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As an important member of innate immunity, macrophages show remarkable plasticity and heterogeneity, and play an important role in immune regulation, tissue development, homeostasis of the internal environment and injury repair. However, the excessive activation of macrophages is closely related to the occurrence and development of many diseases. The prenylated flavonoid structure is one of the characteristic structures isolated from Sophora flavescens, with anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-allergy and other effects. In this study, the effects of (2R)-3β,7,4′-trihydroxy-5-methoxy-8-prenylflavanone (TMP), a prenylated dihydroflavonol, on the polarization and phagocytosis of macrophages were systematically studied. In LPS-induced M1-type macrophages, TMP dose-dependently inhibited the expression of COX-2, iNOS and the secretion of NO, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-18, showing an inhibitory effect on M1 polarization. Further experiments revealed that it was related to the inhibition of TLR4-related AKT/mTOR, MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways; in IL-4-induced M2-type macrophages, TMP down-regulated the expression of M2-related Arg1, IL-10, TGF-β, CD206 and CD163, as well as the phosphorylation levels of AKT1 and STAT6. For macrophages in a physiological state, it was very important for cells to return from a stress state to a phenotypic stability in the M0 state. These results indicated that TMP negatively regulated the M1/M2 polarization of macrophages, and made them tend to M0 homeostasis, which might provide new theoretical and data support for explaining the anti-inflammatory immunoregulatory activity of Sophora flavescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking Sophora tonkinensis as materaial, orthogonal experiments were used to investigate the effects of DNA, primers, Mg2+, dNTPs, and Taq enzymes on the ISSR-PCR reaction system, and the conditions of ISSR-PCR reaction system of Sophora tonkinensis were established and optimized. The results showed that the optimal conditions for the ISSR-PCR reaction system (20 µL) of Sophora tonkinensis including 3 mmol/L Mg2+, 0.2 mmol/L dNTPs, 1 U Taq enzyme, 0.5 µmol/L primer, 100 ng template DNA. Ten primers with good polymorphism were selected from 100 UBC primers by this system. The optimal system of ISSR-PCR reaction can be effectively established by orthogonal experiment design, which provides a scientific basis for the research of genetic relationship, genetic diversity evaluation of germplasm resources, variety identification and systematic classification of Sophora tonkinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone metabolism is characterized by an interplay between the deposition of bone matrix and mineralization and the resorption process. Osteoporosis is a form of systemic metabolic bone condition that causes bone density to decline and its microarchitecture to deteriorate, increasing the risk of fracture owing to fragility. The underlying cause of this clinical disease lies in the imbalance in bone remodeling, in which bone resorption by osteoclasts predominates over bone creation by osteoblasts. Natural remedies have long been used to cure and prevent osteoporosis. Genus Sophora of the Fabaceae family comprises about 69 species that showed many pharmacological effects, including bone health preservation. The activity of Sophora sp. in maintaining bone health was attributed to its antioxidant, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory qualities. In this review, we focused on the therapeutic properties of the extracts and isolated compounds from the genus Sophora in maintaining bone health, with special emphasis on the management of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sophora flavescens, a traditional Chinese medicine for treating conditions associated with abnormal skin pigmentation, contains flavonoids with inhibitory effects on tyrosinase. However, their mechanisms of action and their modulatory effects on melanogenesis remain unclear. Methods: Herein, a group of prenylated flavonoids was identified from S. flavescens extracts and their inhibitory activities on mushroom tyrosinase were evaluated. The anti-melanogenesis effects of these prenylated flavonoids were investigated in cellular (with murine melanoma cells) and animal (with zebrafish) models. Results: Prenylated flavonoids including isoanhydroicaritin (IAI), kurarinone (KR), and sophoraflavanone G (SG) were the major active constituents in S. flavescens extracts with anti-tyrosinase activity (IC50 = 0.7, 7.1, and 6.7 µM, respectively). Enzyme kinetic assays showed that IAI, KR, and SG had a mixed type of tyrosinase inhibition, supported by data from computational docking. Notably, KR at concentrations of 5 and 10 µM enhanced intracellular tyrosinase activity and stimulated melanin production in B16F10 cells, whereas SG and IAI did not exhibit significant activity. Further studies with the zebrafish model showed that IAI (80 and 160 µM) inhibited melanin biosynthesis by about 30.0% while KR (20 µM) stimulated melanogenesis by 36.9%. Furthermore, a zebrafish depigmentation model supported the anti-melanogenesis effect of IAI (80 and 160 µM) by 33.0% and 34.4%, respectively. Conclusion: In summary, IAI was identified as a tyrosinase inhibitor with an antimelanogenic effect and KR was an enhancer for melanin production in B16F10 cells and zebrafish. Findings from the current study suggest that IAI and KR from S. flavescens may exert contrasting effects in the modulation of melanin production, providing important insights into the development of S. flavescens as a cosmeceutical or medicinal ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To increase the yield of Sophora flavescens polysaccharides and elucidate their antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties, this study optimised the polysaccharide extraction process through orthogonal experiments, followed by evaluation of their antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities in vitro. Methods: Using polysaccharide yield as the primary metric, this study performed orthogonal experiments to optimise the extraction process, building on preliminary one-way experiments. This study investigated the effect of extraction temperature, number of extractions, material-liquid ratio and extraction time on the polysaccharide yield of Sophora flavescens. Furthermore, this study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides by investigating their scavenging potential against DPPH radicals, hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion radicals. In addition, the in vitro hypolipidemic activity of the polysaccharides was evaluated by their binding affinity to sodium cholate (SC), sodium taurocholate (STC), sodium glycylcholate (SGC) and mixed bile salts (MBS). Results: The optimal conditions for the extraction of Sophora flavescens polysaccharide were determined as follows: a temperature of 85 °C, a material-liquid ratio of 1:35 (g:mL), and an extraction duration of 3.5 hours, yielding an average polysaccharide content of 3.07%±0.07%. The scavenging efficiencies of Sophora flavescens polysaccharides against DPPH radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anion radicals at a concentration of 5 mg/mL were measured at 60.1%±3.6%, 39.6%±3.1% and 45.1%±4.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the binding affinities of Sophora flavescens polysaccharides to SC, STC, SGC and MBS at a concentration of 10 mg/mL were determined to be 34.4%±0.75%, 45.4%±0.15%, 19.7%±0.94% and 37.7%±0.64%, respectively. Conclusion: Sophora flavescens polysaccharide exhibits notable in vitro antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities. This investigation furnishes a foundational understanding for the potential development and exploitation of Sophora flavescens polysaccharide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Atomic Energy Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Board of Atomic Energy 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.)

