Schisandra
Scientific Name(s): Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon, S. arisanensis Hayata, S. sphenanthera Rehd. S. rubriflora Franch. Family: Schisandraceae
Common Name(s): Schisandra , schizandra ; gomishi , hoku-gomishi , kita-gomishi (Japanese); wu-wei-zu (Chinese)
Clinical Overview
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Uses of Schisandra
Schisandra has been used as a tonic and restorative, as well as for liver protection, nervous system effects, respiratory treatment, and GI therapy.
Schisandra Dosing
Schisandra fruit is used as an adaptogen at doses of 1.5 to 6 g/day. A standardized extract containing 3.4% schisandrin has been used in a clinical trial for improved athletic performance at 91 mg/day of extract.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not yet been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Schisandra Interactions
Because of its documented effects on hepatic and gastric enzyme activity, it is possible that schisandra may interfere with the metabolism of other concurrently administered drugs.
Schisandra Adverse Reactions
Research does not report any incidence of side effects.
Toxicology
Schisandra has the ability to produce profound CNS depression.
Botany
The family Schisandraceae comprises two genera ( Schisandra and Kadsura ). Schisandra spp. are climbing, aromatic trees, with white, pink, yellow or reddish male or female flowers. The fruits are globular and red with several kidney-shaped seeds. The fruit is harvested in autumn when fully ripened. 1 S. chinensis is native to northeastern and north central China and is found in eastern Russia.
History
Schisandra is one of the many traditional Chinese herbs that are recommended for coughs and various nonspecific pulmonary diseases. 2 It has been studied extensively in the Chinese and Japanese literature. Schisandra had been used for healing purposes for over 2,000 years. It is often used as an ethanolic tincture. The Chinese name for the plant, “wu-wei-zu,” means “5-flavored herb,” because of the flavor of the 5 main “elemental energies” of the plant. The fruit have a salty, sour taste. 1
Chemistry
This plant's chemistry has been studied extensively. The fruit contains reducing sugars and up to 10% organic acids (carboxylic, malic, citric, tartaric). The seeds contain reducing sugars, alkaloids and fatty esters. No flavones, glycosides or tannins are in the seeds or fruit. 3 About 2% of the fruit by weight is composed of lignins with a dibenzocyclooctane skeleton (eg, schizandrin, deoxyschizandrin and related compounds such as schizandrol, and schizanderer). In some specimens, the lignin content can approach 19% in the seeds and 10% in the stems. 4 More than 30 lignins have been identified in the seed, 2 including gomisins A, B, C, D, F and G; 5 tigloylgomisin P and angeloylgomisin. 6 Other plant constituents include phytosterols, volatile oil and vitamins C and E. 1 Analytical methods have been devised for processing and standardization purposes. 7 , 8 , 9 Metabolism of schisandra components has been reported. 10 , 11 , 12
Schisandra Uses and Pharmacology
Besides serving as a tonic and restorative, schisandra has other reported uses, such as liver protection, nervous system effects, respiratory treatment, GI therapy, adaptogenic properties and others.
LiverThe lignin components in schisandra possess pronounced liver protectant effects. The active principles appear to be the lignins wu-wei-zu C, shisantherin D, deoxygomisin A, gomisin N and gomisin C. The presence of one or two methylenedioxy groups appear to be important in hepatoprotection. 2 , 13
Animal dataAnimal studies on gomisin A offer convincing evidence of liver protection, including protective actions against halothane-induced hepatitis; 14 carbon tetrachloride; d-galactosamine and dl-ethionine toxicities; 15 , 16 hepatic failure induced by bacteria; 17 and preneoplastic hepatic lesions. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 Gomisin A's mechanism for tumor inhibition may be a result of its ability to improve bile acid metabolism. 22 Gomisin A causes hepatic cell proliferation, improves liver regeneration, hepatic blood flow and liver function recovery in rats. 23 These effects are caused by protection of hepatocyte plasma membrane. 24 Ethanol extracts of schisandra have been found to increase liver weight in rats and mice. This action has been attributed to schizandrin B and schizandrol B. In a mouse study, extract added to a semipurified basal diet over a 14-day period increased the enzymatic metabolism of the mutagens benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and aflatoxin B (AFB) and increased cytochrome P450 activity. Despite this increased level of metabolism, schisandra extract increased the in vitro mutagenicity of AFB. However, chemicals inducing similar patterns of enzymes have been found to reduce the in vivo binding of AFB to DNA. 25 It is also recognized that the schizandrins and about 6 related compounds may temporarily inhibit or lower the activity of hepatic ALT. This has been observed in animals pretreated with hepatotoxins. 26 , 27 , 28
Clinical dataResearch reveals no clinical data for the use of schisandra for the liver.
