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Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis)

Specific Recommendations:

• Schizandra at Amazon.com

News & Research:

• Wuzhi capsule (Schisandra Sphenanthera extract) attenuates liver steatosis and inflammation during non-alcoholic fatty liver disease development - Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, February 2019 - "Wuzhi (WZ) capsule contains an ethanol extract of Schisandra sphenanthera ... Liver histology revealed significantly less steatosis, inflammation, and necrosis, which was confirmed by decreased intrahepatic triglycerides and serum ALT in WZ-treated mice. WZ also reduced the liver mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6. Sensitivity to steatohepatitis due to WZ administration correlated significantly with alterations in the expression of PPAR-α/γ, as well as the NF-κB signalling pathway ... WZ plays a protective role against MCD-induced steatohepatitis. The underlying mechanism likely involves the upregulation of PPAR-α/γ and downregulation of the NF-κB signalling pathway. Based on its beneficial effects on the liver, WZ is a promising therapeutic for NAFLD patients" - [Nutra USA] - See schizandra at Amazon.com.
• Schisandra Berries More Than a Liver Aid - Nutrition Science News, 1/01
• Schisandra: Structure/Function Claim - Nutrition Science News, 1/01

Abstracts:

• Schisandra B, a representative lignan from Schisandra chinensis, improves cisplatin-induced toxicity: An in vitro study - Phytother Res 2022 Oct 12 - "Schisandrin B (Scheme B) is the most abundant and active lignan monomer isolated from Schisandra chinensis. At present, most reports focus on its cardioprotective and hepatoprotective effects, however, the related reports on gastrointestinal protective effects are still limited ... In conclusion, Scheme B might alleviate cisplatin-induced IEC-6 cell damage by inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and repairing intestinal barrier function. The present research provides a strong evidence that Scheme B may be a useful modulator in cisplatin-induced intestinal toxicity" - See Schizandra at Amazon.com.
• Effect of Schisandra chinensis Baillon extracts and regular low-intensity exercise on muscle strength and mass in older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - Am J Clin Nutr 2021 Mar 12 - "Studies suggest that Schisandra chinensis Baillon (Sc) may enhance muscle strength and mass because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties ... A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed in adults >50 y of age. Fifty-four participants were randomly assigned into 2 groups and, for 12 wk, received either 1 g SCe/d or a placebo. All participants were required to walk for 30-60 min/d for >3 d/wk during the trial period. At baseline and at 4 and 12 wk after treatment, the participants were examined for knee extension strength using Biodex isokinetic dynamometers, handgrip strengths, and body composition, and blood tests were performed ... SCe supplementation over 12 wk caused a higher increase in right knee extensor strength by 10.2 Nm (95% CI: 3.7, 16.8 Nm; P = 0.003) and left knee extensor strength by 6.7 Nm (95% CI: 0.3, 13.1 Nm; P = 0.041) than did the placebo. However, no differences were observed in the muscle mass, anti-inflammatory markers, antioxidative markers, and EQ-5D score between the groups. None of the participants experienced adverse events"
• Schisandra Extract and Ascorbic Acid Synergistically Enhance Cognition in Mice through Modulation of Mitochondrial Respiration - Nutrients. 2020 Mar 25 - "Here, we demonstrate that a mixture of Schisandra chinensis extract (SCE) and ascorbic acid (AA) improved cognitive function and induced synaptic plasticity-regulating proteins by enhancing mitochondrial respiration. Treatment of embryonic mouse hippocampal mHippoE-14 cells with a 4:1 mixture of SCE and AA increased basal oxygen consumption rate. We found that mice injected with the SCE-AA mixture showed enhanced learning and memory and recognition ability. We further observed that injection of the SCE-AA mixture in mice significantly increased expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), an increase that was correlated with enhanced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. These results demonstrate that a mixture of SCE and AA improves mitochondrial function and memory, suggesting that this natural compound mixture could be used to alleviate AD and aging-associated memory decline" - [Nutra USA] - See Schizandra at Amazon.com and Schizandra at iHerb.com and vitamin C products at Amazon.com and vitamin C at iHerb.com.
• Anti-Aging Effects of Schisandrae chinensis Fructus Extract: Improvement of Insulin Sensitivity and Muscle Function in Aged Mice - Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Nov 3;2019 - "Schisandrae chinensis Fructus has a long history of medicinal use as a tonic, a sedative, and an antitussive drug ... Insulin sensitivity was lower at 20 months of age than at 16 months of age; however, the decrease in insulin sensitivity was less in SFe-fed mice. SFe supplementation also appeared to improve glucose tolerance. Body weight gain was lower in SFe-fed mice than in mice fed the control diet. Body fat mass was lower and the lean mass was higher in SFe-fed mice. In addition, the grip strength was enhanced in SFe-fed mice. Histological analysis of the tibialis anterior muscle showed that the size of myofiber and slow-twitch red muscle was increased by SFe supplementation. The expression of proteins related to muscle protein synthesis such as phospho-Erk1 and phospho-S6K1 was increased by SFe supplementation. The mRNA expression of genes related to myogenesis and their encoded proteins such as MyoD, Myf5, MRF4, myogenin, and myosin heavy chain, was increased, whereas that of genes related to muscle degradation, such as atrogin-1, MuRF-1, and myostatin, were decreased relative to control mice. These results suggest that SFe supplementation might have beneficial effects for the improvement of insulin sensitivity and inhibition of muscle loss that occur with aging"
• Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus inhibits behavioral deficits induced by sleep deprivation and chronic unpredictable mild stress via increased signaling of brain-derived neurotrophic factor - Phytother Res. 2019 Aug 30 - "sleep deprivation (SD) and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus (SCF) ... chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) ... These results indicated that the antidepressant-like effect of SCF in the CUMS depends on the activation of BDNF and the modulation of TrkB/CREB/ERK and PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/mTOR signaling cascades, and SD (12 hr) shared a common etiology consisting of complex bidirectional interactions with SCF"
• Schizandrin ameliorates ovariectomy-induced memory impairment and exhibits antioxidant and synaptic transmission properties - Br J Pharmacol. 2015 Jan 9 - "SCH improves memory activity and the potential mechanisms in OVX rats may include reducing the loss of hippocampal NADPH-d positive neurons, increasing antioxidation, and improving synaptic transmission that is possible involving from enhancing cholinergic function. Overall, our findings demonstrate that SCH could provide a potential therapeutic role for menopause cognitive dysfunction"