This species is a perennial deciduous semishrub with cylindrical roots having a yellowish white bark. The stem is erect, branchy, showing longitudinal furrows; the branches are sparsely haired when young and hairless when mature. The leaves are odd-pinnately compound, 20-25cm long, short-petioled and alternate; the stipule is linear.The root is cylindrical, usually branched in the lower part, 10-30cm long, 1-2.5cm in diameter, with a brownish yellow to grayis brown surface showing longitudinal wrinkles and transverse lenticels. The cork is thin, generally broken and rolled outward, easy to peel off; when it is removed, the bare surface is yellow. The root is hard, not easily broken; its fracture section is fibrous. For commercial use, it is cut into slices 3-6mm thick; the cross section is yellowish white and exhibits radial grain lines. This crude drug has a weak smell and a bitter taste.

1. It has a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer effects and action as a  kappa opioid receptor and µ-receptor agonist.
2. Matrine possesses strong antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo.
3. Inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis are the likely mechanisms responsible for matrine's antitumor activities.  

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4.Pharmaceutical products5.Skin Care Materials