SCHISANDRA EXTRACT

DESCRIPTION:

Schisandra Extract (Schisandra chinensis) is a plant native to northern China. 
The fruit is eaten as food and also used to make medicine.

Schisandra is considered an adaptogen. 

Adaptogens are a class of natural substances that are believed to stimulate the body's resistance to physical, environmental, and emotional stressors. 
The chemicals in schisandra also improve liver function and might increase energy, which can improve endurance and coordination.

Schisandra chinensis (five flavor fruit) is a fruit-bearing vine. 
Schisandra Extract isn’t typically used as a food, but it has been used for medicinal purposes throughout Asia and Russia for generations.

Its purple-red berries are described as having five tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, pungent, and sour. 
The seeds of the Schisandra berry contain lignans, which are substances which may haveTrusted Source beneficial effects on health.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Schisandra is considered beneficial to qi, the life force or energy inherent in all living things.
It’s thought to have a positive impact on several meridians, or pathways, in the body, including the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

The fruit of the schisandra plant can be made into medicine. 
Schisandra Extract is a well-known herb in traditional Chinese medicine as well as in traditional Russian medicine. 
There, it was described as a tonic, reducing hunger, fatigue, delaying the aging process, increasing vitality, and improving mental health
Schisandra may work in many ways. For example, it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory traits.

Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) holds a special place in history since it was used along with other ancient herbs, like ginseng, goji berry and reishi, by Taoist masters, Chinese emperors and elitists. 

In Russia, schisandra first gained recognition as an “adaptogen agent” in the 1960s when it was published in the official medicine of the USSR handbook, following the discovery that it helps fight adrenal fatigue, heart problems and the negative effects of stress.

Interestingly, schisandra gets its name due to the berries having quite a complex taste, since they hold five distinct flavor properties: bitter, sweet, sour, salty and hot. 
This is why schisdanra is sometimes called “the five-flavored berry.”

Beyond just how it tastes, its flavor components are important for understanding the way it works. 
The secret to schisandra’s power is that it’s said to have properties pertaining to all five elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which means it works in multiple “meridians” within the body to restore internal balance and health.

Because it impacts nearly every organ system within the human body (what TCM refers to as the 12 “meridians”), it has dozens of uses and benefits. 
TCM views schisandra as an herb that helps balance all three “treasures” within the body: jing, shen and chi.

It’s most well-known for boosting liver function and helping with adrenal functions, but other benefits also include:
acting like a powerful brain tonic (improving focus, concentration, memory and mental energy)
improving digestion
supporting hormonal balance
nourishing the skin

Studies have found that, in healthy subjects, schisandra generates alterations in the basal levels of nitric oxide and cortisol present in blood and saliva. 
In animal studies, it’s also been shown to help modify the response to stress by suppressing the increase of phosphorylated stress-activated protein kinase, which raises inflammation.

Schisandra has historically been taken as a tonic tea, but today you can find it in supplement form, which makes it easier than ever to use. 
Unlike many other herbs or supplements, it can be taken long term without any negative side effects or risks. 
In fact, it’s believed to work better and better the longer you take it, just like many other natural adaptogens.

Some herbs that are beneficial for improving liver function can start to become problematic if used for too long, but schisandra is safe for day-to-day use even in people with sensitive digestive systems and low tolerance to supplements

What are the forms of Schisandra?
Schisandrins A, B, and C are bioactive chemical compounds. 
They’re extracted from the berries of the Schisandra plant.
Schisandra is also available as a supplement in multiple forms. 

These include dried powder, pills, extracts, and elixirs. 
Supplements typically include a recommended dosage on the packaging for you to follow.
 Additionally, you can purchase it as berries or as a juice.

 BENEFITS OF SCHISANDRA EXTRACT:
Schisandra is used for a wide range of health-related issues. 
There’s some scientific data from animal and human studies that indicate Schisandra may have a positive effect on several conditions and diseases.

1. Helps Lower Inflammation
Thanks to its high concentration of antioxidant compounds, schisandra helps fight free radical damage and lowers inflammatory responses — which are at the root of modern diseases, like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. 
Free radicals threaten our health because they turn on and off certain genes, cause cellular and tissue damage, and speed up the aging process.

Due to its ability to positively affect the immune system and fight inflammation, schisandra seems to help stall the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), balance blood sugar, prevent diabetes and bring the body into an optimal acid-base balance.

When it comes to cancer prevention, active lignans have been isolated from schisandra (especially one called schisandrin A) that have chemo-protective abilities. 
Studies that have investigated the effects of schisandra on organs, tissues, cells and enzymes have revealed it helps control the release of leukocytes, which promote inflammation, and improve the ability to repair tissue. 

It also positively impacts platelet-activating factors, metabolism, oxygen consumption, bone formation and the tolerance of toxin exposure.
According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, studies using animals suggest that schisandra increases hepatic glutathione levels and glutathione reductase activities, downregulates inflammatory cytokines, activates the eNOS pathway, exhibits apoptosis (death of harmful cells), and enhances cell proliferation.

2. Aids Adrenal Function, Helping Deal with Stress
Known as an adaptogenic agent, schisandra helps balance hormones naturally and therefore improves our ability to deal with stressors, both physical and psychological.
Adaptogenic herbs and superfoods have been used for thousands of years to naturally raise the body’s resistance to environmental stress, anxiety, toxin exposure, emotional trauma, mental fatigue and mental illnesses. 

