Schisandra chinensis | Supplementopedia

Overview

Schisandra chinensis (also known as “five‑flavor berry”) is a deciduous woody vine native to the forests of China, Russia, and Korea. Its ripe berries are harvested for a rich mix of lignans, flavonoids, and organic acids, which are traditionally used as an adaptogenic botanical to support stress resilience, liver health, and overall vitality.

Benefits

Cognitive & neuroprotective: Lignans (e.g., schisandrin B) improve memory and reduce oxidative stress in rodent models and improve psychomotor speed in a small randomized trial of older adults.
Hepatoprotective: Schisandra extract (500 mg/day) lowers serum ALT/AST and reduces liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis and non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) trials.
Physical stamina & adaptation: A 12‑week, double‑blind trial showed a 14 % increase in VO₂max and reduced perceived fatigue in athletes taking 1 g/day.
Metabolic regulation: Schisandrin‑rich extracts improve insulin sensitivity and lower fasting glucose in type‑2 diabetic participants (8‑week trial).
Antioxidant & anti‑inflammatory: Both in vitro and human studies demonstrate decreased markers of oxidative damage (MDA) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF‑α, IL‑6) after 4–8 weeks of supplementation.

How It Works

Bioactive Constituents: Schisandra’s primary bioactive constituents are the dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans (schisandrin, schisandrin B, schisandrol A/B) and flavonoids.
Nrf2-Keap1 Pathway Modulation: These compounds modulate the Nrf2‑Keap1 pathway, leading to up‑regulation of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase, glutathione‑peroxidase).
Cytochrome P450 Inhibition: Simultaneously, they inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 and CYP2C9, reducing oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics.
Mitochondrial Stabilization: Schisandrin B stabilizes mitochondrial membrane potential, enhances ATP synthesis, and attenuates mitochondrial ROS production.
HPA-axis Modulation: The lignans also modulate the HPA‑axis by normalising cortisol spikes, an effect linked to their adaptation‑enhancing properties.
Liver Cell Effects: In liver cells, Schisandra induces the expression of hepatic glutathione‑S‑transferases and promotes bile acid transport via the farnesoid X‑receptor (FXR), helping to mitigate cholestasis.
Overall Effects: Together, these pathways explain the herb’s neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and metabolic actions.

Dosage

Standard Dosage: Clinical trials most commonly use 300–1000 mg of standardized Schisandra extract (≈ 5 %–10 % lignans) daily.
Typical Regimen: A typical regimen is 500 mg taken in divided doses (e.g., 250 mg with breakfast and 250 mg with dinner) to maintain steady plasma levels.
Acute Stress/Fatigue: For acute stress or fatigue, a single 200‑300 mg dose may be taken 30 min before the demanding activity.
Liver Support: For liver‑support protocols, 600 mg taken twice daily for 8–12 weeks is common.
Combination with Other Adaptogens: When combined with other adaptogens (e.g., Rhodiola), dosage may be reduced to 300 mg total daily to avoid overstimulation.
Adjustments: Adjustments (lower 150‑300 mg) are advisable for elderly or those with low body weight (<50 kg).
Starting Dose: Always start with a half‑dose for the first week to assess tolerance.

Safety & Side Effects

General Tolerance: Schisandra is generally well‑tolerated; mild gastrointestinal upset (bloating, nausea) occurs in ≤ 5 % of users.
High-Dose Effects: High–dose (> 2000 mg/day) may cause insomnia or mild headache.
Contraindications:
- Pregnant or lactating women (insufficient safety data)
- Patients on sedatives or CNS depressants (potential additive sedation)
- Individuals on cytochrome P450 substrates (e.g., warfarin, statins, antihistamines) due to possible inhibition of CYP3A4 and CYP2C9, which can raise drug plasma levels.
Medical Consultation: Individuals with severe liver disease should consult a physician before use.
Discontinuation: Discontinue if persistent nausea, dizziness, or allergic skin reactions develop.

Chemistry

Principal Lignans: The principal bioactive lignans are schisandrin (C₂₁H₂₈O₅, MW 352.45 g mol⁻¹) and schisandrin B (C₂₁H₂₈O₅, same formula but distinct stereochemistry).
IUPAC Name: The IUPAC name for schisandrin is (3R,5S,6R,7S,9R,10S)-3,5,6,7,9,10‑hexahydro‑1‑hydroxy‑3‑(2‑hydroxymethyl‑4‑methoxy‑phenyl)‑1‑benzofuran‑5‑yl‑2‑methoxy‑6‑phenyl‑7‑[2‑(1‑hydroxy‑2‑propen-1‑yl)phenyl]‑4‑methyl‑2‑propanoic acid (a simplified representation; exact IUPAC varies among lignans).
Structural Features: Key structural features include a dibenzocyclooctadiene core with two methoxy groups and a hydroxyl‑rich side chain, conferring high lipophilicity and membrane-crossing ability.
Other Compounds: The extracts also contain flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, kaempferol) and organic acids (schisandronic acid).
Extraction Considerations: The lignans are stable under low‑temperature extraction but degrade under prolonged heat, influencing extraction method choice.

Sources & Quality

Primary Sources: Commercial Schisandra is primarily harvested from wild or cultivated vines in the Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces of China, where climate and soil produce the highest lignan content.
Sustainable Sourcing: Sustainable sourcing now includes certified organic farms in the Russian Far East and Korea.
Extraction Method: Extraction is typically performed with 70 % ethanol under low‑temperature (≤ 45 °C) conditions to preserve lignans, followed by spray‑drying to produce a powder standardized to 5‑10 % total lignans.
Quality Control: High‑quality supplements undergo HPLC‑based fingerprinting to confirm lignan profile, heavy‑metal testing (< 10 ppb lead), and pesticide screening.
Recommendations: Look for GMP‑certified manufacturers that provide third‑party certificates of analysis (COA) confirming both potency and absence of contaminants.