and overall period (p = 0.079). Similarly, feed intake increased (p = 0.009) linearly with the increasing doses of QS on Days 9–21. Likewise, there was a linear improvement in dry matter (p = 0.002) and energy (p = 0.016) digestibility after QS administration. Moreover, the inclusion of QS supplement (0%–0.06%) linearly increased (p = 0.012) tibia ash in broilers. However, the faecal score and footpad lesion score showed no significant outcome (p > 0.05). By giving broilers a graded amount of QS, the relative organ weights of breast muscle (p = 0.009) and spleen (p = 0.006) improved linearly, meat colour lightness increased (p = 0.015), redness tended to improve (p = 0.065) linearly and drip loss decreased (p = 0.015) linearly. The inclusion of QS in the graded‐level diet led to improvements in growth efficiency, nutrient absorption, meat quality and tibia ash, which recommended it as a beneficial feed additive for the broiler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biorefinery of flavonoid aglycones by natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) is a green approach for the valorization of agro-food wastes. Using rutin/quercetin as a model system, this work studies the role of Bronsted acids in deglycosylation of flavonoid glycosides and the sustainable approach to producing aglycone-rich extracts by acidic NADESs. Different NADESs were tested, and the effects of Bronsted acids in catalysis and Hammett acidities were determined. The deglycosylation kinetics of rutin in the choline chloride-citric acid was measured and followed a first-order model with a half-life time (t1/2) of 0.16 h at 90 °C and an activation energy (Ea) of 140.3 kJ mol-1. A two-step one-pot approach was valid to produce quercetin-rich extracts from Sophora japonica buds waste. The quercetin-to-rutin ratio in the acidic NADES extracts was adjustable by changing the heating time. The acidic NADES of ChCl-Citric and quercetin-rich extracts showed low cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells with EC50 greater than 2000 mg L-1, and the cytotoxicity was mainly determined by citric acid. The study provides a new perspective for the valorization of bioproducts into ready-to-use flavonoid aglycone-rich extracts using acidic NADES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Flower color is one of the most important ornamental characteristics of Sophora japonica. The most common S. japonica flower color is generally yellow and white, with no exceptional characteristics. The monotonous flower color seriously affects the ornamental value of this species. Therefore, the elucidation of the underlying biosynthetic mechanisms and the role of anthocyanins in the development and cultivation of new flower color varieties in S. japonica is of significant importance but has remained unclear to date. In this study, the S. japonica 'AM' mutant was investigated due to its flower color mutation. The key structural genes involved in the synthesis and accumulation of anthocyanins in S. japonica 'AM' were screened out using metabolomics and transcriptomics approaches. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that the primary key metabolites that affect the color variation in 'AM' petals are cyanidin-type anthocyanins. The late genes and the bHLH transcription factor are the key genes affecting the anthocyanin synthesis and responsible for color variation in S. japonica 'AM' petals. This study analyzed the variation patterns and the synthesis pathways of anthocyanin components in S. japonica petals. The major relevant regulatory genes were also explored to provide a theoretical basis for the innovative utilization of S. japonica flower color germplasm resources. Sophora japonica L. is an important landscaping and ornamental tree species throughout southern and northern parts of China. The most common color of S. japonica petals is yellow and white. In this study, S. japonica flower color mutants with yellow and white flag petals and light purple-red wing and keel petals were used for transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of flower color variation in S. japonica 'AM' mutant, 36 anthocyanin metabolites were screened in the anthocyanin-targeting metabolome. The results demonstrated that cyanidins such as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside in the 'AM' mutant were the key metabolites responsible for the red color of the wing and keel petals. Transcriptome sequencing and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis identified the key structural genes and transcription factors related to anthocyanin biosynthesis. Among these, F3′5′H, ANS, UFGT79B1, bHLH, and WRKY expression was significantly correlated with the cyanidin-type anthocyanins (key regulatory factors affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis) in the flag, wing, and keel petals in S. japonica at various flower development stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flos Sophorae (FS), or the dried flower buds of Sophora japonica L., is widely used as a food and medicinal material in China. The quality of S. japonica flowers varies with the developmental stages (S1-S5) of the plant. However, the relationship between FS quality and maturity remains unclear. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q TRAP-MS/MS) were used to analyze inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites, respectively. A combined analysis of the inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites in FS was conducted to determine the patterns of FS quality formation. Sixteen inorganic elements and 173 flavonoid metabolites that accumulated at different developmental stages were identified. Notably, 54 flavonoid metabolites associated with the amelioration of major human diseases were identified, and Ca, P, K, Fe, and Cu were postulated to influence flavonoid metabolism and synthesis. This study offers a novel perspective and foundation for the further exploration of the rules governing the quality of plant materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play a key role in mediating soil–plant relationships within karst ecosystems. Sophora japonica, a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties, is widely cultivated in karst areas of Guangxi, China. We considered limestone, dolomite, and sandstone at altitudes ranging from 100 to 800 m and employed Illumina sequencing to evaluate AMF diversity and identify the factors driving S. japonica rhizosphere AMF community changes. We showed that the increase in altitude increased S. japonica AMF colonization and the Shannon index. The colonization of limestone plots was higher than that of other lithology. In total, 3,096,236 sequences and 5767 OTUs were identified in S. japonica rhizosphere soil. Among these, 270 OTUs were defined at the genus level and divided into 7 genera and 35 species. Moreover, available nitrogen, soil organic matter, and available calcium content had a coupling effect and positive influence on AMF colonization and Shannon and Chao1 indices. Conversely, available phosphorus, available potassium, and available magnesium negatively affected AMF Shannon and Chao1 indices. Lithology, altitude, pH, and available phosphorus are important factors that affect the dynamics of AMF in the S. japonica rhizosphere.