Nervous SystemSchisandra is a nervous system stimulant, increasing reflex responses and improving mental alertness. In China, the berries are used to treat mental illnesses such as depression. It is also used for irritability and memory loss. 1 Schisandra has been evaluated for its inhibitory effects on the CNS as well. In Chinese medicine, it is used as a sedative for insomnia. 1
Animal dataSchisandra in combination with other herbs has improved memory retention disorder and facilitated memory retention deficit in animal testing. This suggests a possible use in treating age-related memory deficits in humans. 29 Schisandra, (in combination with Zizyphus spinosa and Angelica sinensis ) has accelerated neurocyte growth and may prevent atrophy of neurocyte process branches. 30
The CNS inhibition mechanism has been evaluated and may be related to an effect on dopaminergic receptors. 31 Gomisin A has also inhibited spontaneous and methamphetamine-induced motor activity in animals. 32
Clinical dataResearch reveals no clinical data regarding the use of schisandra for the nervous system.
RespiratoryAnimal data
Schisandra is used to treat respiratory ailments such as shortness of breath, wheezing and cough. 1 Gomisin A exerted antitussive effects when evaluated in guinea pigs. 32
Clinical dataResearch reveals no data for the use of schisandra for the respiratory system.
GIAnimal data
In the rat intestine, schisandra extract reduces BaP metabolism, which is the opposite effect from that in the liver. Experiments show that it increases the activity of glutathione S-transferase. In the intestine, schisandra shifts BaP metabolism in favor of diols and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene and away from BaP- 4,5-epoxide and the mutagenic BaP quinones. Schisandra does not increase intestinal cytochrome P450 activity. 33 Schisandra has been used for treatment of diarrhea and dysentery. 1 One report found schisandra extract to have no significant effects on gastric secretory volume, gastric pH and acid output, 34 while another study found schisandra to have inhibitory effects on gastric contraction and stress-induced gastric ulceration when administered IV and orally in rats. 32
Clinical dataResearch reveals no data for the use of schisandra for the GI tract.
Other usesThe plant helps the body adapt to stress. It has been used to balance fluid levels, improve sexual stamina, treat rash, stimulate uterine contractions and improve failing senses. 1 One report found antibacterial effects in alcohol and acetone extracts of the fruit. 3
Dosage
Schisandra fruit is used as an adaptogen at doses of 1.5 to 6 g/day. A standardized extract containing 3.4% schisandrin has been used in a clinical trial for improved athletic performance at 91 mg/day of extract. 35 , 36
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
Because of its documented effects on hepatic and gastric enzyme activity, it is possible that schisandra may interfere with the metabolism of other concurrently administered drugs.
Adverse Reactions
Research reveals little or no information regarding adverse reactions with the use of this product.
Toxicology
Schisandra has the capability to produce profound CNS depression. The full spectrum of the clinical effects of the plant on the liver are not well-documented and the safety of the plant has not been established scientifically.
Bibliography
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34. Hernandez D, et al. J Ethnopharmacol 1988;23(May/Jun):109–14.
35. Panossian AG, Oganessian AS, Ambartsumian M, Gabrielian ES, Wagner H, Wikman G. Effects of heavy physicial exercise and adaptogens on nitric oxide content in human saliva. Phytomed . 1999;6:17-26.
36. Schisandra berry; Schisandra chinensis, Analytical, quality control and therapeutic monograph. In: American Herbal Pharmacopeia . Santa Cruz, CA: American Herbal Pharmacopeia; 1999.
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