Matrine is an active alkaloid, extracted from a traditional Chinese herbs of the Sophora family. Matrine has been reported for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. It was demonstrated that the antinociceptive effects of ( )-matrine was mediated by mu- and kappa-opioid receptors. It could dose-dependently restore the balance of Th17/Treg cytokines and attenuate the cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease rats. Sophora flavescens and its bioactive compound, matrine alleviated caffeine-induced hyperactivity and promoted non-rapid eye movement sleep by activating ventrolateral preoptic nucleus neurons and modulating serotonergic transmission. Clinical trial results indicate, that intramuscular matrine may be an economical, efficacious, safe drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Matrine injection may be used to protect the liver function for patients with primary hepatic carcinoma after trans-artery chemo-embolization (TAE), to relieve the liver cells damage, and to improve the tolerance of TAE, so as to perform the next TAE in time.