Objective: To investigate and analyze anti-glycation effects of the aqueous extract of Sophora japonica flower (SJF) by using different models, as well as its active constitutes identification. Methods: BSA/reducing sugar reaction system, glycosylated fibroblast induced by methylglyoxal and AGEs-increased zebrafish model triggered by glucose solution were simultaneously established to comprehensively evaluate the anti-glycation effects of SJF aqueous extract from biochemical, cellular and zebrafish aspects, respectively. Identification of major components was performed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry technique (UPLC-Triple TOF/MS). Biochemical system was subsequently adopted to further analyze anti-glycation effects of these primary components. Results: In the BSA/reducing sugar system, IC50 of AGEs inhibition of SJF aqueous extract was 53.93 μg/mL. 10 and 40 μg/mL of SJF aqueous extracts dramatically inhibited CML expressions in fibroblast model (P

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott extracts. Results showed that the total phenols and flavonoids contents of the extracts ranged from 24.57 to 316.11 mg GAE/g and from 1.80 to 12.41μg QE/mg, respectively. Ethyl acetate (EaES) and aqueous (AqES) extracts from seeds showed the highest DPPH scavenging capacity (IC50= 5.51 and 23.43 μg/mL). EaES from seeds, stem bark and fruit pod were the most active in inhibiting β-carotene oxidation. While, aqueous extracts have the ability to chelate ferrous ions. Significant antibacterial activity was obtained against Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeroginosa; and inhibition zones varied between 10 to 29.5 mm. MIC and MBC ranged from 0.7–11.25 mg/mL and 5.63–22.5 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, synergistic effects were obtained, where inhibition zones varied between 7 and 50 mm. These results support the use of this species in traditional medicine in many physiological disorders and could be used where antioxidant and antibacterial are warranted.

Sophora japonica L. is an important landscaping and ornamental tree species throughout southern and northern parts of China. The most common color of S. japonica petals is yellow and white. In this study, S. japonica flower color mutants with yellow and white flag petals and light purple-red wing and keel petals were used for transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of flower color variation in S. japonica ‘AM’ mutant, 36 anthocyanin metabolites were screened in the anthocyanin-targeting metabolome. The results demonstrated that cyanidins such as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside in the ‘AM’ mutant were the key metabolites responsible for the red color of the wing and keel petals. Transcriptome sequencing and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis identified the key structural genes and transcription factors related to anthocyanin biosynthesis. Among these, F3′5′H, ANS, UFGT79B1, bHLH, and WRKY expression was significantly correlated with the cyanidin-type anthocyanins (key regulatory factors affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis) in the flag, wing, and keel petals in S. japonica at various flower development stages.

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic condition caused by excessive production or low excretion of uric acid (UA) in the body. Xanthine oxidase (XOD) is the key enzyme in the process of metabolism purines to generate UA. In this study, the in vitro inhibitory effect of water extract of the flower bud of Sophora japonica (WESJ) on XOD was investigated by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. A mice model of HUA was constructed to explore the effect of WESJ on UA levels and the mechanism of action on renal function. Based on Box–Behnken design, the optimal extraction process of WESJ was determined to extract Sophora japonica twice with 8 times of water, 0.5 h each time. Pharmacological results showed that low, medium, and high doses of WESJ (200, 400, 600 mg/kg) could significantly reduce serum UA level, inhibit the activity of XOD in blood and liver, and have a protective effect on kidney damage caused by high UA. Through UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis, 214 compounds were identified in WESJ, including flavonoids, polyphenols, triterpenoids, organic acids, and others. The rat serum of WESJ was analyzed, and 23 prototype components entering the blood were identified, including 15 flavonoids and polyphenols, which may be the main bioactive components. In conclusion, flavonoids and polyphenols in WESJ may reduce the level of UA and alleviate kidney damage by inhibiting the activity of XOD. WESJ is expected to be used as a plant-based food and dietary supplement for the treatment of HUA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sophora japonica L. (Leguminosae), a well-known traditional medicine in Asia, is offcially listed in the Chinese and European Pharmacopoeia. Its buds and fruits have been used as medicinal agents with signifcant biological activity. Pharmacologic studies and clinical practice have demonstrated that they have benefcial effects in the treatment of many diseases. Herein, we developed a simpler and effective separation method of flavones and isoflavones from S. japonica fruit by one-step HSCCC based on the COSMO-RS model.Methods: HSCCC was applied for the preparative separation and purifcation of fve active compounds from S. japonica L. fruit (three flavone glycosides and two isoflavone glycosides). Under the assistance of a COSMO-RS, one-step separation with the two-elution solvent system that was designed.Results: The frst elution was conducted with the lower phase of ethyl acetate-n-butanol-water (5:1:5, v/v), and the second elution was performed with the same one containing 4.0 mmol L-1 of NH3·H2O. From 200 mg of crude extract, 11.2 mg of kaempferol-3-O sophoroside (I), 3.2 mg of rutin (II), 3.4 mg of kaempferol-3-O-α-L-ramnopyranosyl-(1–6)-β-Dglucopyranoside (III), 11.5 mg of sophorabioside (IV), and 10.1 mg of sophoricoside (V) were obtained. Their purity values were 98.1%, 97.6%, 99.5%, 99.2%, and 98.3%, respectively.Conclusion: The fve targets of I-V can be used as reference substances for chromatographic purposes as well as for the further physiological studies. The developed method is instructive for the separation of other flavonoids too.