Sophora davidii is a multipurpose, nitrogen-fixing shrub species. Phosphorus deficiency in the acidic soil of Southwest China has seriously affected its survival and growth, especially in the seedling stage. Evidence suggests that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may improve the stress tolerance of plants. However, there is limited information on the systematic effects of AMF on phosphorus deficiency in S. davidii seedlings. We investigated the effects of three phosphorus levels (0.5, 0.25, 0 mmol/L) and two mycorrhizal inoculation (with Funneliformis mosseae and without Funneliformis mosseae) treatments on the growth and physiological performance of S. davidii using factorial design. The results showed that low-phosphorus stress significantly limited the growth of S. davidii seedlings and negatively affected their physiological properties. However, inoculation with F. mosseae significantly improved the plant height and shoot dry weight, promoted root growth, increased chlorophyll contents and osmoregulation substance contents, increased protective enzyme activity, and significantly reducing the accumulation of malondialdehyde, alleviated oxidative stress induced by low-phosphorus stress, improved the IAA and GA3 contents, and alleviated the negative effects of low-phosphorus stress. AMF-induced enhancement of aboveground growth and plant physiological characteristics is dependent on the P level and its impact on roots is regardless of phosphorus status. AMF inoculation significantly promoted the absorption of nitrogen and phosphorus in the roots (0.25- and 0-mmol/L treatments), thereby maintaining a higher biomass and relieving stress in S. davidii seedlings under low-phosphorus conditions. Our results demonstrated that AMF inoculation is useful for the promotion and cultivation of S. davidii in the karst area of Southwest China under low-phosphorus stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both Sophora flavescens (SF) and Astragalus mongholicus (AM) are known for their anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and anticancer activities. However, the efficacy, multi-target mechanisms, and therapeutic substances of SF-AM herb pair on the progression of hepatitis-cirrhosis-hepatocellular carcinoma hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Purpose: To investigate the efficacy, mechanisms, and potential therapeutic substances of SF-AM herb pair in the progression of hepatitis-cirrhosis-HCC. Methods: Firstly, diethylnitrosamine was used to establish the hepatitis-cirrhosis-HCC model. HE staining and non-targeted metabolomics were used to evaluate the efficacy of SF-AM herb pair. Subsequently, the absorbed components of SFAM herb pair in the plasma of rats were determined through HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/ MS analysis. Flow cytometry, Western blot, and qRT-PCR were then employed to assess CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-related proteins, and their corresponding mRNAs. Simultaneously, the efficacy and mechanism of SF-AM herb pair on HCC were confirmed by in vitro experiments. Finally, Pearson correlation analysis was performed between pharmacodynamic indicators and in vivo components to identify the potential therapeutic substances of SF-AM herb pair. Results: SF-AM herb pair can alleviate the pathological damage and reverse metabolic abnormalities in hepatitis, cirrhosis, and HCC rats, particularly during the hepatitis and cirrhosis stages. Pharmacological researches have demonstrated that SF-AM herb pair can increase the proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes, inhibit the expression of PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, NF-κB p65, NF-κB pp65, and Bcl-2, as well as increase the expression of IκBα, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3. These findings suggest that SF-AM herb pair has the ability to enhance immunity, anti-inflammation and promote apoptosis. Cell experiments have shown that SF-AM herb pair can inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cell and regulate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, 23 absorbed prototypical components and 53 metabolites of SF-AM herb pair were identified at different stages of HCC rats. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that matrine, cytisine, wogonoside, and isoastragaloside are potential therapeutic substances in SF-AM herb pair for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and HCC. Conclusion: In summary, this study revealed the efficacy, mechanisms, and potential therapeutic substances of SF-AM herb pair in the hepatitis-cirrhosis-HCC axis and provided a reference for its clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophora exigua (SE) was sequentially extracted using hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. The obtained extracts were tested for antioxidant activity. Among them, the fractionated ethyl acetate extract (SE-EA) showed the highest potential in free radical scavenging and ferric-reducing properties. The chemical analysis identified sophoraflavanone G as one of the active ingredients in SE-EA. According to SE-EA solubility, SE-EA liposomes were developed using a sonication-assisted thin film method. Cholesterol and phospholipids were used as the main compositions of the liposomes. The obtained liposomes were spherical with different nano-size ranges, size distribution, and zeta potential depending on SEEA and total lipid concentrations. SE-EA liposomes were slightly bigger than their empty liposomes. All liposomes exhibited a phospholipid crystalline structure. Cholesterol and SE-EA existed in the liposomes as an amorphous state. SE-EA liposomes with high total lipid content exhibited high entrapment efficiency and sustained release behavior. Whereas liposomes with low total lipid content showed low entrapment efficiency and fast-release behavior. All SE-EA liposomes showed stronger antioxidant activity than the non-entrapped SE-EA. In conclusion, SE-EA is a natural source of potent antioxidants. The developed SE-EA liposomes are a promising pharmaceutical formulation to efficiently deliver the active ingredients of SE-EA and are suitable for further study in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophora alopecuroides has important uses in medicine, wind breaking, and sand fixation. The CHY-zinc-finger and RING-finger (CHYR) proteins are crucial for plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation; however, genetic data regarding the CHYR family remain scarce. We aimed to investigate the CHYR gene family in S. alopecuroides and its response to abiotic stress, and identified 18 new SaCHYR genes from S. alopecuroides whole-genome data, categorized into 3 subclasses through a phylogenetic analysis. Gene structure, protein domains, and conserved motifs analyses revealed an exon–intron structure and conserved domain similarities. A chromosome localization analysis showed distribution across 12 chromosomes. A promoter analysis revealed abiotic stress-, light-, and hormone-responsive elements. An RNA-sequencing expression pattern analysis revealed positive responses of SaCHYR genes to salt, alkali, and drought stress. SaCHYR4 overexpression considerably enhanced alkali and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. These findings shed light on SaCHYR's function and the resistance mechanisms of S. alopecuroides, presenting new genetic resources for crop resistance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophora alopecuroides L., a perennial herb in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China, has the ecological functions of windbreaking and sand fixation and high medicinal value. In recent years, global warming and human