Sophora Flavescens/Matrine

[Nanamakutu]

Just an interesting plant I thought I'd leave here

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophora_flavescens

Used in TCM traditionally, the plant itself has some toxic compounds in it, but one very interesting one is called matrine.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrine

It's relatively new stuff, there are some posts on Reddit about Matrine if you search for it. There are recent sources for this extracted from Sophora. One interesting reddit post is basically a refutation of the possibility of Matrine having mu opioid agonism or kappa. The poster said it was more likely down there is a downstream endogenous opioid effect like you see in THC, nicotine, and various other compounds.

Here is a great summary of the research on Matrine and some of its potential health benefits:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10 ... 00588/full

Overall very interesting. I've only worked with it once so far, but noticed some of the things others say on Reddit about it. What stood out was a synergy with mitragyna speciosa

[Nanamakutu]

Googling around I have found some articles suggestion Matrine is hepatotoxic in mice. Looks less appealing

[Nanamakutu]

I really need to learn to read literature better. I also see that the "tolerable dose" in mice was 80mg/kg and googled that term to see that it's the level below which toxicity would be "acceptable" for human or animal use

Some other papers discussing the toxicity of these compounds describe them as generally regarded as safe

[Nanamakutu]

This one looks less and less appealing from the two times I've worked with it

[aqualung42]

good info! Definitely be cautious. Nobody want to need a new liver.