Sophora japonica is a medium-size deciduous tree belonging to Leguminosae family and famous for its high ecological, economic and medicinal value. Here, we reveal a draft genome of S. japonica , which was ∼511.49 Mb long (contig N50 size of 17.34 Mb) based on Illumina, Nanopore and Hi-C data. We reliably assembled 110 contigs into 14 chromosomes, representing 91.62% of the total genome, with an improved N50 size of 31.32 Mb based on Hi-C data. Further investigation identified 271.76 Mb (53.13%) of repetitive sequences and 31,000 protein-coding genes, of which 30,721 (99.1%) were functionally annotated. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that S. japonica separated from Arabidopsis thaliana and Glycine max ∼107.53 and 61.24 million years ago, respectively. We detected evidence of species-specific and common-legume whole-genome duplication events in S. japonica. We further found that multiple TF families (e.g. BBX and PAL) have expanded in S. japonica , which might have led to its enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress. In addition, S. japonica harbours more genes involved in the lignin and cellulose biosynthesis pathways than the other two species. Finally, population genomic analyses revealed no obvious differentiation among geographical groups and the effective population size continuously declined since 2 Ma. Our genomic data provide a powerful comparative framework to study the adaptation, evolution and active ingredients biosynthesis in S. japonica. More importantly, our high-quality S. japonica genome is important for elucidating the biosynthesis of its main bioactive components, and improving its production and/or processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dried flower and flower bud of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott (Japanese Sophora flower and Japanese Sophora flower bud, respectively) have long been used as herbal medicines in Asia. Today, they are marketed as dietary supplements in the United States for their anti‐oxidative properties and as a source of flavonoids, including rutin and quercetin. This review focused on the safety of S. japonicum flower and flower bud as dietary supplement ingredients. No serious adverse events or toxicity were reported in the clinical or experimental animal studies we reviewed. Although some studies indicated that rutin or quercetin may have potential for drug interactions, none were identified for S. japonicum flower or flower bud. S. japonicum flower and flower bud are not known to have been associated with serious health risks when appropriately consumed in dietary supplements and have been admitted to the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention monograph development process. However, pregnant and breastfeeding women should seek the advice of a healthcare professional because no data are available on their use by these special populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing quercetin extracted from Sophora japonica flower (QS) to the diet of broiler chicks on their growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, cecal microbiota, serum lipid profiles, relative organ weight, and breast muscle quality. Methods: A total of 1,088 1-day-old broiler chicks (mixed sex) were randomly assigned to four groups based on the initial body weight (43.00±0.29 g). The experimental period was 35 days (starter, days 0 to 7; grower, days 7 to 21; finisher, days 21 to 35). There were 17 replicate cages per treatment and 16 birds per cage. Dietary treatments consisted of birds receiving basal diet without quercetin as the control group and treatment groups consisted of birds fed basal diet supplemented with 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6 g/kg QS. Results: With the increase of the QS dosage, body weight gain during days 0 to 7 (p = 0.021), 7 to 21 (p = 0.010), and 1 to 35 (p = 0.045), feed intake during days 0 to 7 (p = 0.037) and 1 to 35 (p = 0.025), apparent dry matter digestibility (p = 0.008), apparent energy retention (p = 0.004), cecal lactic acid bacteria counts (p = 0.023), the relative weight of breast muscle (p = 0.014), pH value from breast muscle (p<0.001), and the water holding capacity of breast muscle (p = 0.012) increased linearly, whereas the drip loss from breast muscle (p = 0.001) decreased linearly. Conclusion: The addition of QS in the diet of broiler chicks had positive effects on the breast muscle yield and breast muscle quality, and improved the dry matter digestibility and energy retention by increasing cecal beneficial bacteria counts, thus improving growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Forest Research is the property of Forest Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abiotic stresses, such as salinity, drought, and nutrient deficiency adversely affect nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilation in plants. However, the regulation of N metabolism and N pathway genes in Sophora japonica under abiotic stresses is unclear. Sophora japonica seedlings were subjected to drought (5% polyethylene glycol 6,000), salinity (75mM NaCl), or low N (0.01mM NH4NO3) for 3weeks in a semi-hydroponic phenotyping platform. Salinity and low N negatively affected plant growth, while drought promoted root growth and inhibited aboveground growth. The NH4+/NO3− ratio increased under all three treatments with the exception of a reduction in leaves under salinity. Drought significantly increased leaf NO2− concentrations. Nitrate reductase (NR) activity was unaltered or increased under stresses with the exception of a reduction in leaves under salinity. Drought enhanced ammonium assimilation with increased glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activity, although glutamine synthetase (GS) activity remained unchanged, whereas salinity and low N inhibited ammonium assimilation with decreased GS activity under salt stress and decreased GOGAT activity under low N treatment. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity also changed dramatically under different stresses. Additionally, expression changes of genes involved in N reduction and assimilation were generally consistent with related enzyme activities. In roots, ammonium transporters, especially SjAMT1.1 and SjAMT2.1a , showed higher transcription under all three stresses; however, most nitrate transporters (NRTs) were upregulated under salinity but unchanged under drought. SjNRT2.4 , SjNRT2.5 , and SjNRT3.1 were highly induced by low N. These results indicate that N uptake and metabolism processes respond differently to drought, salinity, and low N conditions in S. japonica seedlings, possibly playing key roles in plant resistance to environmental stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic stresses, such as salinity, drought, and nutrient deficiency adversely affect nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilation in plants. However, the regulation of N metabolism and N pathway genes in Sophora japonica under abiotic stresses is unclear. Sophora japonica seedlings were subjected to drought (5% polyethylene glycol 6,000), salinity (75mM NaCl), or low N (0.01mM NH4NO3) for 3weeks in a semi-hydroponic phenotyping platform. Salinity and low N negatively affected plant growth, while drought promoted root growth and inhibited aboveground growth. The NH4+/NO3− ratio increased under all three treatments with the exception of a reduction in leaves under salinity. Drought significantly increased leaf NO2− concentrations. Nitrate reductase (NR) activity was unaltered or increased under stresses with the exception of a reduction in leaves under salinity. Drought enhanced ammonium assimilation with increased glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activity, although glutamine synthetase (GS) activity remained unchanged, whereas salinity and low N inhibited ammonium assimilation with decreased GS activity under salt stress and decreased GOGAT activity under low N treatment. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity also changed dramatically under different stresses. Additionally, expression changes of genes involved in N reduction and assimilation were generally consistent with related enzyme activities. In roots, ammonium transporters, especially SjAMT1.1 and SjAMT2.1a, showed higher transcription under all three stresses; however, most nitrate transporters (NRTs) were upregulated under salinity but unchanged under drought. SjNRT2.4, SjNRT2.5, and SjNRT3.1 were highly induced by low N. These results indicate that N uptake and metabolism processes respond differently to drought, salinity, and low N conditions in S. japonica seedlings, possibly playing key roles in plant resistance to environmental stress.

