Abstract: To study the chemical constituents from Fructus Sophorae,the dry mature fruits of Sophora japonica L.. The constituents were separated and purified by silica gel column chromatography, ODS reversed phase column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by physical and chemical properties and spectral data. Fifteen compounds were isolated from Fructus Sophorae,and identified as genistein (1), kaempferol (2), tectoridin (3), ononin (4), α-rhamnoisorobin (5), sissotrin (6), choerospondin (7), thevetiaflavon (8), orobol-7-O-β-D-glucoside (9), kaempferol-7-O-β-D-glucoside (10), quercitrin (11), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-sophoroside (12), genistein-7,4′-O--D-diglucoside (13), quercetin-3-O-β-D-sophoroside (14), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-sophoroside-7-O-α-L-rhamnoside (15). Compounds 6-12 and 14 were obtained from this plant for the first time.Compounds 7,8,10 and 14 were obtained from genus Sophora Linn. for the first time. The isolated compounds were screened for anti-osteoporosis activities, and the results suggested that Fructus Sophorae can be an excellent source of natural antiosteoporosis agents. The results showed that all compounds can promote osteoblast proliferation except compounds 7 and 15.

Key words: Fructus Sophorae, isoflavanones, flavonols, anti-osteoporosis