Shrubby Sophora

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, Japan*, Malaya (Import)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alexiteric, Antidiarrheic, Antiphlogistic, Astringent

Science studied: (2S)-2'-METHOXYKURARINONE, (-)-KURARINONE, SOPHORAFLAVANONE-G, LEACHIANONE-A

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Fabaceae

Scientific name: Sophora flavescens

Common names: Shrubby Sophora, Ku Shen, Shrubby sophora, jerlín žlutavý, kainohelmipalko, ku shen, shrubby sophora, sofora žltkastá, Софора желтоватая, クララ, 苦参, 苦参实, 苦參, 고삼

POWO: 518831-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in China, Japan*, Malaya (Import), Elsewhere.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Alexiteric
• Antidiarrheic
• Antiphlogistic
• Astringent
• Bitter-Principle
• Carminative
• Diarrhea
• Diuretic

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• China
• Japan*
• Malaya (Import)
• Elsewhere

Documented cultural uses

• Alexiteric
• Antidiarrheic
• Antiphlogistic
• Astringent
• Bitter-Principle
• Carminative
• Diarrhea
• Diuretic
• Dysentery
• Enteritis
• Enterorrhagia
• Fever

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Alexiteric · China · "
• Antidiarrheic · Japan* · "
• Antiphlogistic · Japan* · "
• Astringent · China · "
• Bitter-Principle · Japan* · "
• Carminative · China · "
• Diarrhea · China · "
• Diuretic · China · "
• Dysentery · Malaya (Import) · "
• Dysentery · Elsewhere · "
• Enteritis · China · "
• Enterorrhagia · China · "
• Fever · Malaya (Import) · "
• Fever · China · "
• Hivess · China · "
• Jaundice · Malaya (Import) · "
• Jaundice · China · "
• Metrorrhagia · China · "
• Piles · China · "
• Rash · China · "
• Scabies · China · "
• Scrofula · Malaya (Import) · "
• Stomachic · China · "
• Stomachic · Elsewhere · "

11 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Prenylflavonoids with antiallergic activity from the roots of Sophora flavescens Aiton. · 2026 source ↗
• Unusual piscidic-acid and isoflavone derivatives from Sophora flavescens Ait. and their hepatoprotective effect. · 2026 source ↗
• Recent Advances in Polysaccharides from Sophora flavescens Ait.: Extraction, Purification, Structural Characteristics, Pharmacological Effects, Structure-Activity Relationships, and Potential Applications · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• (2S)-2'-METHOXYKURARINONE
• (-)-KURARINONE
• SOPHORAFLAVANONE-G
• LEACHIANONE-A
• FORMONONETIN
• 1-MAAKIAIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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