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic condition caused by excessive production or low excretion of uric acid (UA) in the body. Xanthine oxidase (XOD) is the key enzyme in the process of metabolism purines to generate UA. In this study, the in vitro inhibitory effect of water extract of the flower bud of Sophora japonica (WESJ) on XOD was investigated by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. A mice model of HUA was constructed to explore the effect of WESJ on UA levels and the mechanism of action on renal function. Based on Box–Behnken design, the optimal extraction process of WESJ was determined to extract Sophora japonica twice with 8 times of water, 0.5 h each time. Pharmacological results showed that low, medium, and high doses of WESJ (200, 400, 600 mg/kg) could significantly reduce serum UA level, inhibit the activity of XOD in blood and liver, and have a protective effect on kidney damage caused by high UA. Through UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis, 214 compounds were identified in WESJ, including flavonoids, polyphenols, triterpenoids, organic acids, and others. The rat serum of WESJ was analyzed, and 23 prototype components entering the blood were identified, including 15 flavonoids and polyphenols, which may be the main bioactive components. In conclusion, flavonoids and polyphenols in WESJ may reduce the level of UA and alleviate kidney damage by inhibiting the activity of XOD. WESJ is expected to be used as a plant-based food and dietary supplement for the treatment of HUA.

Species adulteration is a concern in herbal products, especially when plant substitutes of lower economic value replace valuable botanicals. Styphnolobium japonicum is well known as a potential adulterant of Ginkgo biloba , which is one of the most demanded medicinal plants due to its wide use in pharmaceuticals, food supplements, and traditional medicine. Despite bearing some resemblance to ginkgo's flavonol composition, S. japonicum lacks many of G. biloba's desired therapeutic properties. To prevent adulteration practices, it is crucial to implement rigorous quality control measures, including fast and simple diagnostic tools that can be used on-field. This study aims to develop for the first time a species-specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for the fast identification of S. japonicum in ginkgo-containing products. A set of four specific primers (SjF3, SjB3, SjFIP, and SjBIP) and loop primers (SjLF and SjLB) were designed for a LAMP based assay using the 5.8S partial sequence and the internal transcribed spacer 2 of nuclear ribosomal DNA of S. japonicum. The successful amplification of the LAMP assay was inspected through visual detection, with the highest intensity recorded at the optimal conditions set at 68 °C for 40 min. The primers showed high specificity and were able to accurately discriminate S. japonicum from G. biloba and 49 other species of medicinal plants. Furthermore, the proposed LAMP assay proved to be fast, selective, and highly sensitive, as demonstrated by the absolute and relative limits of detection, which were reached at 0.5 pg for S. japonicum DNA and 0.01 % S. japonicum in G. biloba , respectively. This novel approach allows easy identification and discrimination of S. japonicum as a potential adulterant of G. biloba , thus being a useful tool for quality control. Compared to chromatographic or PCR-based methods, the assay proved to be fast, sensitive and did not require expensive equipment, thus offering the possibly usage in field analysis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rutin (R), a representative flavonoid found in various biomasses, can be used to prepare different fluorescent sensors for environmental, biological and medical fields. In this work, the natural R in Sophora japonica was extracted and purified to prepare fluorescent-responding sensor systems intended to recognize copper ions with both strong selectivity as well as appropriate sensitivity. Results showed that neat R had no obvious fluorescent emission peak in PBS buffer solution. However, when R and (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (CD) were introduced within buffer solution, fluorescent emission intensity was significantly increased due to the resultant R-CD inclusion complex. In addition, the formed R-CD inclusion complex was shown to behave as the aforementioned fluorescent sensor for copper ions through a mechanism of quenched fluorescent emission intensity when R-CD became bound with copper ions. The binding constant value for R-CD with copper ions was 1.33 × 106, allowing for quantification of copper ions between the concentration range of 1.0 × 10–7–4.2 × 10–6mol⋅L–1. Furthermore, the minimum detection limit was found to be 3.5 × 10–8mol⋅L–1. This work showed the prepared R-CD inclusion complex was both highly selective and strongly sensitive toward copper ions, indicating that this system could be applied into various fields where copper ions are of concern.

The atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) is invariably an incidental histological change, with no clinical findings specific for its diagnosis, and the mean patient age at diagnosis is 64–70 years. The incidence of AAH varies between 1.5 and 19.6% of transurethral resections and in up to 33% of radical prostatectomies. Herbal medicines are becoming a popular option in the treatment of prostatic-related diseases, such as date palm pollen and saw palmetto in the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia. A testosterone/citral-induced AAH in Wistar rat model was used to evaluate the protective effect of Sophora japonica fruit extract (SFE). The present study suggests that SFE has an ameliorating effect on the prostatic hypertrophy and inflammation through its effect on clusterin, IGF, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 expression. In addition, the administration of SFE ameliorated the inflammatory score, and histopathological changes in AAH-induced rats in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment with SFE reduced the number of prostatic acini in AAH rat model and decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The fruit extract of S. japonica was characterized by determination total phenol content (60.3 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g of dry extract), total flavonoid content (97.9 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dry extract) and the major isoflavonoid sophoricoside (302.9 ± 2.6 µg/g of the extract). In conclusion, SFE has an ameliorating effect on the prostatic hypertrophy and inflammation. This effect may be attributed to the ability of SFE to decrease the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1β and IGF-1 as well as an increase in TGF-β1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Key message: We developed and identified a new set of polymorphic EST-SSR markers in Sophora japonica Linn. and analyzed their genetic diversity. Sophora japonica is a native species in China with ornamental and medicinal value. To explore the genetic diversity and the genetic differentiation of this species, expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers were developed based on de novo transcriptome sequencing. In total 35,844 unigenes were obtained with an average length of 923 bp. 7,520 potential EST-SSRs were identified from 6,084 unigenes, of which there was one SSR per 4.40 kb. The dinucleotide repeats were the most common SSRs. Based on the SSR-containing sequence, 30 superior EST-SSRs were developed from 100 primer pairs and further used to characterize the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of S. japonica in five populations. The results showed that the genetic diversity of the five groups was high, but the frequency of gene exchange between the groups was not. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that the genetic variation within individuals was 86.10%, which means the individual variation was the more significant in selective breeding of S. japonica. Nei's genetic identity and genetic distance analyses yielded a high genetic identity value of 0.896 and mean genetic distance of 0.1095 suggesting high similarities among the five tested S. japonica populations. Based on genetic distance, S. japonica populations were classified into two groups. The findings of this study provide insights into the genetic information of S. japonica and will guide the development of conservation and management strategies for existing S. japonica germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enrich the dyeing system of sophora japonica and sorghum red dyestuff, and to solve the problem of low dyeing tone and difficulty in color matching, the color matching of these two dyes on silk fabric with different concentration ratios was studied. The effects of direct dyeing and mortician dyeing on dyeing performance were discussed. The K/S value and dyeing fastness of silk fabrics were tested. The results showed that sophora japonica and sorghum red dyestuff had good color matching performance, and the color light and color depth of dyed silk fabric changed regularly with the change of dye concentration ratio, the dyeing effect was better and a variety of colors could be obtained. Mordant dyeing further enriched the color, improved the dyeing depth and color fastness of the silk fabric, color fastness can reach level 3 or above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraction procedures for plant‐based secondary metabolites are mainly influenced by choice of solvent, particle size and solvent to feed ratio. For developing an extraction protocol design‐of‐experiments or model‐based approaches have widely been used. Botanical aspects such as the influence of side compounds are less investigated. Either for analytical or preparative purposes, knowledge of the underlying extraction mechanisms is required to improve the process development. In this work, we demonstrate the mechanism of accessibility limitation of rutin by side compounds depending on the solvent to feed ratio. Extraction yields of target and side compounds are analyzed to derive correlations. The role of side compounds as limiting factors for target compound accessibility is demonstrated by performing two extraction steps using three different plant species. The maximum extraction yield of rutin is reached using a solvent to feed ratio of at least 300 for all three investigated plant species, while side compounds in liquid state generally affect the extractability of rutin. Phosphatidylcholines are identified as possible accessibility‐limiting compounds. In conclusion, the yields of target and side compounds strongly depend on the solvent to feed ratio, while side compounds cover the target compound in dry matter, reducing its accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• One-pot system avoids complicated processing between extraction and hydrolysis. • Natural deep eutectic solvents as extractant is "greener" than organic solvents. • Enzyme catalytic is less pollution with higher yield compared to acid catalytic. • Non-aqueous system improves catalytic efficiency of rutin degrading enzyme. • This method can be used to prepare many other natural active substances. In this study, we have established a green and efficient preparation method of quercetin. Rutin was first extracted from Sophora japonica using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs), then hydrolyzed into quercetin by rutin degrading enzyme (RDE) obtained from germinated tartary buckwheat in situ. Rutin solubility tests showed that most of the 11 NADESs increased the solubility of rutin by 67-3116 times compared to water. Thus, NADESs could be prior candidate to extract rutin. Extraction efficiency of rutin varied with different NADESs, and a maximum of 291.57 mg g−1 was achieved in NADES ChGly, which was prepared by mixing choline chloride and glycerol at a molar ratio of 1:1. After that hydrolysis was performed directly in extraction system by adding RDE with degradation rate of up to 8.36 mg min-1·L-1. Our findings suggest that preparation of quercetin using NADESs was simple and feasible to operate, environmentally friendly, efficient, and inspired the preparation method of bioactive components from a new perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids represent a large group of polyphenols that have been recognized to exert a wide range of biological effects, such as anticancer, inflammation inhibition, anti-aging, and neuroprotective activities. In the forest industry, tree twigs have been treated as residues; however, tree twigs could be a rich source of high-value added compounds, which have been relatively unexplored. In this study, an investigation into the chemical constituent of extractives from S. japonica twigs resulted in the isolation of a new (Z)-caffeoyl flavonol glycoside that was elucidated as myricetin 3-O-(4′′-(Z)-caffeoyl)-α-rhamnopyranoside (IV). The structure of the new compound was established mostly on the basis of extensive spectroscopic techniques and other physiochemical evidences. Among the three known flavonoids extracted in this work, including isoquercitrin (I), isorhamnetin 3′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (II), and myricitrin (III), II and III have never been previously reported in the Sophora genus.