activities have led to changes in suitable habitats for S. alopecuroides, which may affect the accumulation of natural products. In this study, MaxEnt 3.4 and ArcGIS 10.4 software were used to predict the distribution of potentially suitable habitats for S. alopecuroides in China under climate change. Furthermore, the geographical distribution of S. alopecuroides as affected by human activities, the differences in the content of natural products of S. alopecuroides between different suitable habitats, and the correlation between natural products and environmental factors were analyzed. The results showed that suitable habitats for S. alopecuroides were projected to expand in the future, and the major environmental factors were temperature (Bio1), rainfall (Bio18), and soil pH (pH). When Bio1, Bio18, and pH were 8.4283 °C, 7.1968 mm, and 9.9331, respectively, the distribution probability (P) of S. alopecuroides was the highest. After adding a human activity factor, the accuracy of the model prediction results was improved, and the area of suitable habitats was greatly reduced, showing a fragmented pattern. Meanwhile, habitat suitability had a specific effect on the content of natural products in S. alopecuroides. Specifically, the content of natural products in S. alopecuroides in wild habitats was higher than that in artificial cultivation, and highly suitable habitats showed higher contents than those in non-highly suitable habitats. The contents of total alkaloids and total flavonoids were positively correlated with human activities and negatively correlated with land use types. Among them, total alkaloids were negatively correlated with aspect, and total flavonoids were positively correlated with aspect. In addition, it is suggested that Xinjiang should be the priority planting area for S. alopecuroides in China, and priority should be given to protection measures in the Alashan area. Overall, this study provides an important foundation for the determination of priority planting areas and resource protection for S. alopecuroides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) causes damages to the testicles, liver, kidneys, lungs and brain. In the present study, we investigated protective effects of Sophora pachycarpa Schrenk ex C.A.Mey. root extract on testicular damage, liver histopathology and sex hormone levels in CCl4 intoxicated male rats. Methods: In present study the rats were divided into 6 experimental groups (n=6): 3 groups as pre-treatment groups that received doses of 50, 100 and 250 mg/kg/days of S. pachycarpa extract respectively by gavage for 21 days before intraperitoneal injection of 500µl/kg CCl4. CCl4 group received 500µl/kg CCl4 on the day of 21. Post-treatment group received 100 mg/kg/day S. pachycarpa for 10 days and 12h after injection of 250 µl/kg CCl4. Control group received 1ml distilled water for 21 days. Liver and testis tissues were sampled for microscopic examination and sex hormone levels in the serum were evaluated. Results: Treatment of S. pachycarpa root extract (250 mg/kg) lead to a considerable improvement in the histopathological changes caused by CCl4 in the testis. However, the extract (250 mg/kg) caused inflammation and adverse tissue effects in liver. Serum levels of hormones also increased significantly in pre-treatment groups. Conclusion: Based on the results, the S. pachycarpa extract can improve the changes caused by CCl4 in the testis and sex hormones levels. But its higher doses can cause adverse effects in liver tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of abscisic acid (ABA) in bolstering drought resistance in plants, employing "Panjiang Sophora viciifolia" as the subject. A simulated drought scenario was created using polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) to examine the impact of varying drought intensities (0%, 5%, 20% PEG) and ABA concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100, 200 mg·L−1) on the germination and physiological parameters of Sophora viciifolia. The results showed that in the absence of ABA, the germination rate (GR), germination potential (GP), and germination index (GI) of S. viciifolia seeds initially increased and then decreased with escalating PEG-induced drought stress. At PEG-induced drought stress levels of 5% and 20%, the activities of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), along with the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, were significantly higher than in the control (CK) (p < 0.05). In response to drought stress, S. viciifolia seeds adapted by modulating germination behavior, augmenting the content of osmoregulatory substances, and boosting the activity of protective enzymes. The addition of ABA markedly enhanced GR, GE, GI, activities of POD, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and CAT, as well as the levels of MDA and proline (Pro) under drought conditions (p < 0.05). Relative to CK, low ABA concentrations (10–100 mg·L−1) resulted in increased GR, GP, GI, POD, SOD, CAT, MDA, and Pro levels; whereas, at a higher concentration (200 mg·L−1), although GR, GP, and GI decreased, POD, SOD, CAT, MDA, and Pro levels increased. Through principal component analysis and membership function comprehensive evaluation, it was determined that administering 50 mg·L−1 ABA was most effective in enhancing drought resistance in S. viciifolia seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a microbial strain was isolated from humus soil to ferment Sophora flavescens and Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus extracts. The isolated microbial was identified as the Bacillus genus by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The fermented plant extracts exhibited antifungal effects against four types plant pathogen, P. carotorum, B. cinerea, C. fructicola Sau-3, and C. gloeosporioides, according to incubation time. In particular, the fermented plant extracts showed the most activity for Colletotrichum genus in inhibiting mycelium growth. Metabolite changes in fermented S. flavescens and E. sessiliflorus extracts were confirmed through LC-Q-TOF/MS. Flavonoid and peptide derivatives were improved in fermented S. flavescens and E. sessiliflorus extracts compared to their unfermented counterparts. This study suggested that isolated Bacillus microbial fermentation could be a valuable tool in improving the bioactivity of S. flavescens and E. sessiliflorus extracts, with the potential to form more environmentally friendly antifungal agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophocarpine is a natural compound that belongs to the quinolizidine alkaloid family, and has a long history of use and widespread distribution in traditional Chinese herbal medicines such as Sophora alopecuroides L., Sophora flavescens Ait., and Sophora subprostrata. This article aims to summarize the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of sophocarpine, evaluate its potential pharmacological effects in various diseases, and propose the necessity for further research and evaluation to promote its clinical application. A large number of studies have shown that it has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral, antiparasitic, anticancer, endocrine regulatory, and organ-protective effects as it modulates various signaling pathways, such as the NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and AMPK pathways. The distribution of sophocarpine in the body conforms to a two-compartment model, and sophocarpine can be detected in various tissues with a relatively short half-life. Although the pharmacological effects of sophocarpine have been confirmed, toxicity and safety assessments and reports on molecular mechanisms of its pharmacological actions have been limited. Given its