Sophora alopecuroides

Sophora alopecuroides, commonly known as the hair-leafed pagoda tree, is a significant medicinal shrub native to East Asia. Renowned for its bioactive alkaloids, it is traditionally utilized in herbal medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and respiratory issues, offering valuable pharmacological properties for modern therapeutic research and development.

  • Scientific name: Sophora alopecuroides
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Sophora. As a member of this group, Sophora alopecuroides shares characteristic traits common to its taxonomic lineage.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Fabales WCVP
Family Fabaceae WCVP
Genus Sophora WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Sophora alopecuroides, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Russian, it is called Софора лисохвстная, while in Chinese (both standard and simplified), it is known as 苦豆子. In Arabic, the species is identified as صفيراء ثعلبانية, and in Georgian, it is called მაწაქი.
Language Common Name Source
ru Софора лисохвостная Wikidata
zh 苦豆子 Wikidata
ar صفيراء ثعلبانية Wikidata
ka მაწაქი Wikidata
zh-cn 苦豆子 Wikidata
arz صفيراء ثعلبانيه Wikidata
zh-tw 苦豆子 Wikidata
mn Үнэгэн сүүлхэй лидэр Wikidata
zh-hans 苦豆子 Wikidata
fa دتوکسین Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across various regions of Eastern Europe and Siberia. Within Eastern Europe, its presence is well-documented in Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula. It can also be found spanning the extensive territories of both East European Russia and South European Russia. Moving eastward, the species extends its reach into the Siberian region. Specifically, its distribution includes the unique landscape of the Altai mountains.

Region Area Source
Eastern Europe Krym WCVP
Eastern Europe East European Russia WCVP
Eastern Europe South European Russia WCVP
Eastern Europe Ukraine WCVP
Siberia Altay WCVP
Siberia West Siberia WCVP
Central Asia Kazakhstan WCVP
Central Asia Kirgizstan WCVP
Central Asia Turkmenistan WCVP
Central Asia Tadzhikistan WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Sophora alopecuroides, possesses several distinct anatomical structures that contribute to its overall biological profile. The roots serve as a vital foundation, anchoring the plant and facilitating nutrient uptake, while the stems provide the necessary structural support to elevate the foliage toward sunlight. The leaves are spread across these stems, acting as the primary sites for photosynthesis. As the plant matures, it produces seeds, which are essential for its reproductive cycle and dispersal. When considering the organism's entire physical structure, the total base of the plant integrates these various components into a single, functional medicinal entity.
Total parts
8
Scientific sources
14
Plant Part Sources Confidence
seeds 5 ★★★☆☆
roots 2 ★☆☆☆☆
leaves 2 ★☆☆☆☆
total base 1 ★☆☆☆☆
stems 1 ★☆☆☆☆
seed 1 ★☆☆☆☆
root 1 ★☆☆☆☆
aerial parts 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Sophora alopecuroides has 30 reported phytochemicals identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include matrine, sophoridine, oxymatrine, sophocarpine, cytisine.

Total chemicals
30
Scientific sources
44

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
matrine 4 ★★☆☆☆
sophoridine 4 ★★☆☆☆
oxymatrine 3 ★★☆☆☆
sophocarpine 3 ★★☆☆☆
cytisine 2 ★☆☆☆☆
flavonoids 2 ★☆☆☆☆
oxysophocarpine 2 ★☆☆☆☆
sophoramine 2 ★☆☆☆☆
(+)-wikstromol 1 ★☆☆☆☆
(-)-maackiain 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Sophora alopecuroides has 10 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Total activities
10
Scientific sources
17

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antibacterial 3 ★★☆☆☆
Antiviral 3 ★★☆☆☆
Antifungal 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Antimicrobial 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Antioxidant 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Analgesic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antitumor 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Cytotoxic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Neuroprotective 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Sophora alopecuroides has 24 reported medicinal uses identified across 27 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, enteritis, Cancer, acute lung injury, antidiabetic.

Total uses
24
Scientific sources
27

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
cancer 3 ★★☆☆☆
enteritis 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Cancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆
acute lung injury 1 ★☆☆☆☆
antidiabetic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
bacillary dysentery 1 ★☆☆☆☆
bacteria 1 ★☆☆☆☆
bacterial infection 1 ★☆☆☆☆
central nervous system diseases 1 ★☆☆☆☆
depression 1 ★☆☆☆☆