Toxicological studies are urgently needed to confirm the safety of Sophora japonica extracts for clinical use. In particular, in addition to pharmacy and pharmacology, phytotherapy, herbal medication, Sophora japonica extracts are widely used as biologically active supplements. Scientfic data suggests that some of Sophora japonica extract components have very comprehensive biological effects. In the present study, our hypothesis assumed the potential reprotoxicity of Sophora japonica extract in respect to mouse germ cells (GC-1 spg, GC-2 spd) in vitro. Specifically, we were interested in the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identification of extract components and its stress-related effects on cellular and biochemical features, such as mitochondrial metabolism, cell cycle progression, oxidative stress balance and micronuclei formation. The results indicate that Sophora japonica extract induces oxidative/nitrosative stress-mediated impairment of the mechanism for free radicals scavenging, which may provoke genotoxic events in germ cells, by cell cycle arrest and micronuclei formation. Therefore, the interplay between reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and antioxidant system is critical for normal testicular function maintenance in the their environment. The specific pathways and mechanisms involved in the reprotoxicity of Sophora japonica need to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of production of a natural antioxidant, quercetin, from flower buds of the Sophora japonica (Sophora japonica L.) using subcritical water both as a reagent and a solvent was investigated. The proposed approach allows one to avoid the use of costly and toxic organic solvents, does not require conducting separate steps of extraction and hydrolysis, and simplifies purification of the product. High quercetin yields were achieved within a time that was 13 times less than using traditional techniques. The losses of the target product during production of dry extract were reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A water-soluble polysaccharide SJ-A presenting a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution was prepared by ethanol precipitation and purified from the pods of S. japonica. Chemical composition, molecular weight distribution, and glycosidic configurations of SJ-A were elucidated by sugar analysis, molecular determination, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. The impacts of the concentration (0.5–2.0%) of SJ-A on the rheological parameters were investigated to clarify the molecular crosslinking features of SJ-A in relation to its rheological properties. The experimental results indicated that the microstructural coupling of the gel induced at higher concentrations of SJ-A required a higher frequency of the rheometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) has been proven as a useful and advanced technique in the identification of polymers and proteins. However, MALDI-TOF-MS still has the unavoidable drawback of self-signal interference with traditional organic matrices, which could suppress and overlap with the analyte signals in the low-mass region. In this work, MIL-101(Cr), a kind of metal-organic frameworks which possess high molecular weight, π-conjugated 3-D structure, coordinately unsaturated chromium sites (CUS) and strong absorption in the UV range, was employed to replace traditional organic matrices, and it was found that MIL-101(Cr) can dramatically eliminate the background peaks, showing high signal-to-noise level in the analysis of small molecules. As proof-of-concept, quercetin, daidzein, genistein and naringenin, members of flavonol family which widely exists in food and natural products, were successfully determined by utilizing MIL-101(Cr) as the surface-assisted matrix, and the detection of quercetin was sensitive with good salt tolerance and reproducibility. Under optimal conditions, the mass peak intensity exhibited good linear relationships in the range from 0.25 µg/mL-7.00 µg/mL for quercetin ( R 2 =0.996) with detection limit 2.11 ng/mL (3σ/k), making the identification of quercetin in sophora japonica successfully. With this strategy we have demonstrated the potentiality of MIL-101(Cr) nanomaterials as MALDI-MS matrix for the detection of small molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, the antagonistic effects of Gingko biloba leaf (GB) and Sophora japonica L. flower bud (SJ) extracts on cerebral vasoconstriction in response to KCl, extracellular Ca, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 9,11-dideoxy-9,11-methanoepoxy prostaglandin (PG) F(U46619) and bradykinin (BK), in order to explain their traditional application for diseases associated with cerebral vasospasm. Isolated porcine basilar arteries (PBA) and endothelial cells from them were used as the study materials. Neither SJ nor GB had any effect on the contractions induced by KCl and extracellular Ca. SJ significantly inhibited the contraction induced by histamine, 5-HT, U46619 and BK, whereas GB inhibited histamine-induced contraction, but had no effects on the contractions induced by 5-HT, U46619 and BK. In the presence of diphenhydramine (a H1 receptor antagonist), ketanserin (a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist) and ONO-3708 (a thromboxane (TX) A2/PG receptor antagonist), the inhibitory effects of these extracts on the contractions induced by histamine, 5-HT and U46619 were abolished. SJ significantly inhibited the contractions induced by BK and PGF, but in the presence of ONO-3708 (10 M) had no effect on them. BK enhanced the production of PGF from cultured PBA endothelium cells, and SJ significantly attenuated this enhancement. These results suggest that SJ and GB have a H1-antagonistic effect, and that SJ also attenuates cerebral vasoconstriction mediated via 5-HT2 and TXA2/PG receptors. These findings appear to explain why SJ has been used traditionally as a therapeutic medication for cerebral vasospasm after cerebral hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new flavonol glycoside, quercetin-3-O-(4″-galloyl)- α-L-rhamnopyranoside ( 1), along with two known ones, kaempferol-3-O- β-D-glucopyranoside ( 2) and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside ( 3), were isolated from the root barks of Sophora japonica. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including extensive 1D and 2D NMR and MS techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Sophora japonica (Fabaceae), also known as Huai (Chinese: 槐), is a medium-sized deciduous tree commonly found in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other countries. The use of this plant has been recorded in classical medicinal treatises of ancient China, and it is currently recorded in both the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and European Pharmacopoeia. The flower buds and fruits of S. japonica , also known as Flos Sophorae Immaturus and Fructus Sophorae in China, are most commonly used in Asia (especially in China) to treat hemorrhoids, hematochezia, hematuria, hematemesis, hemorrhinia, uterine or intestinal hemorrhage, arteriosclerosis, headache, hypertension, dysentery, dizziness, and pyoderma. To discuss feasible trends for further research on S. japonica , this review highlights the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities, and toxicology of S. japonica based on studies published in the last six decades. Materials and methods Information on the S. japonica was collected from major scientific databases (SciFinder, PubMed, Elsevier, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Medline Plus, China Knowledge Resource Integrated (CNKI), and “ Da Yi Yi Xue Sou Suo ( http://www.dayi100.com/login.jsp )” for publications between 1957 and 2015 on S. japonica . Information was also obtained from local classic herbal literature, government reports, conference papers, as well as PhD and MSc dissertations. Results Approximately 153 chemical compounds, including flavonoids, isoflavonoids, triterpenes, alkaloids, polysaccharides, amino acids, and other compounds, have been isolated from the leaves, branches, flowers, buds, pericarps, and/or fruits of S. japonica . Among these compounds, several flavonoids and isoflavonoids comprise the active constituents of S. japonica , which exhibit a wide range of biological activities in vitro and in vivo such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-osteoporotic, antioxidant, radical scavenging, antihyperglycemic, antiobesity, antitumor, and hemostatic effects. Furthermore, flavonoids and isoflavonoids can be used as quality control markers for quality identification and evaluation of medicinal materials and their preparations. Information on evaluating the safety of S. japonica is very limited, so further study is required. To enable safer, more effective, and controllable therapeutic preparations, more in-depth information is urgently needed on the quality control, toxicology data, and clinical value of crude extract and active compounds of S. japonica . Conclusions S. japonica has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due to its wide range of biological activities, and is administered orally. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies of S. japonica have increased in the past few years, and the extract and active components of this plant can be used to develop new drugs based on their traditional application as well as their biological activities. Therefore, this review on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities, and toxicity of S. japonica offers promising data for further studies as well as the commercial exploitation of this traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new maltol derivative ( 2 ) along with three known maltol derivative ( 1 ) and flavonol glycosides ( 3 and 4 ) were isolated from the dried flowers of Sophora japonica . Based upon the results of combined spectroscopic methods, the structure of new compound ( 2 ) was determined to be maltol-3- O -(4′- O - cis - p -coumaroyl-6′- O -(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl))-β-glucopyranoside, an isomer of 1 . These compounds strongly inhibited the action of sortase A (SrtA) from Streptococcus mutans , a primary etiologic agent of human dental caries. The onset and magnitude of inhibition of the saliva-induced aggregation in S. mutans treated with compound 2 (4 × IC 50 ) were comparable to the behavior of untreated srtA -deletion mutant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Sophora belongs to Fabaceae family, contains about 52 species that are widely distributed in Asia. Several phytochemical, in vivo and in vitro, experiments in addition to clinical practices have demonstrated that Sophora has many phyto-constituents and possesses valuable pharmacological and therapeutic properties. The total polyphenolic's content, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antidiabetic activities of Sophora japonica leaves were investigated along with their bio-guided chromatographic isolated polyphenolic constituents. Tested fractions from chromatographic separation of 80 % MeOH extract of S. japonica leaves revealed remarkable antioxidant(s) activity accompanied with some cytotoxic and antidiabetic activities. Moreover, six known polyphenolic constituents isolated from these fractions were identified: tamarixetin, ellagic acid 4-O-α- l-arabinofuranoside, sissotrin, rutin, gallic acid, and quercetin. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophora japonica is a leguminous tree species native to China. To explore the nitrogen (N) source preference and its impact on stress tolerance, a hydroponic experiment was designed in which S. japonica seedlings were supplied with sole ammonium (NH 4 +) or sole nitrate (NO 3 −) nutrition under 75 mM NaCl-induced salt stress. The growth and N metabolism performance were investigated. In the absence of NaCl, plants fed NH 4 + showed better root growth than those fed NO 3 −, but there was no difference in aerial part growth. Salinity inhibited the root growth of NH 4 +-fed plants and the shoot growth of NO 3 −-fed plants, while the total N accumulation was suppressed under either N form. Specifically, in NH 4 +-fed plants, salinity significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate, root NH 4 + content and root antioxidant enzyme activities. Higher nitrate reductase (NR) activities but lower glutamate synthetase (GS) activities were observed in both leaves and roots. Leaf AMT1.1 and AMT2.1a in NH 4 +-fed plants positively reacted to salt stress, whereas the expression of four AMTs was reduced or remained unchanged in roots. In contrast, salinity suppressed the net photosynthetic rate, antioxidant enzyme activities, and GS activity in the leaves of NO 3 −-fed plants. Upregulation of NPF1.2 , NPF2.11 , NPF4.6 and NPF7.3 , as well as unaltered NR activity, caused higher NO 3 − content in the leaves. Moreover, NR and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activities together with the transcription of most NRTs were promoted by salinity in the roots of NO 3 −-fed plants. Additionally, compared to those treated with NH 4 +, in response to salinity, NO 3 −-treated seedlings showed more intensive repression of the net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, and both shoot and root growth. Overall, these results suggest that S. japonica plants grew better in NH 4 + medium than in NO 3 − medium, and the different N metabolism responses improved S. japonica tolerance to salinity with