Research progress of matrine's anticancer activity and its molecular mechanism

and ethnopharmacological relevance: Matrine (MT), a type of alkaloid extracted from the Sophora family of traditional Chinese medicine, has been documented to exert a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-viral, anti-fibrosis, and cardiovascular protection. Sophora flavescens Aiton is a traditional Chinese medicine that is bitter and cold. Additionally, it also exhibits the effects of clearing heat, eliminating dampness, expelling insects, and promoting urination. Malignant tumors are the most important medical issue and are also the second leading cause of death worldwide. Numerous natural substances have recently been revealed to have potent anticancer properties, and several have been used in clinical trials. To summarize the antitumor effects and associated mechanisms of MT, we compiled this review by combining a huge body of relevant literature and our previous research. As demonstrated, we grouped the pharmacological effects of MT via a PubMed search. Further, we described the mechanism and current pharmacological research on MT's antitumor activity. Additionally, extensive research has demonstrated that MT possesses superior antitumor properties, including accelerating cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumor cell growth and proliferation, inducing cell cycle arrest, inhibiting cancer metastasis and invasion, inhibiting angiogenesis, inducing autophagy, reversing multidrug resistance and inhibiting cell differentiation, thus indicating its significant potential for cancer treatment and prognosis. This article summarizes current advances in research on the anticancer properties of MT and its molecular mechanism, to provide references for future research.