Sophoridine (Quinolizidine Alkaloid · Anti-arrhythmic · Antiviral · Ku Shen)

Compound	Sophoridine
Chemical class	Alkaloid — Quinolizidine (Tetracyclic; Matrine-type Isomer)
CAS	6882-68-4
Primary source	Sophora flavescens (Ku Shen / bitter ginseng root)
Key applications	Anti-inflammatory, antiviral, cardiac anti-arrhythmic, immunomodulatory
Claim strength	Moderate
Typical form	Sophora flavescens extract co-constituent alongside matrine and oxymatrine
Buy from Herbuno	Request availability and bulk pricing →

Commercial source: Sophora flavescens (Ku Shen) root extract is commercially available from specialist botanical suppliers, with sophoridine as a co-alkaloid alongside the dominant matrine and oxymatrine. Isolated sophoridine is available as a research-grade material from specialist chemical suppliers. Contact Herbuno for Sophora alkaloid extract availability. Traditional use: Shares Sophora flavescens (Ku Shen, “bitter ginseng root”) traditional use in TCM for inflammatory skin conditions, intestinal and urinary infections, viral hepatitis, and anti-inflammatory applications, as described under matrine and oxymatrine. Sophoridine is not individually distinguished in traditional practice. Research trajectory: Sophoridine is a tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloid that is a structural isomer of matrine — same molecular formula (C15H24N2O) but different ring connectivity pattern. This structural difference confers distinct pharmacological properties from matrine despite the same molecular formula. Research covers anti-arrhythmic activity, antiviral mechanisms (notably against coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis), anti-inflammatory effects, and anticancer potential. See sourcing options below.

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Evidence for Sophoridine Applications

Cardiac anti-arrhythmic: Sophoridine has documented anti-arrhythmic activity in animal cardiac electrophysiology models, particularly for viral myocarditis-associated arrhythmias. Sodium and calcium channel blocking activity is proposed. Chinese research groups have studied sophoridine specifically for coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) myocarditis, where both antiviral and anti-arrhythmic effects are relevant. Claim strength: Moderate (preclinical; Chinese clinical context).

Antiviral — coxsackievirus B3: Sophoridine inhibits CVB3 (coxsackievirus B3) replication — the primary causative virus of viral myocarditis — at low micromolar concentrations in cell models. This antiviral + anti-arrhythmic dual activity makes sophoridine pharmacologically relevant to viral myocarditis management, an area where few effective botanical interventions exist. Claim strength: Moderate (preclinical; emerging Chinese clinical research).

Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory: Sophoridine inhibits NF-κB and modulates Th1/Th2 balance, paralleling oxymatrine’s immunomodulatory profile but with different receptor interaction geometry from the isomeric ring system. Relevant for inflammatory and autoimmune complement formulations. Claim strength: Moderate.

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Dosage & Formulator Specification

No established isolated human supplement dose for sophoridine. In Sophora flavescens extract, sophoridine constitutes approximately 5–15% of total alkaloids alongside the dominant matrine and oxymatrine. Sophora flavescens extract at 200–400 mg/day delivering the full alkaloid complex is the practical supplement vehicle. Isolated sophoridine is available from specialist chemical suppliers for research applications. Contact Herbuno for Sophora alkaloid extract specifications.

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Frequently Asked Questions — Sophoridine

What is the difference between sophoridine and matrine if they have the same molecular formula?
Sophoridine and matrine (both C15H24N2O) are constitutional isomers — same atoms in different connectivity patterns. Matrine has a trans-fused bicyclic quinolizidine ring system; sophoridine has a different ring connectivity that alters the three-dimensional shape of the molecule. This structural difference produces distinct receptor binding profiles: sophoridine has stronger documented cardiac ion channel activity and antiviral properties, while matrine has stronger documented hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic activity. They complement rather than duplicate each other in the Sophora alkaloid complex.

Is sophoridine specifically targeted in Sophora flavescens extract specifications?
No — commercial Sophora flavescens extracts are typically standardised to matrine + oxymatrine content (total Sophora alkaloids) with sophoridine as an undeclared co-alkaloid. For sophoridine-specific research or formulation intent, a full individual alkaloid profile CoA (HPLC quantifying matrine, oxymatrine, sophocarpine, and sophoridine individually) is required. This level of characterisation is appropriate for premium or research-grade Sophora alkaloid preparations.

Is viral myocarditis a relevant therapeutic target for supplement positioning?
Viral myocarditis is an inflammatory heart disease caused primarily by CVB3, enterovirus D68, and other cardiotropic viruses. It is a significant clinical condition for which pharmaceutical treatment options are limited. While sophoridine’s CVB3 antiviral and anti-arrhythmic mechanisms are pharmacologically compelling, therapeutic positioning for viral myocarditis management requires pharmaceutical regulatory pathways — not supplement claims. Position sophoridine as “studied to support healthy cardiac and immune function” within supplement claim frameworks.

Can sophoridine be co-formulated with matrine and oxymatrine for comprehensive Ku Shen alkaloid coverage?
Yes — and this is naturally achieved by using full-spectrum Sophora flavescens alkaloid extract rather than isolated single alkaloids. The full Ku Shen alkaloid complex (matrine, oxymatrine, sophoridine, sophocarpine) provides complementary anti-inflammatory, antiviral, hepatoprotective, and cardiac protective activity that no single alkaloid covers alone. This multi-alkaloid approach aligns with TCM whole-plant pharmacology principles and is the recommended formulation strategy for Sophora flavescens applications.

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Claim-strength scale – High = multiple human RCTs; Moderate = limited trials or strong preclinical convergence; Emerging = early-stage lab or animal data.

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