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Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis)
Schizandra (or schisandra) is major tonic herb in Chinese medicine, long prized by everyone from emperors to family herbalists for its ability to prolong youth, increase stamina, and prevent fatigue. Schizandra products are derived from the small, bright red, berry-like fruit of a hardy vine of the magnolia family. Schizandra is native to China as well as parts of Japan, Korea, and Russia. Two dozen additional species of schizandra also exist, all indigenous to Asia with the exception of a relatively rare schizandra vine native to woody areas of North Carolina and neighboring states. The Chinese refer to dried schizandra berries as wu-wei-zi.

Traditional uses
Schizandra was mentioned in early medical texts of China as one of the "superior herbs," capable of promoting overall well-being and enhancing bodily vitality. Some hunting tribes of Northern China would take supplies of the dried berries whenever they went on long hunting trips during cold weather. Eating the schizandra berries helped them to stoke their internal fires and renew flagging strength. The Chinese have long considered schizandra ideal for lack of energy and for nervous exhaustion from stress. Schizandra has also traditionally been taken to beautify the skin, strengthen the sex organs, and promote mental function. Among the ailments it was used to treat are night sweats, asthma, cough, and insomnia. Schizandra was used topically for skin sores. It is a traditional Russian folk remedy for diabetes.

• common cold
• sore throat
• hepatitis
• chronic diarrhea

• Scientists in Hong Kong who treated rats with a lignan-enriched extract of schizandra fruit found that it protected the animals' livers against a strain of aflatoxin. The researchers concluded that the protective mechanism may involve promotion of both antioxidant and detoxification processes in the liver.
• A traditional Chinese formula consisting of schizandra and two other herbs was found to protect rats' hearts against induced injuries. A pretreatment study suggested that the major heart-protective component in the formula was the schizandra lignans.
• Researchers determined that a schizandra extract caused a statistically significant increase in the working capacity of mice, as measured by extensions in the times the animals were able to run on a treadmill and to swim.

Do scientists know how it works?
Among schizandra's main chemical constituents are compounds known as lignans, which are concentrated in the berries' seeds. More than two dozen lignans have been identified with the prominent ones being schizandrin, gomisins such as gomisin A, and wuweizisu C. Lignans stimulate the immune system, protect and regenerate the liver, and increase the body's ability to handle stress. They may also have mild sedative effects. Other chemical constituents in schizandra, such as an essential oil, acids, vitamins, and minerals, may contribute to the herb's tonic effects by increasing cells' ability to create and use energy and to process wastes or by delivering more oxygen to the body's cells. They may also help to detoxify blood and tissues and provide nutrients crucial to bodily processes.

• immune enhancement, antioxidant action, detoxification, and energy

Safety
The Chinese say that schizandra berries have all five flavors (sweet, sour, bitter, hot, salty) and have long consumed them as a food. Average doses of herbal preparations are considered safe and nontoxic. Mild side effects may include indigestion and skin rash. Schizandra may promote contractions of the uterine muscles and thus should not be used by pregnant women.

• Azizov, A.P., and R.D. Seifulla, "[The effect of elton, leveton, fitoton and adapton on the work capacity of experimental animals]," Eksp Klin Farmakol (1998), 61(3):61-63
• Ip, S.P., et al., "Effect of a lignan-enriched extract of Schisandra chinensis on aflatoxin B1 and cadmium chloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats," Pharmacol Toxicol (1996), 78(6):413-16
• Li, P.C., et al., "Schisandra chinensis-dependent myocardial protective action of sheng-mai-san in rats," Am J Chin Med (1996), 24(3-4):255-62
• Sun, H.D., et al., "Nigranoic acid, a triterpenoid from Schisandra sphaerandra that inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcriptase," J Nat Prod (1996), 59(5):525-27

Abstracts Title: Effect of a lignan-enriched extract of Schisandra chinensis on aflatoxin B1 and cadmium chloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats
Author: Ip SP; Mak DH; Li PC; Poon MK; Ko KM
Source: Pharmacol Toxicol, 78(6):413-6 1996 Jun
Abstract: Treatment of rats with a lignan-enriched extract of the fruit of Schisandra chinensis could enhance hepatic antioxidant/detoxification system, as indicated by increases in hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) level as well as hepatic glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities. The hepatoprotective action was evident after aflatoxin beta 1 or cadmium chloride (Cd) challenge. Schisandra chinensis pretreatment protected against aflatoxin B1-or Cd-induced hepatocellular damage in rats. However, pretreating rats with alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) did not protect against hepatic damage induced by both toxins. Results from the present as well as our previous studies demonstrate that the hepatoprotection afforded by Schisandra chinensis pretreatment is not hepatotoxin specific. Schisandra chinensis seems to be more effective than vitamin E in protecting against aflatoxin B1 and Cd toxicity. The mechanism of hepatoprotection afforded by Schisandra chinensis pretreatment may involve facilitation of both antioxidant and detoxification processes in the liver.