significant pharmacological effects and potential clinical value, further research and evaluation are needed to promote the clinical application of sophocarpine. [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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the mechanism of effect of compound Sophora flavescens injection on the prevention and treatment of melanoma was studied through network pharmacology. TCMSP database was used to explore the active ingredients of Sophora flavescens and Poria cocos in compound Sophora flavescens injection, the drug targets of Sophora flavescens and Poria cocos were detected by Pubchem and Swiss Target Prediction databases, the disease targets related to melanoma were retrieved through GeneCards, OMIM, TTD and CTD databases, and Cytoscape 3.9.1 was used to establish a TCM-component-disease-target network. The interaction network of intersecting target proteins was established by String and Cytoscape, and the topological analysis was performed according to the MCC algorithm by the Cyto-Hubba plug-in to screen the key targets. Finally, GO and KEGG analyses of the relevant targets were performed using the Metascape database. Finally, a total of 60 active ingredients were screened in the compound Sophora flavescens injection, including quercetin, norcetin and white junen. There are 916 targets related to melanoma tumors, including AKT1, EGFR, ESR1, etc. In addition, the anti-melanoma functions of Sophora flavescens injection include the regulation of phosphorylation effects and the effects of oxidative stress responses, and exert anti-tumor effects by regulating cancer pathways, endocrine pathways, Th17 cell differentiation channels and other information pathways. This study reported for the first time the potential mechanism of compound Sophora flavescens injection in the treatment of melanoma disease, and provided ideas and basis for follow-up experimental research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in mediating material transformation and nutrient cycling. However, little attention has been paid to the relationships between microbial communities and altitude and lithology in karst regions. Sophora japonica cv. Jinhuai is an officinal plant cultivated in karst areas, and there is a correlation between the dynamics of microbial community and ecological factors. This study examined the diversity of microbial communities in the rhizosphere of S. japonica under different lithologies and altitudes in karst regions of northern Guangxi, China using high-throughput sequencing technology. It was found that the bacterial community consisted of 37 phyla, including Proteobacteria. The fungal community mainly comprised 15 phyla, including Ascomycota. The fungal Shannon and Chao1 indices increased with altitude, while the bacterial Shannon index decreased. The fungal Shannon indices in limestone soil were higher than those in dolomite. The soil's microbial Shannon and Chao1 indices were positively affected by pH, while the available phosphorus and potassium had the opposite effect. Research shows that altitude, lithology, pH, and available phosphorus were the crucial factors influencing the rhizosphere soil microbial community. This study provides references for understanding the relationship between plants and microorganisms and the microbial distribution strategy of rocky desertification habitats in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of an ethanol extract of Sophora flavescens Aiton (ESF) on an alcohol-induced liver disease mouse model. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) was caused by the administration of ethanol to male C57/BL6 mice who were given a Lieber−DeCarli liquid diet, including ethanol. The alcoholic fatty liver disease mice were orally administered ESF (100 and 200 mg/kg bw/day) or silymarin (50 mg/kg bw/day), which served as a positive control every day for 16 days. The findings suggest that ESF enhances hepatoprotective benefits by significantly decreasing serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), markers for liver injury. Furthermore, ESF alleviated the accumulation of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), increased serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), and improved serum alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity in the alcoholic fatty liver disease mice model. Cells and organisms rely on the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1- Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Keap1-Nrf2) system as a critical defensive mechanism in response to oxidative stress. Therefore, Nrf2 plays an important role in ALD antioxidant responses, and its level is decreased by increased reactive oxidation stress (ROS) in the liver. ESF increased Nrf2, which was decreased in ethanol-damaged livers. Additionally, four polyphenol compounds were identified through a qualitative analysis of the ESF using LC-MS/MS. This study confirmed ESF's antioxidative and hangover-elimination effects and suggested the possibility of using Sophora flavescens Aiton (SF) to treat ALD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[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 IC50 values of 5.99, 4.76, 6.96, 3.41 and 5.22 μM, 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is a well-known risk factor for tumor development. Intervening in chronic inflammation may be an effective approach to inhibit the progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) to colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC). Sophora japonica is a medicinal and food plant commonly used to treat hemorrhoids, bleeding, and inflammation, symptoms that coincide with those of patients with CAC. However, studies on using Sophora japonica to treat CAC are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects of Sophora japonica extract (SJE) using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC and azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS-induced CAC models. Furthermore, we employed ultraperformance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–QTOF–MS/MS) technology to explore the metabolomics mechanism through which SJE inhibited the progression of UC to CAC. The results demonstrated that SJE significantly inhibited UC and CAC and alleviated symptoms such as bloody stools, colon shortening, inflammation, and intestinal tissue damage in model mice. Further, 57 differential metabolites were identified by UPLC–QTOF–MS/MS, which were composed mainly of lipids (fatty acids, glycerophospholipids, sterol lipids, pregnenolone lipids, etc.) and peptides (amino acids). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis suggested that SJE might inhibit the progression of UC to CAC by regulating lipid metabolic pathways such as arachidonic acid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and linoleic acid metabolism. This study, for the first time, substantiated the inhibitory effect of SJE on CAC. Employing metabolomics techniques, the research delved into the potential pathways through which SJE may exert its inhibitory effects on CAC by suppressing the progression of UC. These findings contribute scientific evidence to the application of Sophora japonica in functional foods and the development of natural drugs for the prevention and treatment of UC and CAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone exhibit potent antibacterial activity and do not develop drug resistance. • Sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone disrupt the integrity of cell membranes and prevent the synthesis of biofilms. • Sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone can disrupt the energy metabolism process of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. • Sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone can improve wound infection and promote wound healing. • Sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone may be potential candidates for the development of new antibiotics. The continuous emergence and rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria have accelerated the demand for the discovery of alternative antibiotics. Natural plants contain a variety of antibacterial components, which is an important source for the discovery of antimicrobial agents. To explore the antimicrobial activities and related mechanisms of two lavandulylated flavonoids, sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone in Sophora flavescens against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The effects of sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were comprehensively investigated by a combination of proteomics and metabolomics studies. Bacterial morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Membrane fluidity, membrane potential, and membrane integrity were determined using the fluorescent probes Laurdan, DiSC3(5), and propidium iodide, respectively. Adenosine triphosphate and reactive oxygen species levels were determined using the adenosine triphosphate kit and reactive oxygen species kit, respectively. The affinity activity of sophoraflavanone G to the cell membrane was determined by isothermal titration calorimetry assays. Sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone showed significant antibacterial activity and anti-multidrug resistance properties. Mechanistic studies mainly showed that they could target the bacterial membrane and cause the destruction of the membrane integrity and biosynthesis. They could inhibit cell wall synthesis, induce hydrolysis and prevent bacteria from synthesizing biofilms. In addition, they can interfere with the energy metabolism of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and disrupt the normal physiological activities of the bacteria. In vivo studies have shown that they can significantly improve wound infection and promote wound healing. Kurarinone and sophoraflavanone G showed promising antimicrobial properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , suggesting that they may be potential candidates for the development of new antibiotic agents against multidrug-resistant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most prominent gene families, R2R3-MYB transcription factors significantly regulate biochemical and physiological processes under salt stress. However, in Sophora alopecuroides, a perennial herb known for its exceptional saline alkali resistance, the comprehensive identification and characterization of SaR2R3-MYB genes and their potential functions in response to salt stress have yet to be determined. We investigated the expression profiles and biological functions of SaR2R3-MYB transcription factors in response to salt stress, utilizing a transcriptome-wide mining method. Our analysis identified 28 SaR2R3-MYB transcription factors, all sharing a highly conserved R2R3 domain, which were further divided into 28 subgroups through phylogenetic analysis. Some SaR2R3-MYB transcription factors showed induction under salt stress, with SaR2R3-MYB15 emerging as a potential regulator based on analysis of the protein–protein interaction network. Validation revealed the transcriptional activity and nuclear localization of SaR2R3-MYB15. Remarkably, overexpression of SaR2R3-MYB15 in transgenic plants could increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the accumulation of proline but decrease the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), compared with wild-type plants. Moreover, several salt stress-related genes showed higher expression levels in transgenic plants, implying their potential to enhance salt tolerance. Our findings shed light on the role of SaR2R3-MYB genes in salt tolerance in S. alopecuroides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(+)-Matrine and (+)-isomatrine are tetracyclic alkaloids isolated from the plant Sophora flavescens, the roots of which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Biosynthetically, these alkaloids are proposed to derive from three molecules of (-)-lysine via the intermediacy of the unstable cyclic imine Δ1-piperidine. Inspired by the biosynthesis, a new dearomative annulation reaction has been developed that leverages pyridine as a stable surrogate for Δ1-piperidine. In this key transformation, two molecules of pyridine are joined with a molecule of glutaryl chloride to give the complete tetracyclic framework of the matrine alkaloids in a single step. Using this dearomative annulation, isomatrine is synthesized in four steps from inexpensive commercially available chemicals. Isomatrine then serves as the precursor to additional lupin alkaloids, including matrine, allomatrine, isosophoridine, and sophoridine.

Drug plant raw materials represent an important source of biologically active substances (BASs), which are used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and other industries. This paper presents the results of studying colloidal properties of crushed sophora Japanese fruits (hereinafter referred to as sophora) in order to improve the extraction of BASs. To achieve the goal, the following tasks have been set: the study of the ζ potential of sophora particles at different times of contact between the particles and an extractant and the pH values of the medium; determining the isoelectric point (IEP) of the sophora particles by electrophoresis; finding the point of zero charge (PZC) of sophora particles using potentiometric titration; and studying the influence of medium pH, sophora particle size, temperature, the presence of surfactants and ions, and the nature of an extractant on sophora swelling. The points of zero charge ) of the aqueous dispersions of sophora and extracted flavonoids are 5.8 and 5.2, respectively, thus being close to the values . The swelling of sophora particles is limited and accompanied by the gradual fracture of the plant cells. Adsorption equilibrium is achieved within 30 min. In an alkaline region and in the presence of alcohol, the swelling of the sophora particles decreases, while it increases at elevated temperature and in the presence of NaI ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rutin and flavonoids derived from Sophora japonica hold significant potential for various bioactivities. The objective of this study is to improve the ultrasonic-assisted extraction procedure for obtaining rutin and total flavonoids from Sophora japonica. Moreover, the purification of these total flavonoids from the ethanol extract was accomplished using macroporous resins. Under optimal conditions, the extraction efficiency of rutin and total flavonoids were 32.49% and 48.40%, respectively. Out of the 11 macroporous resins tested for purification, the results indicated that DAX-8 and ADS-7 were the two most efficient resins. Under meticulously optimized purification conditions, the highest flavonoid content attained in the final product was 93.13% for DAX-8 and 92.20% for ADS-7, respectively. Based on the findings, the extraction and purification technique explored in this research provides a solid basis for improving industrial procedures related to extracting and purifying flavonoids from Sophora japonica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophora flavescens is a medicinal herb distributed widely in Japan and it has been used to treat various diseases and symptoms. To explore its pharmacological use, we examined the estrogenic activity of four prenylated flavonoids, namely kurarinone, kushenols A and I, and sophoraflavanone G, which are characterized by the lavandulyl