What Are the Benefits and Functions of Schisandra Berries?
1. Sedation: Schisandra chinensis has a significant sedative effect. Extracts and alcohol extracts of Schisandra chinensis can reduce spontaneous activities of mice, prolong the duration of barbiturate sleep, inhibit aggressive behavior in animals, and counteract electrical shock and chemical convulsions. Its effects are similar to those of tranquilizers. It also has analgesic and muscle relaxant effects.
2. Liver protection: Ethanol extracts of Schisandra chinensis and its constituents such as schisandrin A, B, C, schisantherin A, B, esters A, B, etc., have a protective effect on chemical toxin-induced liver cell damage in animals. They can inhibit the release of transaminase and reduce ALT activity. It can significantly induce the activity of cytochrome P-450 in liver microsomal cells of mice and rats, increasing the liver's detoxification ability. Schisandra chinensis can also inhibit the production of carbon monoxide generated by the metabolic transformation of CCl4 through liver microsomes and the consumption of NADPH during metabolism.
3. Vasodilation: Schisandra chinensis has vasodilation effects. Compounds such as schisantherin, schisandrin C, and deoxyschisandrin can inhibit the contraction of isolated mesenteric arteries in dogs and increase coronary blood flow in isolated hearts of rats and anesthetized dogs. Feeding rabbits with Schisandra chinensis can regulate the energy metabolism of myocardial cells, heart, and renal arterioles, enhance myocardial metabolic enzyme activity, and improve myocardial nutrition and function.
4. Anti-aging: Schisandra phenol can directly counteract the mitochondrial toxicity of doxorubicin on the heart, inhibiting lipid peroxidation in the brain, liver, and kidney microsomes and mitochondria of rats induced by vitamin C-NADPH. Its effect is stronger than vitamin E. It can also significantly increase the cAMP content of myocardial cells in aged rats, increase the cAMP/cGMP ratio, and enhance heart activity. Additionally, Schisandra chinensis can lower serum cholesterol and increase protein content in the brain and liver, indicating its anti-aging effects.
5. Expectorant and antitussive: Schisandra chinensis can "collect lung qi" and "soothe cough and asthma." Animal experiments have shown that Schisandra chinensis decoction and schisandrin have excitatory effects on respiration. The acidic components of Schisandra chinensis can reduce neutral and acidic mucopolysaccharides in the tracheal glands of mice, exerting expectorant and antitussive effects. Schisandra chinensis can also enhance the function of bronchial epithelial cells in chronic bronchitis in mice.
