Extensive disease surveys performed during the summers of 2013 and 2014 in Schisandra chinensis orchards resulted in the finding of a Septobasidium sp. associated with felt disease. The fungus was characterized to be symbiotic with a scale insect (Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli). Morphological and molecular characteristics of the Septobasidium isolates were investigated. The isolates were morphologically and phylogenetically close to S. bogoriense. We tentatively describe this isolate as a Septobasidium sp., mainly because of the limited amount of information available on the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal DNA of Septobasidium spp.
DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi ; Hemiptera ; Schisandra*

OBJECTIVETo determine 4 nortriterpenoids (de-hydroxy arisanlactone D, 25-hydroxy schindilactone, schindilachone A, lancifodilactone D) in Schisandra chinensis extract by HPLC.

METHODThe analysis was performed on a waters symmetry column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (33:67) at a flow rate of 1 ml x min(-1). The column temperature was set at 37 degrees C, and the detector wavelength was 264 nm.

RESULTThe linear ranges of de-hydroxy arisanlactone D, 25-hydroxy schindilactone, schindilachone A, and lancifodilactone D are 0.075-1.800, 0.098-0.980; 0.095-0.950, and 0.053-0.530 microg, respectively, and the average recoveries were 98.57%, 96.44%, 97.96%, and 97.27%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe four nortriterpenoids were well separated by this method, and it could be used to determine the four nortriterpenoids in Schisandra chinensis extract.

OBJECTIVETo compare the content of six lignans of different parts of Schisandra chinensis.

METHODAgilent TC-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was used with acetonitrile-water gradient system as mobile phase. Wave length was 250 nm. The flow rate was 1 mL x min(-1). Column temperature was 30 degrees C.

RESULTThe total lignans content of wild Schisandra chinensis was higher than that of the cultivated varieties. The total lignans content of different parts varied significantly, wherein the root > main branch > side branches > leaf.

CONCLUSIONThis method is stable, reliable, can be used for the quality evaluation of different parts of Schisandra.

OBJECTIVETo establish a quick method for evaluation of the antioxidant activities based on the correlation analysis of lignans content and antioxidant activities of Schisandra chinensis fruits.

METHODThe content of five lignans components in 37 batches of S. chinensis fruits from different regions of Jilin province were measured by HPLC. Simultaneously, the antioxidant activities of the above samples were detected, such as lipid peroxidation inhibition activity in liver (LPIL), kidney (LPIK) and brain (LPIB) and the clearance rate of DPPH (CRD). Bivariate correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis were carried out by the software of SPSS for windows 11.5.

RESULTThe results of bivariate correlation analysis showed that deoxyschizandrin was negative correlation (P<0.01) to the activity of LPIL, LPIB, CRD. Schisandrin was positive correlation (P<0.01) to the activity of LPIL, LPIB, CRD. Schisandrol B was also positive correlation (P<0.05 or P<0.01) to the above four kinds of antioxidant activity. The results of stepwise regression analysis were mostly consistent with the bivariate correlation analysis results. For the other 10 batches of samples, the simulated antioxidant activities according to the regression equation calculated was consistent with the measured activities.

CONCLUSIONBy using the bivariate correlation analysis and linear stepwise regression analysis, the bioactive components related to the antioxidant activity of S. chinensis fruits were found. Meanwhile, the antioxidant activity of samples will be inferred according to the content of Schisandra lignans.

Schisandrae has a long history of medicinal use in China. Domestic and foreign scholars have isolated a variety of chemical constituents from Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, including lignans, volatile oils, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, organic acids, amino acids and so on. Pharmacological studies have shown that their alcohol extracts, water extracts, lignan monomers and polysaccharides could protect liver injury and reduce enzyme ability by a variety of hepatoprotective effects such as enzyme reducing, liver protecting, and antioxidant effect. In this paper, the researches on the chemical composition, hepatoprotective effect and pharmacokinetics of Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus in the past forty years were systematically collated, in order to provide useful enlightenment for the clinical application and new drug development of Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus in liver protection.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Fruit ; Lignans/pharmacology* ; Schisandra

