OBJECTIVETo determinate the contents of lignans in the stems, roots and fruits of Schisandra medicinal plants.

METHODHPLC was applied to determine the contents of schisandrin, gomisin A, schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin, d-epigalbacine, (+)-anwulignan, wuweizisu B, 6-O-benzoylgomisin O and wuweizisu C in the stems, roots and fruits of Schisandra.

RESULTThe percent contents of 9 lignans in the fruits of 5 species were 0.52% - 1.96%, and 0.02% - 1.51% in the stems of 11 species. The lignans in the fruits of S. micrantha were similar to that of S. sphenanthera, especially with high content of deoxyschizandrin. The lignans of S. viridis were similar to that of S. chinensis and with high content of schisandrin, gomisin A and wuweizisu B. (+)-Anwulignan was present in the fruits of S. henryi and S. sphenanthera, in the stems of S. micrantha and S. pubescens var. pubinervis, and in the roots of S. bicolor with percentages of 0.77%, 0.42%, 0.50%, 0.26% and 0.38% respectively. d-Epigalbacine was present in the stems of S. pubescens var. pubinervis, S. pubescens and S. glaucescens with percentages of 0.89%, 1.51% and 0.17% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe lignans contents in the fruits of Schisandra were higher than that in the roots and stems. The fruits of S. henryi and S. sphenanthera, the stems of S. micrantha and S. pubescens var. pubinervis and the roots of S. bicolor, the stems of S. pubescens var. pubinervis, S. pubescens and S. glaucescens may be served as the resources plants of (+)-anwulignan and d-epigalbacine respectively.