Genus Sophora: a comprehensive review on secondary chemical metabolites and their biological aspects from past achievements to future perspectives

Abstract

Sophora is deemed as one of the most remarkable genera of Fabaceae, and the third largest family of flowering plants. The genus Sophora comprises approximately 52 species, 19 varieties, and 7 forms that are widely distributed in Asia and mildly in Africa. Sophora species are recognized to be substantial sources of broad spectrum biopertinent secondary metabolites namely flavonoids, isoflavonoids, chalcones, chromones, pterocarpans, coumarins, benzofuran derivatives, sterols, saponins (mainly triterpene glycosides), oligostilbenes, and mainly alkaloids. Meanwhile, extracts and isolated compounds from Sophora have been identified to possess several health-promising effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antiplatelets, antipyretic, anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-osteoporosis, anti-ulcerative colitis, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antidiarrheal, and insecticidal activities. Herein, the present review aims to provide comprehensive details about the phytochemicals and biological effects of Sophora species. The review spotlighted on the promising phytonutrients extracted from Sophora and their plethora of bioactivities. The review also clarifies the remaining gaps and thus qualifies and supplies a platform for further investigations of these compounds.

pH-Responsive Polymer Nanomaterials for Tumor Therapy

“…Chemotherapeutic therapy, referred to as chemotherapy, is still one of the main methods of tumor treatment ( 11 – 13 ). Some chemical drugs, such as oxaliplatin, doxorubicin (DOX), and paclitaxel (PTX), are applied to kill tumor cells and shrink or destroy the tumor ( 14 – 18 ). Because drug delivery is generally given systemically, the body itself will also be affected and damaged to some extent, causing side effects, complications, and even death in some serious cases ( 19 – 22 ).…”

Bacteroid Development, Transcriptome, and Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Comparison of Bradyrhizobium arachidis in Nodules of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and Medicinal Legume Sophora flavescens

“…Han et al ( 60 ) and Wei et al ( 61 ) determined alkaloids and flavonoids in S. flavescens by combining the metabolome and transcriptome, but they did not consider the effects of rhizobial nodulation on the synthesis of the medicinal ingredients. Our current studies may close the gap between these two kinds of studies and promote the elucidation of the pathway involved in alkaloid biosynthesis in S. flavescens ( 6 , 60 – 62 ). In the future, dual-transcriptome analyses combining both symbiosis partners are needed to explore the interaction and signal exchange between them.…”

“…Inside its root nodules, the bradyrhizobia differentiate into bacteroids with spherical and swollen morphotypes ( 4 , 5 ). The medicinal legume Sophora flavescens ( 6 – 8 ) is an extremely promiscuous host, establishing symbioses with more than 35 rhizobial species in both of the classes Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria ( 9 – 11 ), including the currently studied strain CCBAU 051107 of the peanut microsymbiont B. arachidis ( 9 , 12 ). Because of its distinct promiscuity, S. flavescens might be used as an excellent plant to study the development and physiology of various rhizobia and bacteroids inside its indeterminate root nodules ( 11 ).…”

The genome of medicinal plantSophora flavescenshas undergone significant expansion of both transposons and genes

“…The Sophora genus is a member of the Fabaceae family, that includes more than 52 species, 19 varieties and 7 forms distributed mainly in Asia, Oceania and the pacific islands Abd-Alla et al (2021). More than fifteen species in the genus Sophora have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) for hundreds of years Aly et al (2019).…”