group at position 8 of ring A, but have variations in the hydroxyl group at positions 3 (ring C), 5 (ring A) and 4' (ring B). These prenylated flavonoids were examined via cell proliferation assays using sulforhodamine B, Western blotting, and RT-PCR, corresponding to cell, protein, and transcription assays, respectively, based on estrogen action mechanisms. All the assays employed here found weak but clear estrogenic activities for the prenylated flavonoids examined. Furthermore, the activities were inhibited by an estrogen receptor antagonist, suggesting that the activities were likely being mediated by the estrogen receptors. However, there were differences in the activity, attributable to the hydroxyl group at position 4', which is absent in kushenol A. While the estrogenic activity of kurarinone and sophoraflavanone G has been reported before, to the best of our knowledge, there are no such reports on kushenols A and I. Therefore, this study represents the first report of their estrogenic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive Cd accumulation in soil reduces the production of numerous plants, such as Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep., which is an important and widely cultivated medicinal plant whose roots and rhizomes are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Applying a mixture of biochar and organic fertilizers improved the overall health of the Cd-contaminated soil and increased the yield and quality of Sophora. However, the underlying mechanism between this mixed fertilization and the improvement of the yield and quality of Sophora remains uncovered. This study investigated the effect of biochar and organic fertilizer application (BO, biochar to organic fertilizer ratio of 1:2) on the growth of Sophora cultivated in Cd-contaminated soil. BO significantly reduced the total Cd content (TCd) in the Sophora rhizosphere soil and increased the soil water content, overall soil nutrient levels, and enzyme activities in the soil. Additionally, the α diversity of the soil bacterial community had been significantly improved after BO treatment. Soil pH, total Cd content, total carbon content, and dissolved organic carbon were the main reasons for the fluctuation of the bacterial dominant species. Further investigation demonstrated that the abundance of variable microorganisms, including Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, Patescibacteria, Armatimonadetes, Subgroups_ 6, Bacillus and Bacillus_ Acidiceler, was also significantly changed in Cd-contaminated soil. All these alterations could contribute to the reduction of the Cd content and, thus, the increase of the biomass and the content of the main secondary metabolites (matrine and oxymatrine) in Sophora. Our research demonstrated that the co-application of biochar and organic fertilizer has the potential to enhance soil health and increase the productivity and quality of plants by regulating the microorganisms in Cd-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical investigation of Penicillium sp. GDGJ-N37, a Sophora tonkinensis-associated fungus, yielded two new azaphilone derivatives, N-isoamylsclerotiorinamine (1) and 7-methoxyl-N-isoamylsclerotiorinamine (2), and four known azaphilones (3–6), together with two new chromone derivatives, penithochromones X and Y (7 and 8). Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data, CD spectrum, and semi-synthesis. Sclerotioramine (3) showed significant antibacterial activities against B. subtilis and S. dysentery, and it also showed most potent anti-plant pathogenic fungi activities against P. theae, C. miyabeanus, and E. turcicum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Prolonged feeding of excessive fermentable concentrates reduces rumen acidity and causes gram-negative bacteria to lyse and release lipopolysaccharides, triggering an inflammatory response in the body. As an important immune and metabolic organ in animals, the liver is susceptible to damage. Although the Chinese herb Sophora alopecuroides has antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and other pharmacological effects, the mechanism of action of Sophora alopecuroides on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions of the liver in lambs is still unclear. In this study, via liver function indices, liver inflammatory factor levels, antioxidant indices and transcriptome analysis, we demonstrated that Sophora alopecuroides could improve the immune and antioxidant functions of the liver in lambs under high-concentrate conditions and regulate the mechanism of liver injury in sheep through the expression of the relevant genes involved in the ECM–receptor interactions and the focal adhesion pathway. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of inflammatory responses is crucial for understanding liver dysfunction induced by high-concentrate diets. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Sophora alopecuroides (SA) on liver function, liver inflammatory factor levels, antioxidant indexes and transcriptome in sheep. Twenty-four 3-month-old healthy Dumont hybrid lambs weighing 25.73 ± 2.17 kg were randomly divided into three groups: C1 (the control group), fed a concentrate-to-forage ratio of 50:50; H2 (the high-concentration group), fed a concentrate-to-forage ratio of 70:30; and S3 (the SA group), fed a concentrate-to-forage ratio of 70:30 + 0.1% SA. The results showed that the rumen pH values of the C1 and S3 groups were significant or significantly higher than that of the H2 group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). The serum ALT, AST and LDH activities and the LPS and LBP concentrations in the sheep serum and liver in the H2 group were significantly or extremely significantly higher than those in the C1 and S3 groups (p < 0.01), and the IL-10 content and SOD, GPX-PX and T-AOC activities showed the opposite trend (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in the ECM–receptor interaction and focal adhesion pathways, which are closely related to immune and antioxidant functions (p-adjust < 0.1). In summary, SA could improve the immune and antioxidant functions of lamb livers under high-concentrate conditions and regulate the mechanism of damage on sheep livers, which is caused by high-concentrate diets and through the expression of related genes in the ECM/FAs pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, the importance of materials produced by natural means or by synthesis is increasing in the prevention of increasing water pollution. Sophora Japonica fruit seeds (SJfs) were pyrolyzed at 450 °C to produce SJfs-biochar (SJfsB) in this study. Iron nanoparticles were immobilized to the SJfsB structure to form a more active biosorbent matrix. SJfsB and the resulting novel biosorbent (nanomagnetic-Sophora Japonica fruit seeds biochar (nM-SJfsB) were used to remove malachite green (MG) from an aqueous solution. Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy were used to elucidate the details of the biosorbent properties. The effect on removal was investigated using various parameters. A combined strategy was used to define the adsorption parameters such as adsorbent amount, time, initial dye concentration, pH, and temperature. The maximum adsorption capacity determined by the Langmuir model was 51.020 mg/g for SJfsB-MG and 101.010 mg/g was found for nM-SJfsB-MG. The pseudo second order equation made the equilibrium data suitable. After regeneration, nM-SJfsB can be used for re-adsorption studies and reused for multiple cycles in adsorption and desorption applications without discharging nano-iron particles into aqueous medium. [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]

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.)

The seedling stage of plants is a crucial and vulnerable period in population and community dynamics. Despite this, studies on how plant traits respond to different environmental stresses often tend to overlook this early stage. Our study focused on Sophora alopecuroides L. seedlings in Ningxia Yanchi desert steppe, analyzing the effects of sand burial, salinity, and drought on their key aboveground and belowground traits. The results showed that sand burial significantly negatively affected stem biomass (SB), leaf biomass (LB), stem diameter (SD), leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), leaf area (LA), and total root volume (RV), but positively influenced total root length (RL). As sand burial depth increased, SB, LB, SD, LL, LW, LA, RV, root biomass (RB), RV, and lateral root numbers (LRN) significantly decreased. Salinity stress negatively affected SB, LB, SD, LL, LW, LA, RB, RL, and RV, with these traits declining as the stress concentration increased. Drought stress had a positive effect on SD and LL, with both traits showing an increase as the intensity of the drought stress intensified; however, it adversely affected RL. In Ningxia Yanchi desert steppe, salinity stress had the most significant effect on the traits of S. alopecuroides seedlings, followed by sand burial, with drought having the least significant effect. This study provides essential theoretical support for understanding how S. alopecuroides seedlings cope with environmental stresses in their early life stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the Sophora japonica cv. jinhuai from different germplasm resources in 6 townships of Quanzhou County, Guilin, were used as materials to investigate and compare the biological traits of different strains. The ISSR analysis marker technology was used to construct a DNA molecular genetic map of S. japonica cv. jinhuai to explore Germplasm genetic relationship. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the content of rutin in various qualities of S. japonica cv. jinhuai and evaluate the quality of S. japonica cv. jinhuai The main findings are as follows: (1) Among the 11 S. japonica cv. jinhuai varieties, the early-maturing X-3 has a high rutin content and has the potential to harvest two locust rice a year, and can be used as a line for new cultivation technology development; The medium-ripening strain X-1 has strong vigor and high content of golden locust trees. It has a wide adaptability area and has good promotion prospects. (2) Through ISSR analysis of S. japonica cv. jinhuai, the genetic relationship among S. japonica cv. jinhuai germplasm is relatively close. (3) The S. japonica from "Tehuang" (D-1) has the highest content of rutin than others. Also, this strain has unique traits compared to others'. It is recommended to focus on breeding as new varieties for promotion. [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.)

The medicinal plant Sophora tonkinensis is a characteristic Chinese shrub of karst areas. The arid climate in karst areas produces high‐quality S. tonkinensis; however, the mechanisms of drought tolerance are not clear, which restricts sustainable plantings of S. tonkinensis.This study involved a 20‐day drought stress experiment with potted S. tonkinensis and threee soil water regimes: control (CK), mild drought (MDT), and severe drought (SDT). Plant morphology, biomass, physiological indicators, alkaloid content, and other changes under drought stress were monitored.The content of soluble sugars and proteins, and activity of antioxidant enzymes in leaves and roots were higher under drought than CK, indicating that S. tonkinensis is tolerant to osmotic stress in early drought stages. Content of matrine and oxymatrine increased gradually with increasing drought duration in the short term. The epidermis of S. tonkinensis leaves have characteristics of desert plants, including upper epidermal waxy layer, lower epidermal villi, and relatively sunken stomata, suggesting that S. tonkinensis has strong drought tolerance.In conclusion, drought stress changed the cell structure of S. tonkinensis, induced antioxidant enzyme activity and increased its resistance to drought. [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]

Exploring plant trait variance within a species that is naturally distributed along an environmental gradient is key to understanding plant acclimation strategies. Here, we investigated plant trait variance of Sophora moorcroftiana in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau along an altitudinal gradient. The results showed that plant traits changed from acquisitive to conservative resource use strategy from low to high altitudes. Site-specific trait variance increased along with altitude increase and was strongly correlated with temperature variables, especially closely correlated with minimum temperature in the coldest month. The decreased trends of acquisitive traits and the increase of site-specific trait variance were coordinated with increased S. moorcroftiana dominance in high altitudes. The findings provided insight that the combination of plant resource use strategy and site-specific trait variance contributes to S. moorcroftiana dominance in response to divergent environmental conditions along altitudinal gradients. The strong correlation between plant trait variance and the minimum temperature in the coldest month suggested that it should pay more attention to the critical role extreme temperature played on trait variance which was often neglected in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone metabolism is characterized by an interplay between the deposition of bone matrix and mineralization and the resorption process. Osteoporosis is a form of systemic metabolic bone condition that causes bone density to decline and its microarchitecture to deteriorate, increasing the risk of fracture owing to fragility. The underlying cause of this clinical disease lies in the imbalance in bone remodeling, in which bone resorption by osteoclasts predominates over bone creation by osteoblasts. Natural remedies have long been used to cure and prevent osteoporosis. Genus Sophora of the Fabaceae family comprises about 69 species that showed many pharmacological effects, including bone health preservation. The activity of Sophora sp. in maintaining bone health was attributed to its antioxidant, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory qualities. In this review, we focused on the therapeutic properties of the extracts and isolated compounds from the genus Sophora in maintaining bone health, with special emphasis on the management of osteoporosis.

