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The bitter seeds of ''S. tomentosa'' have astringent, febrifugal, stomachic and dangerous emetocathartic properties. The leaves are also strongly emetocathartic and toxic in large doses. ''Sophora'' species are relatively rich in alkaloids: these can be found in leaves, roots and seeds. Some of these alkaloids seem to be common, whereas others appear to be confined to a single or a limited number of species. Detailed phytochemical investigations have led to the isolation of (+)-matrine, (+)-matrine-N-oxide, (+)-sophocarpine-N-oxide, (-)-anagyrine, (-)-baptifoline, (-)-cytisine, (-)-N-methylcytisine, (-)-formylcytisine, (-)-N-acetylcytisine, (±)-ammodendrine, (-)-epiamprolobine, (+)-epiamprolobine-N-oxide and 5-(3'-methoxycarbonylbutyroyl)aminomethyl-trans-quinolizidine from the various (fresh) parts of ''S. tomentosa'' . All compounds belong to the quinolizidine group of alkaloids (sometimes also called lupin alkaloids), which are biosynthesized from the amino acid lysine. The amounts of this amino acid in the leaves, stems, immature pods and immature seeds are respectively 0.15%, 0.22%, 0.37% and 0.64% of the fresh weight, with (+)-epiamprolobine-N-oxide, (+)-matrine-N-oxide, (+)-matrine and (-)-cytisine being the most abundant alkaloids. Together with (-)-N-methylcytisine, the latter three compounds are also found in ''S. flavescens'' Aiton from China, a species commonly traded in Chinese pharmacies throughout Malaysia.

The pharmacological actions of several of the alkaloids have been quite well investigated. Dried seed of ''S. tomentosa'' contains up to 2% (-)-cytisine (also known as sophorine or ulexine), which resembles the alkaloid nicotine in its action as a neurotransmitter, but is much less toxic as a poison. It also has insecticidal properties. The effects of (-)-N-methylcytisine and (+)-matrine isolated from ''S. flavescens'' on the motility of parasitic helminths and mouse ileum preparations have been experimentally tested. The two alkaloids acted antagonistically on all the preparations: (-)-N-methylcytisine acted spastically and (+)-matrine paralytically. From the results on interactions between these alkaloids and known neuropharmacological agents, it is suggested that the effects of both alkaloids are elicited through a neuropharmacological mechanism in parasitic helminths and host tissue. (+)-Matrine also has anti-inflammatory properties as well as anti-ulcer properties; this was demonstrated in an experiment in fundus strips of rats. (+)-Matrine isolated from the root of ''S. subprostrata'' Chun & Chen showed significant inhibition of ocular inflammation induced by lens proteins. Unlike corticosteroids, (+)-matrine did not facilitate the intra-ocular pressure recovery in rabbit eyes nor did it change the electrical potential difference across rabbit iris-ciliary body. These results indicate that (+)-matrine could become a safer ocular anti-inflammatory agent than corticosteroids. Furthermore, (+)-matrine was found to markedly increase the reaction time of a mouse placed on a hot plate; the results indicate that this component could be used as an analgesic as well. The effect of (+)-matrine, from ''S. flavescens'' , on glutamate-induced responses was investigated using electrophysiological techniques at the crayfish neuromuscular junction. At concentrations greater than 0.1 mM, (+)-matrine depressed both glutamate-induced responses and neurally evoked excitatory junctional potentials. In this assay (+)-matrine-N-oxide (= oxymatrine) also shows activity, although far less powerfully than (+)-matrine. Finally, (+)-matrine-N-oxide (oxymatrine) has a biphasic effect on cultures of rat myocytes: slowing the beating rate by α-adrenoreceptor stimulation (concentrations at 50 μmol/l) and accelerating it by β-adrenoceptor stimulation (250 μmol/l concentration).

Five isoprenylated flavonoids have been isolated from the aerial parts of ''S. tomentosa'' : sophoraisoflavanone A, sophoraflavanone B, sophoronol, isosophoranone and isobavachin. The structurally closely related flavonoid vexibiol, from ''S. flavescens'' , is known to exhibit anti-ulcer effects.

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*J.L.C.H. van Valkenburg