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Planta Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2597-8133
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Antidiabetic Potential of Sophora Species: Mechanisms, Bioactive Constituents, and Therapeutic Prospects

Mahdis Mousavi
1   Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran
2   Endocrine Physiology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
,
Mahdi Moridi Farimani
1   Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran
,
Khosrow Kashfi
3   Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
,
Asghar Ghasemi
2   Endocrine Physiology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
› Author Affiliations
This study was supported by a grant (Grant No. 43 011 273 – 3) from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. KK was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, grant number 2 U54MD017 979 – 01A1. Financial support by the Shahid Beheshti University Research Council is gratefully acknowledged.
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Abstract

Diabetes is a major global health concern, and achieving optimal glycemic control remains a challenge for many patients. Despite the availability of current antidiabetic medications, about two-thirds of patients worldwide fail to achieve adequate glycemic control, underscoring the need for novel treatments. Herbal medicine has significantly contributed to drug discovery, and Sophora, a genus in the Fabaceae family, has long been used in traditional medicine. Preclinical studies suggest that various chemical constituents of Sophora exhibit antidiabetic properties. This review summarizes in vitro and in vivo evidence on the antidiabetic effects of Sophora, highlighting its active ingredients and mechanisms of action. A literature search was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar with the keywords ‘Sophora’, ‘diabetes’, and ‘herbal medicine’. Studies indicate that Sophora reduces fasting glucose in type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T2D) by approximately 33% and 37%, respectively. Additionally, it decreases body weight, improves glucose tolerance, reduces insulin resistance, and enhances lipid profiles in T2D. The antidiabetic mechanisms of Sophora involve the activation of phospholipase C-protein kinase C (PLC-PKC), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt (PI3K-Akt), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways, leading to enhanced glucose uptake in the skeletal muscle. Furthermore, Sophora activates the PI3K-Akt pathway and inhibits nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB), thereby reducing hepatic gluconeogenesis and inflammation. Among its active constituents, flavonoids exhibit the most significant antidiabetic activity. While Sophora holds promise for antidiabetic drug development, further preclinical studies assessing sex differences and long-term safety are required before progressing to human clinical trials.

Keywords

Sophora - herbal medicine - type 1 diabetes - type 2 diabetes - Fabaceae


Publication History

Received: 20 October 2024

Accepted after revision: 28 April 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
30 April 2025

Article published online:
27 May 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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