NH 4 + application. This study provides new insights for understanding the mechanism of salt tolerance, breeding resistant varieties of S. japonica , and developing scientific fertilization management strategies during the seedling cultivation period. • S. japonica seedlings grown hydroponically preferred sole NH 4 +nutrition over sole NO 3 −. • Salinity inhibited the root growth of NH 4 +-treated plants and the shoot growth of NO 3 −-treated plants as a result of a slowed NH 4 + assimilation process. • Under salinity, NH 4 +-fed S. japonica plants showed a higher net photosynthetic rate, activities of antioxidant enzymes and key enzymes of nitrogen assimilation, and thus displayed higher salt tolerance than NO 3 −-fed plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to find the best conditions for the extraction of rutin and quercetin from Sophora flower in acacia honey as an extractant, and to formulate a new product – honey with added value. For determination of the optimal extraction conditions of the above mentioned compounds, 10% m/m of the dried Sophora flower was added to honey and the concentration of rutin and quercetin was monitored, at 4 °C and room temperature at 1, 15, 40 and 90 day intervals. The analyses of rutin and quercetin content in honey were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection. The content of rutin and quercetin in the flower was also determined to check the quality of the herbal drug used, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the extraction. The extraction of rutin and quercetin, in a honey sample using 10% of the Sophora flower, stored at room temperature, for 40 days, was the most intense one (150.24 mg/kg of rutin and 1338.93 mg/kg of quercetin). Sophora flower corresponds to the pharmacopoeia requirements for the quality of an herbal drug. The concentrations of rutin and quercetin in acacia honey were 0.08 and 0.14 mg/kg, respectively. The concentration of rutin in honey from the melliferous pasture of the Sophora flower was 0.40 mg/kg, while quercetin was below the detection limit (0.1 mg/kg). Honey, enriched with rutin and quercetin from Sophora flower, had sensory acceptability and pleasant taste and aroma. [Display omitted] • Honey enriched with Sophora flower is a mixture of two exceptional gifts of nature. • The best way for extraction of rutin and quercetin from honey with Sophora flowers. • Sample with 10% of the flower, stored at room t, for 40 days, was the most intense. • Honey enriched with rutin and quercetin had and pleasant taste and aroma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through simulative methods, the influence on soil pH, the soil enzyme activities (urease, invertase and alkaline phosphatase) by the single and combined stress of water and lead were studied in a pot experiment. Five levels of Pb (0, 300, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg soil) and four levels of water stress (soil relative water content (SRW), 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%) were applied. Sophora japonica and Platycladus orientalis were grown in soil-filled pots for pH and soil enzyme activities assays. The results showed that soil pH was affected by Pb and water deficiency. The addition of Pb and water stress caused soil alkalization in Platycladus orientalis, while acidification in Sophora japonica under water stress. Pb could stimulate the soil enzyme activities to some extent. The degree of influence on enzyme activities was related to plant species. Urease and invertase activities increased at 80% and 60% soil relative water content in P. orientalis and S. japonica. Interactions between Pb concentrations and water stress levels significantly impacted the three soil enzyme activities, synergism (ΔU<0) dominated the interaction in P. orientalis, while antagonism (ΔU>0) dominated the dominance for invertase and alkaline phosphatase in S. japonica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplasmas were detected in Sophora japonica cv. golden and Robinia pseudoacacia with diseased branches of witches'-broom collected in Haidian district, Beijing, China. Phytoplasma cells were observed in phloem sieve elements of symptomatic S. japonica cv. golden by transmission electron microscopy. The presence of phytoplasmas was further confirmed by sequence determination of partial gene sequences of 16S rDNA, rp (ribosomal protein) and secY. Phylogenetic trees and virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism ( RFLP) analyses indicated that the phytoplasmas causing S. japonica cv. golden witches'-broom ( SJGWB) and R. pseudoacacia witches'-broom ( RPWB) belong to the 16SrV (elm yellows) group, and they are most closely related to subgroup 16SrV-B, rpV-C and secYV-C jujube witches'-broom ( JWB) phytoplasma. Comparative analyses indicated that the phytoplasma of RPWB was closer to the JWB and that R. pseudoacacia might serve as an alternative host plant of JWB phytoplasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hyperspectral imaging was used to predict seed viability of Sophora japonica. • The spectral changes of seeds within 10 h of swelling were studied. • The autoregressive locally optimized successive projection algorithm was proposed. • Establish a detection model based on machine learning and deep learning methods. • Combining swelling 0 h data and optimal model, the viability prediction was realized. Hyperspectral imaging technology (HSI) is considered to be a promising technology to detect and predict seed viability quickly and without damage. This research aimed to use HSI combined with deep learning methods to identify the seed viability of Sophora japonica. After simulating natural aging, high-viability, low-viability and non-viability seeds were distinguished, and then data collection continued for the first 10 h of seed imbibition. The validation set accuracy of machine learning methods (support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF)) without preprocessing was less than 80%, while the one-dimensional deep learning methods (convolutional neural network (CNN), recurrent neural network (RNN) and its superposition) were above 95%. An improvement was proposed on the basis of the original successive projection algorithm (SPA) and compared with three typical algorithms. When Autoregressive locally optimized successive projection algorithm (ALO-SPA) was combined with RNN, the detection model worked best. Therefore, based on this model, the vitality prediction was established using the data of swelling 0 h, and its effect was better than that of detection model. The results show that hyperspectral imaging combined with deep learning model can more accurately predict the seed viability of Sophora japonica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]