OBJECTIVETo investigate the quality of Schisandra chinensis, and thus provide the useful reference data for its quality standard establishment and standardized cultivation.

METHODBase on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and literature relating to S. chinensis, the appearance, water-soluble extractive, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and volatile oil of 10 S. chinensis sampes collected from different producing sites in northeast China were studied or determined, and the contents of major active lingans were measured by HPLC.

RESULTThe content of total ash and acid-insoluble ash in S. chinensis was less than 7.0%, 1.0%, respectively. The contents of water-soluble extractive were higher than 45.0%. HPLC analyses showed that the content of schisandrol A was higher than 0.40%. All these results in accordance with the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia were published in 2010.

CONCLUSIONThe differences of the appearance and the internal quality are different for the samples collected from different areas. And the establishment of a scientific and comprehensive quality standard system will be very important role in ensuring the quality of S. chinensis.