Čes. slov. farm. 2001, 50(4):173-180

Phytotherapeutic Aspects of the Diseases of the Circulatory System7. Schisandra chinensis (TURCZ.) BAILL.: Its Constituents and Their Biological Activity

L. Opletal, M. Křenková, P. Havlíčková

Katedra farmaceutické botaniky a ekologie Farmaceutické fakulty Univerzity Karlovy, Hradec Králové

Schisandra chinensis (TURCZ.) BAILL., originally a Japanese-Manchurian endemite, yields a vegetable drug (Schisandrae fructus) with a number of very utilizable therapeutic effects. The paper reports the results of phytochemical and pharmacological-toxicological studies approximately from the year 1990 carried out both with the drug and, in particular, the principal isolated lignans of thedibenzo[a,c]cyclooctadiene type. The results confirm the validity of the historical use of the drug, inparticular as a hepatoprotective, adaptogenic, and antioxidative agent. It is obvious that a very positive therapeutic effect based on the use of a complex mixture of its principal constituents because their biological effects are complementary and potentiate each other. At the same time, some lignans (e.g. gomisin A, gomisin N) are interesting as new prospective medicines.

Keywords: Schisandra chinensis; Schisandrae fructus; constituents; lignans of dibenzo[a,c]cyclooctadiene type; biological activity; toxicological study

Published: April 1, 2001  Show citation