Schizandra by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
 

Extracts from the fruits (seeds) of Schizandra chinensis L. are one of the components of medicinal preparations designed for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, diseases of the central nervous system related to the old age, as a supplement in the treatment of neoplasms, diabetes, etc. Schizandra extracts are also used for the production of nutraceuticals (soft drinks and health foods), preparations for oral hygiene and for the care for the skin and hair.

Schizandra Extract 10:1, 250 mg
Paradise Herbs

Paradise Herbs Schizandra is naturally extracted using only the finest quality Fructus Schisandra chinesis. Our Standardized True Spectrum™ extract provides active levels of Schisandrins, concentrated in the balanced ratio nature intended, without isolating, fractionizing or using toxic solvents, harsh chemicals or gases.

Schizandra is a famous tonic traditionally used by both royalty and master herbalists. It is one of the few herbs that contain the three treasures known as Jing, Qi and Shen. Traditionally used for enhancing the energy of the kidney and liver, Schizandra is known for supporting memory and sexual health. It is mildly calming and helps strengthen the primary energies of life.

Schizandra
Supplement Facts:
Amount Per Serving
Schizandra chinesis fruit 10:1 - 250 mg
   (Equivalent 2,500 mg)
   9% Schisandrins - 22 mg

Suggested Use: 1-3
schizandra caps daily or as directed by a qualified healthcare professional

* Schizandra daily value not established

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Subscribe to a FREE Supplement Research Update newsletter. Twice a month we email a brief abstract of several studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics, including schizandra, and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

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The herbs in Mind Power Rx include: Ashwagandha, Bacopa, Fo-Ti, Ginkgo biloba, Ginseng, Mucuna pruriens, Rhodiola, and Reishi.  The nutrients and vitamins in Mind Power Rx include Acetyl-l-carnitine, Carnitine, Carnosine, Choline, DMAE, Inositol, Methylcobalamin, Pantothenic acid, Trimethylglycine, Tyrosine, and Vinpocetine.
 
To purchase Mind Power Rx or for more information see the link above in blue for Schizandra and visit PhysicianFormulas.com

Benefit of Schizandra berry
Schizandra chinensis, originally a Japanese-Manchurian endemite, yields a vegetable drug (Schizandrae fructus) with a number of very utilizable therapeutic effects. Studies indicate schizandra has hepatoprotective, adaptogenic, and antioxidative capabilities. It is obvious that a very positive therapeutic effect based on the use of a complex mixture of schizandra's 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.

Components of Schizandra
Some of the active ingredients in schizandra include
dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, schizandrin, wuweizisu A, B, C;wuweizichun A, B; wuweizi ester and schisanhenol.

Properties of Schizandra fruit
Antioxidant and liver protection
Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated the effect of Schizandrin B (Sch B), an active ingredient of the fruit of Schizandra chinensis, on enhancing the hepatic glutathione antioxidant system in mice, as evidenced by the hepatoprotection against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) toxicity. Our results strongly suggest that the mechanism of hepatoprotection afforded by Sch B treatment may involve the enhancement of mitochondrial glutathione redox status.

Protection of brain cells
Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from Schizandra chinensis may possess therapeutic potential against oxidative neuronal damage induced by excitotoxins.

For a list of herbs used in Chinese medicine, see Chinese Herbs.

Schizandra Research Update
Extracts from Schizandra chinensis fruit activate estrogen receptors: a possible clue to its effects on nitric oxide -mediated vasorelaxation.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Jul;27(7):1066-9.
Schizandra chinensis fruit has long been used for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms associated especially with menopausal symptoms in Korea. To provide a scientific rationale for such uses, we have investigated the vasorelaxant effects of Schizandra chinensis fruit on the vasomotor tone of the rat thoracic aorta in an organ bath. The crude extracts of Schizandra chinensis fruit elicited a transient relaxing response in the endothelium-intact rat aorta contracted with norepinephrine. This relaxant effect was abolished by removal of the endothelium, and also by pretreatment with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. We then examined whether this vasodilatory effect occurs through estrogen receptor by reporter assays. Schizandra chinensis activated the estrogen-responsive luciferase gene in COS cells transiently transfected with estrogen receptor and reporter plasmids. The activation was maintained in the butanol-soluble fraction and further increased in the successively fractionated C(18) cartridge-adsorbed fraction (Schizandra chinensis -ADF). Reporter gene activation by Schizandra chinensis-ADF was inhibited by the specific estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780, indicating that the effect is estrogen receptor dependent. However, Schizandra chinensis-ADF failed to activate the androgen receptor in COS cells transfected with the corresponding receptor and reporter plasmids. These data show that extracts of Schizandra chinensis fruit act as a weak phytoestrogen.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, pilot clinical trial of ImmunoGuard--a standardized fixed combination of Andrographis paniculata Nees, with Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim, Schizandra chinensis Bail. and Glycyrrhiza glabra L. extracts in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.
Republican Children's FMF Center, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia.
Phytomedicine. 2003 May;10(4):271-85.
Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled pilot study of ImmunoGuard--a standardized fixed combination of Andrographis paniculata Nees., Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim., Schizandra chinensis Bail., and Glycyrrhiza glabra L. special extracts standardized for the content of Andrographolide (4 mg/tablet), Eleuteroside E, Schisandrins and Glycyrrhizin, was carried out in two parallel groups of patients. The study was conducted in 24 (3-15 years of both genders) patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), 14 were treated with tablets of series A (verum) and 10 patients received series B product (placebo). The study medication was taken three times of four tablets daily for 1 month. Daily dose of the andrographolide--48 mg. The primary outcome measures in physician's evaluation were related to duration, frequency and severity of attacks in FMF patients (attacks characteristics score). The patient's self-evaluation was based mainly on symptoms--abdominal, chest pains, temperature, arthritis, myalgia, erysipelas-like erythema. All of 3 features (duration, frequency, severity of attacks) showed significant improvement in the verum group as compared with the placebo. In both clinical and self evaluation the severity of attacks was found to show the most significant improvement in the verum group. Both the clinical and laboratory results of the present phase II (pilot) clinical study suggest that ImmunoGuard is a safe and efficacious herbal drug for the management of patients with FMF.

Liquid chromatographic analysis of supercritical carbon dioxide extracts of Schizandra chinensis.
J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2002 Apr 25;770(1-2):283-9.
Six major lignans (schizandrin, gomisin A, deoxyschizandrin, y-schizandrin, gomisin N, wuweizisu C) in the caulomas and leaves of Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., and cinnamic acid in the leaves of the plant, were quantitatively analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography in reversed-phase mode with UV detection.
Schisandra

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