Matrine is an alkaloid extracted from dried roots, plants and fruits of Sophora flavescens Ait. of Leguminosae by organic solvents such as ethanol.
Matrine and oxymatrine are the two major alkaloid components found in bitter sophora. They are obtained primarily from Sophora japonica (kushen), but also from Sophora subprostrata (shandougen), and from the above ground portion of Sophora alopecuroides. An intensive investigation into the pharmacology and clinical applications of these alkaloids has gone on for the past decade and remains one of the focal points of Chinese medical research. The main clinical applications of bitter sophora extract are treatment of people with cancer, viral hepatitis, cardiac diseases, and skin diseases.