• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.251-259
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• 2018

Objective : Kurarinone is one of the flavonoids isolated from Sophorae Radix with various biological activities including anti-microbial effect. In this study, we investigated the effects of Kurarinone on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced oxidative stress finally leading to apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line HepG2. Methods : To determine the effects on cell viability, the cells were exposed to tBHP ($100{\mu}mol/l$) after pretreatment with kurarinone (0.5 and $1{\mu}g/ml$). Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. To reveal the possible mechanism of cytoprotectivity of kurarinone, levels of reactive oxygen species, intracellular glutathione, mitochondrial membrane potential, and expression of caspase were examined. Results : tBHP-induced cell death was due to oxidative stress and the resulting apoptosis. Kurarinone dose-dependently protected cells from apoptosis when determined by MTT and TUNEL assay. Consistent with this observation, decreased expression of pro-caspase 3/9 protein by tBHP was restored by kurarinone. Kurarinone also showed anti-oxidative effects by inhibiting generation of ROS and depletion of GSH in tBHP-stimulated HepG2 cells. In addition, kurarinone significantly recovered disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as a start sign of hepatic apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. Conclusion : From these results, it was concluded that kurarinone protected tBHP-induced hepatotoxicity with anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic activities. Our results suggest that kurarinone might be beneficial to hepatic disorders caused by oxidative stress.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.420-424
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to investigate anticariotic activity of the ethyl acetate soluble extract of Sophora flavescens Ait. for the prevention of dental caries and glucosyltransferase activity caused by Streptococcus mutans. The fraction 5-4-3 showed strong growth inhibition activity against Streptococcus mutans (MIC, 3.13 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). The glucosyltransferase activity of the active fraction 5-4-3 inhibited the formation of glucan and showed 77% of the antiproliferative effect at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml (P<0.05). Two flavanones, (2S)-2'-methoxy kurarinone (1) and (+)-kurarinone (2), were isolated from the active fraction 5-4-3 of the ethyl acetate soluble extract of S. flavescens Ait. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2010

Objectives : Sophorae Radix (SR), the dried root of Sophorae Flavescens Aiton, has been used to treat atherosclerosis, arrhythma and skin diseases including scabies and eczema. The present study was examined to evaluate antimicrobial activities of SR extracts against oral microorganism. Methods : Antimicrobial properties of SR extracts were determined by agar diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and Actinomyces viscosus. Analysis of kurarinone from SR extracts was conducted using UPLC (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography). Results : The ethanolic extracts of SR showed stronger antimicrobial effect than methanolic extracts, while the aqueous extracts of SR had no activity. In addition, the higher content of kurarinone was found in ethanolic extracts than methanolic extracts. The purified kurarinone from ethanolic extracts showed potent antimicrobial activity with the MIC value of $3.9{\sim}7.8{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Conclusion : An ethanolic extract of SR showed antimicrobial properties against several oral microorganisms, and kuranrinone contributed to antimicrobial action of SR. Thus, ethanolic extracts of SR or purified kurarinone should be beneficial for the preparation of the useful agent for treating oral disease including anticaries.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.255-257
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• 2007

A simple reversed phase HPLC method was developed for extracting pharmacologically active compounds kurarinone and trifolirhizin from the roots of Sophora flavescens using a binary gradient of acetonitrile : $H_{2}O$ with UV detection at 254 nm. The kurarinone and trifolirhizin contents of the roots of S. flavescens collected from ten district markets in Korea and China were $77.24{\sim}686.89$ ${\mu}g/g$ and $46.89{\sim}288.58$ ${\mu}/g$, respectively.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.97-99
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• 2001

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.151.2-151.2
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• 2003

For the purpose of the development of a skin-whitening agent, Sophora flavescens was evaluated for tyrosinase inhibitory activity and its active principles were identified followed activity-guided isolation. The ethanol extract and dichloromethane fraction from S. flavescens showed significant inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase. From the dichloromethane fraction, three known prenylated flavonoids, sophoraflavanone G, kuraridin, and kurarinone, were isolated. Compared with kojic acid ($IC_50$=20.5 $\mu$M), these compounds possessed more potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.197.3-197.3
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• 2003

From the EtOAc fraction of the MeOH extract of Albizzia julibrissin (Leguminosae), a rare 5-deoxy flavone (geraldone), a 3',4',7,8-tetrahydroxyflavanone, an isoflavone (daidzein), and five prenylated flavonoids (sophoflavescenol, kurarinone, kurarinol, kuraridin and kuraridinol) were isolated and identified based on the analysis of spectral data.(omitted)

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.593-599
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• 2004

From the EtOAc fraction of the MeOH extract of Albizzia julibrissin (Leguminosae）, a rare 5-deoxyflavone (geraldone, 1）, isookanin (2）, luteolin (3）, an isoflavone (daidzein, 4）, five prenylated flavonoids ［soph6f1avescenol (5）, kurarinone (6）, kurarinol (7）, kuraridin (8） and kuraridinol (9）］, a cerebroside (soya-cerebroside I, 10）, and $(-)-syringaresinol-4-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (11） were isolated and characterized on the basis of spectral data. Compounds 2, 3, and 11, showed 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2006

Acne is a chronic inflammatory follicular disorder of the skin, occurring in specialized pilosebaceous units on the face, and Propionibacterium acnes, a strict anaerobic pathogen, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acne. To develop a reliable and effective anti-acne agent, we have evaluated antibacterial activity of 500 plant extracts, prepared from 335 plants, against P. acnes. Based on the results of disc-paper method, 25 plant extracts, including the extracts of Chloranthus japonicus (aerial part), Sophora flavescens (radix), Evodia officinalis (fructus), Ginko biloba (semem), Morus alba (root bark), Aralia continentalis (whole) and Reynoutria elliptica (radix), were selected as possible sources of anti-acne agent. Among them, the extract of S. flavescens (radix) was finally selected and kuraridin and kurarinone were identified as major active compounds of S. flavescens. These results suggested that medicinal and wild plants could be the potential source of anti-acne agent.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.329-335
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• 2002

Previously, several prenylated flavonoids having a C-8 lavandulyl moiety were found to inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) as well as 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), and sophoraflavanone G was the most potent inhibitor against these eicosanoid generating enzymes among 19 prenylated flavonoids tested. In this investigation, effects of sophoraflavanone G on COX-2 induction from RAW 264.7 cells and in vivo inflammatory response were studied. Sophoraflavanone G inhibited prostaglandin $E_2{\;}(PGE_2)$ production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW cells by COX-2 down-regulation at 1-50 uM. Other prenylated flavonoids including kuraridin and sanggenon D also down-regulated COX-2 induction at 10-25 uM, while kurarinone and echinoisoflavanone did not. In addition, sophoraflavanone G showed in vivo anti-inflammatory activity against mouse croton oil-induced ear edema and rat carrageenan paw edema via oral (2-250 mg/kg) or topical administration (10-250 ug/ear). Although the potencies of inhibition were far less than that of a reference drug, prednisolone, this compound showed higher anti-inflammatory activity when applied topically, suggesting a potential use for several eicosanoidrelated skin inflammation such as atopic dermatitis.