Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of Sophora alopecuroides L

Sophora alopecuroides L., known as ku dou zi in China, has a long history as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of bacillary dysentery, enteritis, hepatitis, and other diseases, and exerts a critical role in anti-tumor. It contains abundant of alkaloids such as oxymatrine, matrine, and total alkaloids, which have been developed in China as anti-disease drugs related with inhibition of the angiogenesis-associated factors, anti-inflammatory response, and regulation of JNK, p38 MAP kinase, and NF-κB signal pathways and so on. The purpose of this review is to take comprehensive summary of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of Sophora alopecuroides L. so as to provide opportunities for further study and clinical application.