Sophora flavescens, the shrubby sophora,[1] is a species of plant in the genus Sophora of the family Fabaceae. This genus contains about 52 species, nineteen varieties, and seven forms that are widely distributed in Asia,
Oceania, and the Pacific islands. About fifteen of these species have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicines.[2]
Growth and cultivation
Sophora flavescens is an evergreen slow growing shrub growing to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) by 1 m (3.3 ft). It is hardy to 0–10 °F (−18 – −12 °C) and to
US zone 6. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. Like many other species in the family
Fabaceae, this species can
fix nitrogen.[citation needed]
Toxic effects from use of the root may include nausea, dizziness, vomiting, constipation, spasms, disturbance of speech, irregular breathing, respiratory failure and
death.[8]
References
^USDA, NRCS (n.d.).
"Sophora flavescens". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
^Cha, J.-D.; Moon, S.-E.; Kim, J.-Y.; Jung, E.-K.; Lee, Y.-S. (2009). "Antibacterial activity of sophoraflavanone G isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus". Phytotherapy Research. 23 (9): 1326–1331.
doi:
10.1002/ptr.2540.
PMID19288534.
S2CID3033936.
^Choi, Byung-Min; Oh, Gi-Su; Lee, Jang Won; Mok, Ji Ye; Kim, Dae Keun; Jeong, Seung-Il; Jang, Seon Il (2010). "Prenylated chalcone from Sophora flavescens suppresses Th2 chemokine expression induced by cytokines via heme oxygenase-1 in human keratinocytes". Archives of Pharmacal Research. 33 (5): 753–760.
doi:
10.1007/s12272-010-0515-8.
PMID20512474.
S2CID41527720.
^Liu, G.; Dong, J.; Wang, H.; Hashi, Y.; Chen, S. (2011). "Characterization of alkaloids in Sophora flavescens Ait. by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry". Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 54 (5): 1065–1072.
doi:
10.1016/j.jpba.2010.12.024.
PMID21227622.
^Bensky, Dan; Clavey, Steven; Stöger, Erich; Lai Bensky, Lilian (2015). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (Portable 3rd ed.). Seattle, USA: Eastland Press. pp. 575–578.
ISBN978-0-939616-82-4.