Dirigent(DIR) proteins are involved in the biosynthesis of lignin, lignans, and gossypol in plants and respond to biotic and abiotic stresses. Based on the full-length transcriptome of Schisandra chinensis, bioinformatics methods were used to preliminarily identify the DIR gene family and analyze the physico-chemical properties, subcellular localization, conserved motifs, phylogeny, and expression patterns of the proteins. The results showed that a total of 34 DIR genes were screened and the encoded proteins were 156-387 aa. The physico-chemical properties of the proteins were different and the secondary structure was mainly random coil. Half of the DIR proteins were located in chloroplast, while the others in extracellular region, endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm, etc. Phylogenetic analysis of DIR proteins from S. chinensis and the other 8 species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, and Glycine max demonstrated that all DIR proteins were clustered into 5 subfamilies and that DIR proteins from S. chinensis were in 4 subfamilies. DIR-a subfamily has the unique structure of 8 β-sheets, as verified by multiple sequence alignment. Finally, through the analysis of the transcriptome of S. chinensis fruit at different development stages, the expression pattern of DIR was clarified. Combined with the accumulation of lignans in fruits at different stages, DIR might be related to the synthesis of lignans in S. chinensis. This study lays a theoretical basis for exploring the biological functions of DIR genes and elucidating the biosynthesis pathway of lignans in S. chinensis.
Fruit/genetics* ; Lignans/analysis* ; Phylogeny ; Schisandra ; Sequence Alignment

Schisandra chinensis, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is rich in chemical constituents, including lignans, triterpenes, polysaccharides, and volatile oils. Clinically, it is commonly used to treat cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, liver, gastrointestinal, and respiratory diseases. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that S. chinensis extract and monomers have multiple pharmacological activities in lowering liver fat, alleviating insulin resistance, and resisting oxidative stress, and have good application prospects in alleviating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD). Therefore, this study reviewed the research progress on chemical constituents of S. chinensis and its effect on NAFLD in recent years to provide references for the research on S. chinensis in the treatment of NAFLD.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Schisandra ; Insulin Resistance ; Lignans

This paper aimed to study the chemical constituents from the root bark of Schisandra sphenanthera. Silica, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-HPLC were used to separate and purify the 80% ethanol extract of S. sphenanthera. Eleven compounds were identified by ~1H-NMR, ~(13)C-NMR, ESI-MS, etc., which were 2-[2-hydroxy-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3-methoxyphenyl]-propane-1,3-diol(1), threo-7-methoxyguaiacylglycerol(2),4-O-(2-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethylethyl)-dihydroconiferylalcohol(3), morusin(4), sanggenol A(5), sanggenon I(6), sanggenon N(7), leachianone G(8),(+)-catechin(9), epicatechin(10), and 7,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone(11). Among them, compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2-9 were isolated from S. sphenanthera for the first time. Compounds 2-11 were subjected to cell viability assay, and the results revealed that compounds 4 and 5 had potential cytotoxicity, and compound 4 also had potential antiviral activity.
Schisandra ; Plant Bark ; Antiviral Agents ; Biological Assay ; Catechin ; Phenols

Many herbs have been used as therapeutics in Korean traditional medicine. In view of their clinical indications, anti-oxidant activity may contribute to their pharmacological effects. However, anti-oxidant information on these plants has not been available. In this study, seventy herbs which have been used in Korean traditional medicine were selected and screened for anti-oxidant activity using their water extracts. The anti-oxidant activity was assessed by their ability to inhibit three oxidation reactions; luminol/Fenton reagent, 2, 7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCHF)/Fenton reagent and DCHF/peroxynitrite. In each assay, 70 herbs were divided into two groups; anti-oxidant group which inhibited the respective oxidation reaction and was majority (about 60 herbs), and pro-oxidant group which enhanced the oxidation reaction but was minority (more or less 10 herbs). When the herbs were listed in the order of their anti-oxidant strength, the orders obtained from each assay were found to be quite similar. The upper top rankers (more or less 10 herbs) in each assay showed strong activity compared to the others. The uppermost rankers in each assay were Rubus coreanus Miquel/ Rubus schizostylus, Schisandra chinensis Baillon/ Schizandra chinensis and Terminalia chebula Retzius/ Terminalia chebula. Of the pro-oxidant herbs, about 4-5 herbs were strongly pro-oxidant, which enhanced the control oxidation reactions to 150-300%. But the meaning of this observation is not known since few of them in one assay were also anti-oxidant in other assays. The results obtained in the present study may serve as information for understanding pharmacological effects of these herbs and developing new drugs from them.
Hydrogen Peroxide ; Iron ; Luminescence ; Medicine, Korean Traditional ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; Schisandra ; Terminalia ; Water

OBJECTIVETo compare the contents of lignin in crude and processed fruits of Schisandrae chinensis, and to explore the processing mechanism of S. chinensis fruits.

METHODContents of schisandrin, schisandrol B, deoxyschisandrin, gomisin N, gamma-schizandrin and schisandrin C were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTExcept the content of Schisandrol B was higher or less in processed fruits than that in the crude, the other lignin contents of S. chinensis fruits in different processed products were higher than that in the crude. The alcohol-processed product had the highest content of lignin.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of lignin have changed by different processed methods, and alcohol-processed method may be the best processed method.