Matrine Exerts Pharmacological Effects Through Multiple Signaling Pathways: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

As The main effective monomer of the traditional Chinese medicine Sophora flavescens Ait , matrine has a broad scope of pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-fibrotic, anti-viral, anti-arrhythmia, and improving immune function. These actions explain its therapeutic effects in various types of tumors, cardiopathy, encephalomyelitis, allergic asthma, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis, and central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. Evidence has shown that the mechanism responsible for the pharmacological actions of matrine may be via the activation or inhibition of certain key molecules in several cellular signaling pathways including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR), transforming growth factor-β/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (TGF-β/Smad), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), Wnt (wingless/ integration 1)/β-catenin, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathways. This review comprehensively summarizes recent studies on the pharmacological mechanisms of matrine to provide a theoretical basis for molecular targeted therapies and further development and utilization of matrine.

Accurate 16S Absolute Quantification Sequencing Revealed Vaginal Microecological Composition and Dynamics During Mixed Vaginitis Treatment With Fufang FuRong Effervescent Suppository

“…Its main component, Sophora flavescens, has many effects, including antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, insecticidal and anti-pruritic, anti-viral, and analgesic (He et al, 2015). Many studies have confirmed that the pharmacological mechanism of sophora flavescens may be via the activation or suppression of key molecules in certain cellular signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) and transforming growth factor-b/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (TGF-b/Smad) (Lin et al, 2022;Tang et al, 2022). Furthermore, other herbs in the formula also have certain bactericidal and antiinflammatory effects, which complement each other.…”

Antifungal and Immunomodulatory Ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicine

“…When the cell is stimulated, IKK promotes the phosphorylation of IκB and leads to the dissociation of NF-κB. Then, NF-κB is translocated into the nucleus and binds to DNA, resulting in gene transcription and protein synthesis, which are related to inflammation response [126,127]. Nearly all the anti-inflammatory functions of TCMs listed here are related to the NF-κB pathway (Figure 3).…”

“…Nearly all the anti-inflammatory functions of TCMs listed here are related to the NF-κB pathway (Figure 3). MAPK cascades mediate the signal transduction from extracellular signals to intracellular reactions [126]. There are at least three MAPK cascade signal transduction pathways that are involved in the anti-inflammation effects of TCM ingredients: ERK, JNK, and p38.…”

Potential Utility of Natural Products against Oxidative Stress in Animal Models of Multiple Sclerosis

“…Matrine (MAT), a tetracyclo quinolizine alkaloid, is the main active ingredient extracted from the dry root of Sophora flavescens and used in a variety of CNS and peripheral inflammatory diseases [ 184 ]. Intraperitoneal MAT injection effectively inhibited EAE progression and significantly reduced oligodendrocyte apoptosis, microglial activation, and inflammatory factor secretion.…”