Sophora alopecuroides

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vexibia alopecuroides
• Pseudosophora alopecuroides
• Goebelia alopecuroides
• Radiusia alopecuroides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sophora alopecuroides is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse array of environments, ranging from disturbed sites like dumps and crop fields to more natural landscapes such as meadows, shrubberies, steppes, and desert regions. It is also found in coastal areas near shores, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying moisture levels and soil types. This species occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, thriving at elevations ranging from a minimum of 600 m AMSL to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, desert, dump, meadows, shores, shrubberies, steppe

Life history

The life history of Sophora alopecuroides is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived woody plant, it avoids the rapid turnover seen in annuals, instead establishing a robust structural foundation that supports repeated reproductive cycles over many years. This perennial nature enables the plant to invest significant energy into developing a perennial root system and woody biomass, which provides the resilience necessary to survive seasonal fluctuations and varying environmental stressors. Throughout its lifespan, the plant undergoes rhythmic developmental stages, transitioning from seedling establishment to mature reproductive phases, where it can consistently produce flowers and seeds to ensure the continuity of its population within its natural habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sophora alopecuroides is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a self-supporting shrub or small tree. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 0.8 m. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. Despite its potential classification within various growth habits, its structural development is distinctly woody and characterized by a self-supporting habit rather than a climbing or liana-like growth pattern.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sophora alopecuroides is fundamentally characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic process wherein carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stage of the Calvin cycle. This pathway dictates the plant's gas exchange dynamics and water-use efficiency, as it relies on the enzyme RuBisCO to facilitate carboxylation, making the species sensitive to photorespiration under high-temperature or arid conditions. Beyond its carbon fixation strategy, the plant's physiological framework supports the biosynthesis of various secondary metabolites, such as quinolizidine alkaloids, which are integrated into its metabolic pathways. These biochemical processes are closely linked to its resource acquisition and energy conversion mechanisms, ensuring the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and supporting its growth through the efficient conversion of light energy into chemical energy via the C3 cycle.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sophora alopecuroides is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and distinct seed morphology. The flowering process typically commences in May and reaches its conclusion in June, although the timing can be variable across different environments. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a measurable range of physical dimensions. The seed mass is quite small, with a mean weight of approximately 0.017703333 g. Individual seeds vary in size, ranging from a minimum mass of 0.01066 g to a maximum mass of 0.02575 g.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Seed mass max:

0.02575 g

Seed mass mean:

0.017703333 g

Seed mass min:

0.01066 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sophora alopecuroides has 4 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, root, leaf, stem.

Seed

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Frontiers in microbiology
4. Bioorganic chemistry
5. Journal of chromatography. A

Root

1. Phytochemistry
2. Microbiology spectrum
3. Letters in applied microbiology

Leaf

1. Journal of proteomics
2. Microbiology spectrum

Stem

1. Microbiology spectrum

Chemicals

Sophora alopecuroides has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Sophoridine, Matrine, Oxymatrine, Sophocarpine, CYTISINE.

Sophoridine

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of natural products
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
5. Bioorganic chemistry

Matrine

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of natural products
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Oxymatrine

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Sophocarpine

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of natural products
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

CYTISINE

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Flavonoids

1. Journal of proteomics
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Oxysophocarpine

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Sophoramine

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

(+)-Wikstromol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

(-)-Maackiain

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Sophora alopecuroides has 10 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Microscopy research and technique
2. Biomedicines
3. Phytochemistry

Antiviral

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Biomedicines
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antifungal

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Microscopy research and technique

Antimicrobial

1. Microscopy research and technique
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Microscopy research and technique
2. Biomedicines

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antitumor

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Cytotoxic

1. Microscopy research and technique

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Sophora alopecuroides has 24 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, enteritis, Cancer, acute lung injury, antidiabetic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations