The Study In The Resource, Quality And Pharmacology Of Fructus Sophorae In Shaanxi Province

The traditional Chinese medicine Fructus Sophorae is the dry mature fruit of Sophora japonica L.. It has been used for medicine for a long time. It is also a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine that many versions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia contain. It is rich in isoflavones whose structures are similar to the stilbestrol, so Fructus Sophorae has estrogen-like effects. They have good preventive and treatment effects for osteoporosis, cancer and other difficult cases. Now the isoflavones which are extracted from Fructus Sophorae are very important for the international research and development. Fructus Sophorae is one of dominant drugs in Shaanxi, and in widely distributed. Growth status, environmental conditions and the resource situation are not clear. The associativity of quality and pharmacology is not been reported. We study the resource, quality and pharmacology of Fructus Sophorae in Shaanxi Province with a view to its rational use.Objective In this study, we investigate Yichuan of Yan’an, Qingjian of Yulin, Pucheng of Weinan, Xunyi of Xianyang and Longxian of Baoji which are the Fructus Sophorae with abundant resources in Shaanxi Province. We also collect the Fructus Sophorae samples in five places of different periods. We evaluate Fructus Sophorae comprehensively through studying the resource, quality and pharmacology of it.Methods1. We carry out resource surveys using GPS, quadrats, field investigation and interview.2. To determine the ash and extract content of Fructus Sophorae samples from different places and different periods according to Chinese Pharmacopoeia.3. To optimize the extraction technology for total flavonoids from Fructus Sophorae by orthogonal test and to determine the content of total flavonoids in Fructus Sophorae from different sources by UV-vis spectrometry. The content of sophoricoside in Fructus Sophorae is also determined by HPLC. Finally compare their differences.4. To determine the content of sophoricoside from different parts of the Fructus Sophorae by HPLC.5. We study the estrogen-like effects of Fructus Sophorae extracts by the vaginal opening rate, uterine weight test, ovarian weight test, E2determination of serum and histopathological change.Results1. The average age of Sophora japonica L. is more than20years. The natural reserves of Fructus Sophorae are at least about2,100ton per year. 2. The total ash content of different samples is less than6%. The acid-insoluble ash content is less than0.4%.3. The content of water-soluble extract ranges from40.08%to64.67%. The content of water-soluble extract in alabastra sophorae japonicae is37.55%and38.99%in sophora flower. The content of water-soluble extract in black Fructus Sophorae is higher than it in white Fructus Sophorae. The content of alcohol-soluble extract ranges from47.25%to66.73%. The content of alcohol-soluble extract in alabastra sophorae japonicae is45.04%and47.92%in sophora flower. The content of alcohol-soluble extract in black Fructus Sophorae is higher than it in white Fructus Sophorae.4. The optimum conditions of extraction process are65%ethanol, which is8times of the amount of herb material, refluxed3times,1h for each time.5. The content of total flavonoids ranges from10.90%to20.18%. The contents of total flavonoids are highest at late September in Northern Shaanxi Loess Hilly Region. The contents of total flavonoids are highest at early November in Weibei Loess Plateau Gully Region. The content of total flavonoids in black Fructus Sophorae is higher than it in white Fructus Sophorae.6. To develop a HPLC method for the determination of sophoricoside content in Fructus Sophorae. The content of sophoricoside ranges from4.27%to8.78%. The contents of sophoricoside are highest at late September in Northern Shaanxi Loess Hilly Region. The contents of sophoricoside are highest at late October in Weibei Loess Plateau Gully Region. The content of sophoricoside in black Fructus Sophorae is higher than it in white Fructus Sophorae.7.91.10%of the content of sophoricoside is in the pericarps, and8.90%in the seeds.8. Uterine weight and ovarian weight increased by the the Fructus Sophorae extracts. The endometrium thickened. The vaginal opening rate of the immature female mice was also advanced. The estrogen-like effect of extract in Pucheng of Weinan and Xunyi of Xianyang is obvious.Conclusion1. The natural reserves of Fructus Sophorae is rich, and in widely distributed. In recent years, the traditional cultivation of adult plants is dropped. The germplasm of Fructus Sophorae should be optimized. We should choose the white Sophora japonica L. as the breeding species.2. We can conclude that low levels of impurities through the determination of ash. The impurities content of Fructus Sophorae in Northern Shaanxi Loess Hilly Region is lower the ones in Weibei Loess Plateau Gully Region.3. We find that the content of total flavonoids in Fructus Sophorae from different sources has some differences, so is the content of sophoricoside. This may be related to the duration of sunshine, temperature, altitude and drought.4. The content of sophoricoside is mainly in pericarps, so the Fructus Sophorae can be used separately.5. The Fructus Sophorae extracts have weak estrogen-like effect. The estrogen-like effect of extract in Pucheng of Weinan and Xunyi of Xianyang is obvious. The two extracts contain more sophoricoside. We can conclude that estrogen-like effects of Fructus Sophorae extract mainly due to the isoflavones.