Background: The Sophora japonica extracts contain flavonol triglycoside, isoflavonol, coumarone chromone, saponin, triterpene glucoside, phospholipids, alkaloids, amino acids, polysaccharides, and fatty acids. These components have physiological effects such as anti-infertility and anti-cancer activities. This study investigated the regulation of keratinocyte differentiation upon treatment with the S. japonica extracts in keratinocyte and the molecular cell biological mechanism involved. Methods: To determine whether the S. japonica extracts or troxerutin, which is its main component, regulates keratinocyte differentiation, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed on keratinocyte differentiation markers such as keratin 1 (K1), keratin 10 (K10), involucrin, and filaggrin after treatment with the S. japonica extracts. miR-181a knockdown confirmed that keratinocyte differentiation was regulated by increased miR-181a expression upon treatment with the S. japonica extracts or troxerutin.