Styphnolobium japonicum

Other Names : Japanese pagoda tree, Chinese scholar tree, pagoda tree, Sophora japonica

Special Precautions of Styphnolobium japonicum

• All parts of the plant except for the flowers are described as highly poisonous; the bark and seeds are mentioned, especially the peel of the fruit. The main active ingredients are 0.08% sophorabioside , rutin and others in the fruits, 2% sophoricoside in unripe fruits , and cytisine , toxalbumins and sophoramine in the seeds.
  
• Symptoms of poisoning: The fruit peel is said to be highly poisonous. Subcutaneous injection of the extract is fatal to frogs, lizards and white mice. The injection causes a brief increase in blood sugar and glucosuria in warm-blooded animals , followed by dyspnoea and a decrease in red blood cells. The seed meal, if consumed regularly, is said to cause facial edema and even death.

Health Benefits and Uses of Styphnolobium japonicum

Dishes and teas made from fresh and dried flowers are used in traditional Chinese medicine. The flowers are said to have anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory effects.