Sophora flavescens is a medicinal plant in the genus Sophora of the Fabaceae family. The root of S. flavescens is known in China as Kushen and has a long history of wide use in multiple formulations of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In this study, we used third-generation Nanopore long-read sequencing technology combined with Hi-C scaffolding technology to de novo assemble the S. flavescens genome. We obtained a chromosomal level high-quality S. flavescens draft genome. The draft genome size is approximately 2.08 Gb, with more than 80% annotated as Transposable Elements (TEs), which have recently and rapidly proliferated. This genome size is ~5x larger than its closest sequenced relative Lupinus albus L.. We annotated 60,485 genes and examined their expression profiles in leaf, stem and root tissues, and also characterised the genes and pathways involved in the biosynthesis of major bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids and isoflavonoids. The assembled genome highlights the very different evolutionary trajectories that have occurred in recently diverged Fabaceae, leading to smaller duplicated genomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon (C) allocation plays an important role in plant adaptation to water and nutrient stresses. However, the effects of drought and nutrient deficiencies on the allocation of recently fixed C in the plant–soil–microbe system remain largely unknown. Herein, we studied the response of C allocation of Sophora moorcroftiana (an indigenous pioneer shrub in Tibet) to drought, nitrogen (N) deficiency and phosphorus (P) deficiency using a microcosm experiment. The 13CO2 continuous labeling was used to trace C allocation in the plant–soil–microbe system. We found that drought significantly reduced plant 13C, but it increased 13C accumulation in soil. The decreased plant 13C under drought was attributed to the decrease of 13C in stem and root rather than that in leaf. The excess 13C fraction in the microbial biomass (MB13C) was reduced by N deficiency, but it was not affected by the combination of drought and N deficiency, indicating that drought weakened the effects of N deficiency on MB13C. By contrast, MB13C increased under the combination of drought and P deficiency, suggesting that drought enhanced the effects of P deficiency on MB13C. Drought and nutrient deficiencies regulated the belowground 13C allocation. Specifically, drought and P deficiency increased the allocation of 13C to root and N deficiency regulated the allocation of 13C to microbial biomass C and dissolved organic C in soil. Notably, soil 13C decreased with increasing plant 13C, while MB13C first decreased and then increased with increasing plant 13C. Overall, our study demonstrated that drought and nutrient deficiencies interactively affected C allocation in a plant–soil–microbe system and provided insights into C allocation strategies in response to multiple resource (water and nutrient) stresses under environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reference 1 Wang R, Wang M, Wang S. An integrated characterization of contractile, electrophysiological, and structural cardiotoxicity of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep. in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. After treatment of matrine, oxymatrine, cytisine and sophocarpine, the images of calcium fluorescence and bright field were acquired intuitively and the fluorescence intensity was analysed quantitatively using IncuCyte™ S3 ZOOM cell imaging system. After treatment with matrine, oxymatrine, cytisine and sophocarpine, A the images of ROS fluorescence and bright field were acquired intuitively using IncuCyte™ S3 ZOOM cell imaging system and B, C the fluorescence intensity was analysed quantitatively using TissueQuest 6.0. [Extracted from the article]

Sophora flavescens is a widely used traditional Chinese herbal medicine. In this work, a new pterocarpan glycoside, kurarinol C (1) together with six known compounds, sophoracarpan A (2), trifohrhizin-6'-monoacetate (3), trifohrhizin (4), maackiain (5), (6S,6aS,11aR）-6α-methoxy-pterocarpin (6), L-maackiain (7) were isolated from the roots of S. flavescens. Among them, compounds 2 and 6 were discovered from S. flavescens for the first time. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR and MS analyses. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of these compounds were evaluated by the ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Three compounds (5, 6, 7) exhibited stronger antioxidant capacity against the ABTS enzyme at 20 µg/mL (scavenging rates > 55%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Seed associated microbial communities are an important part of the plant microbiota. However, for legumes, seed microbiota and their life cycle including colonization and vertical transmission to nodule remain largely unknown. Here we explored the sources of seed microbes and tested the hypothesis that the plant microbiota is partially inherited through vertical transmission. Methods: Nodules, rhizosphere soil and seeds were collected from Sophora davidii grown in fields, and from inoculation test with fermentation broth of nodule endophytes. Additionally, structure of seed microbial communities and vertical transmission of seed microbes across one plant generations were assessed through amplicon sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Results: A total of 4074 endophytic OTUs were detected from S. davidii seeds, in which 233 shared with rhizosphere and nodules were defined as core microbiota of this plant, including various rhizobia. The core microbiota of S. davidii seeds was vertically transmitted to the nodules of upcoming generation of plants. Moreover, Firmicutes was the dominant phylum in S. davidii seeds. Notably, the dominant bacteria changed from Mesorhizobium in the field nodules to Sinorhizobium in the passage nodules in pot culture with inoculation. Conclusions: Diverse microbial community habited in S. davidii seeds, including various rhizobia. The core microbiota could be transmitted from seeds to nodules, including the rhizobial endophytes, which made S. davidii plants potential to nodulated with distinct rhizobia in different environments, as revealed by the changed of dominant genus from Mesorhizobium to Sinorhizobium in an artificial condition. This study gives empirical evidence for the source, colonization and vertical transmission routes of S. davidii seed bacterial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of intracavitary perfusion of compound Sophora flavescens injection on the immune function and the levels of tumor markers in patients with malignant pleural effusion. Methods: 52 patients with malignant pleural effusionwho were treated in The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from December 2020 to December 2022 were selected. Each patient was randomly numbered to obtain 1-52 numbers, and were divided into control group (n=26) and observation group (n=26) according to the parity method. The control group were treated with cisplatin by intracavitary perfusion, the observation group were treated with compound Sophora flavescens injection by intracavitary perfusion on the basis of the control group. The treatment effect, T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), quality of life improvement rate and toxic and side effects were compared between the two groups. Results: The total effective rate of treatment in the observation group was 73.08% higher than 42.31% in the control group(P<0.05). After treatment, the CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ in the observation group were higher than those before treatment, and higher than those in the control group(P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum CEA and CA125 in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, and the observation group were lower than that of the control group(P<0.05). The improvement rate of quality of life in the observation group was 76.92% higher than that 46.15% in the control group(P<0.05). The myelosuppression and gastrointestinal reaction in the observation group were significantly lighter than that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Intracavitary perfusion of compound Sophora flavescens injection has a good effect on patients with malignant pleural effusion, and it can improve immune function and quality of life, reduce serum the levels of tumor markers and toxic and side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To optimize the solid-state fermentation process of Flos Sophorae Immaturus by Pénicillium with Sophora japonica cv. jinhuai as raw material. [Methods] The fermentation conditions were optimized by single factor experiment and response surface methodology with quercetin content as the dependent variable. [Results] According to the established model, the optimal fermentation process of Flos Sophorae Immaturus was obtained as follows; temperature 29.97 T3, time 6. 88 d, rotation speed 180.86 rpm, inoculation amount 3.93 mL, and the expected content of quercetin was 34. 805 3 mg/g. Based on this, the fermentation parameters were adjusted, and the actual content was 33.67 mg/g, which was close to the predicted value. [Conclusions] The optimization of fermentation process of Flos Sophorae Immaturus by response surface methodology provides a reference for the development and utilization of this medicinal material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]