Matrine

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Tetracyclic plant alkaloid

title: "Matrine" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["kappa-opioid-receptor-agonists", "lactams", "quinolizidine-alkaloids", "alkaloids-found-in-fabaceae", "nitrogen-heterocycles", "heterocyclic-compounds-with-4-rings", "naphthyridines", "tetracyclic-compounds", "experimental-drugs"] description: "Tetracyclic plant alkaloid" topic_path: "general/kappa-opioid-receptor-agonists" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrine" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Tetracyclic plant alkaloid ::

| tradename = | pregnancy_category = | legal_status = Unscheduled, sold OTC in US | routes_of_administration =

| bioavailability = | metabolism = | excretion =

| C=15 | H=24 | N=2 | O=1 | smiles = C1C[C@@H]2[C@H]3CCCN4[C@H]3C@@HCN2C(=O)C1 | StdInChI_Ref = | StdInChI = 1S/C15H24N2O/c18-14-7-1-6-13-12-5-3-9-16-8-2-4-11(15(12)16)10-17(13)14/h11-13,15H,1-10H2/t11-,12+,13+,15-/m0/s1 | StdInChIKey_Ref = | StdInChIKey = ZSBXGIUJOOQZMP-JLNYLFASSA-N

Matrine is an alkaloid found in plants from the family Fabaceae. It has a variety of pharmacological effects, including in-vitro anti-cancer effects, as well as κ-opioid and μ-opioid receptor agonism.

Matrine possesses strong antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis are the likely mechanisms responsible for matrine's antitumor activities. Matrine can be commercially extracted from the traditional Chinese medical herb Sophora flavescens Ait.

Mu opioid agonism is associated with euphoria, while kappa opioid agonism is associated with dysphoria and psychotomimetic hallucinations (as seen in the kappa-agonist Salvinorin A). Both receptors are known to produce analgesia when activated.

Matrine and the related compound oxymatrine have a toxic effect against the formosan subterranean termite. Additionally, it acts as a nematicide against the pine wood nematode which causes pine wilt, as well as pathogenic nematodes which target humans.

Matrine alleviates neuro-inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain caused by acute liver injury, thus producing antianxiety and antidepression effects.

References

(April 2009). "Effects of matrine against the growth of human lung cancer and hepatoma cells as well as lung cancer cell migration". Cytotechnology.
(April 1999). "kappa-Opioid receptor-mediated antinociceptive effects of stereoisomers and derivatives of (+)-matrine in mice". Planta Medica.
(May 2005). "Implication of the descending dynorphinergic neuron projecting to the spinal cord in the (+)-matrine- and (+)-allomatrine-induced antinociceptive effects". Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin.
(February 2008). "Anticancer effects of the Chinese medicine matrine on murine hepatocellular carcinoma cells". Planta Medica.
(June 2007). "Antifeedant activity and acute and residual toxicity of alkaloids from Sophora flavescens (leguminosae) against formosan subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)". Journal of Economic Entomology.
(1991). "Nematicidal activity of matrine and its derivatives against pine wood nematodes". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
(February 1982). "[Studies on chemotherapy of parasitic helminths (IV). Effects of alkaloids from Sophora flavescens on the motility of parasitic helminths and isolated host tissues (author's transl)]". Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi. Folia Pharmacologica Japonica.
(May 2019). "Matrine ameliorates anxiety and depression-like behaviour by targeting hyperammonemia-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in CCl4 model of liver injury". Neurotoxicology.

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