Because schisandra helps nurture the adrenal glands and turns down an overproduction of “stress hormones” like cortisol, it’s linked with better mental capabilities, physical endurance and metabolic health.

In 2007, the Swedish Herbal Institute Research and Development department tested the effects of adaptogen herbs, including rhodiola, ginseng and schisandra, on blood levels of stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK/JNK), nitric oxide (NO), cortisol, testosterone, prostaglandin, leukotriene and thromboxane in rats.

Researchers determined that over a seven-day period, when rats were given frequent supplementation of adaptogens/stress-protective herbs, they experienced near-steady levels of NO and cortisol despite increased amounts of stress.

The findings suggest that inhibitory effects of these adaptogens make them natural antidepressants that have positive effects on hormones and brain functions even when under stress and tiring conditions. 

Don’t forget there’s also a link between lower amounts of stress and better immune function: 
The more stress we’re under, the less capable we are of defending ourselves from disease.

3. Supports Liver Function and Digestive Health
Much of the anecdotal research on schisandra has focused on liver function, especially its effect on the production of various liver detoxifying enzymes. 
Its immune-boosting abilities are far-reaching because schisandra helps increase enzyme production, boost antioxidant activity, and improve circulation, digestion and the ability to remove waste from the body.
Because liver health is tied to stronger immunity, schisandra has been found to be protective against infections, indigestion and various gastrointestinal disorders.
Dozens of studies done over the past 50 years demonstrate the efficiency of schisandra in cleansing the liver, treating pneumonia, preventing developmental problems in pregnant women, and reducing allergic reactions, acute gastrointestinal diseases, gastric hyper- and hypo-secretion, chronic gastritis, and stomach ulcers. Some small studies also show it’s helpful for treating chronic hepatitis, especially when used with other treatments.
A randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled study done by the Taichung Hospital Department of Health in China showed that patients experienced improvements in liver function and relief from fatty liver disease when using a mixture of schisandra fruit extract and sesamin. Forty subjects were divided into a test group (taking four tablets daily) and a placebo group. Effects of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, free radical levels, total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and the lag time for low-density lipoprotein oxidation were all observed.
Compared to the control group, schisandra greatly increased the antioxidant capacity and decreased the values of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, total free radicals and superoxide anion radicals in the blood. An increase in glutathione peroxidase and reductase also occurred in the group taking schisandra, while a longer time period was observed for low-density lipoprotein oxidation and inflammatory markers.
A 2010 study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics found that schisandra can even benefit patients following a liver transplant, since it increases production of a compound called Tcrolimus (Tac), which prevents the body’s rejection of a new liver following liver transplantation.
Blood concentrations of Tac significantly increased in liver transplant patients after receiving schisandra sphenanthera extract (SchE). The average increase in the mean concentration of Tac in the blood was 339 percent for the group receiving higher doses of SchE and 262 percent for the group receiving lower a dose. Tac-associated side effects, such as diarrhea and indigestion, also decreased significantly in all patients as liver function improved.
4. Protects the Skin
Schisandra is a natural beauty tonic that’s capable of protecting the skin from wind, sun exposure, allergic reactions, dermatitis, environmental stress and toxin accumulation. Schisandra chinensis has been widely used to treat skin diseases due to its anti-inflammatory effects.
While more formal research on the effects on schisandra on skin health are needed, one 2015 study using rats observed that schisandra extract inhibited ear swelling by lowering skin dermatitis, immune cell filtration and cytokine production, which are all markers of inflammatory skin disorders in humans.
5. Can Improve Mental Performance
One of the oldest uses for schisandra is promoting mental clarity and raising energy levels. 
Centuries ago in Russia, it was used by the Nanai people to promote stamina for hunters going on long voyages without much rest or nourishment.

Practitioners of TCM have used schisandra to naturally improve mental capabilities and promote sharper concentration, increased motivation and better memory.
One of the great thing about schisandra is that it doesn’t increase energy in similar ways to caffeine, by affecting the release of various stress hormones and altering blood sugar. 
As you probably know, caffeine use — especially caffeine overdose — can cause side effects like nervousness, restlessness and heart beat irregularities, but schisandra actually does the opposite. 

It essentially makes you feel calmer while also fighting off fatigue.
Studies also show a link between schisandra use and protection against neurological and psychiatric disorders, including:
neurosis
depression
schizophrenia
anxiety
alcoholism
even Alzheimer’s

6. Helps with Healthy Sexual Function
Research shows that schisandra is beneficial for fertility and hormonal health, helping promote a strong libido, preventing sexual dysfunction like impotence and positively affecting the reproductive organs, including the uterus. (9)

Because it positively impacts hormone production, including estrogen, it’s capable of helping with bone healing and forming bone mineral density. 
This is useful for preventing diseases like osteoporosis, which is common among older women as they experience changes in hormonal levels.

Alzheimer’s disease
A 2017 studyTrusted Source found that Schisandrin B had may influence the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. 
Researchers determined that this was caused by Schisandrin B’s ability to block formation of excess amyloid beta peptides in the brain.

These peptides are one of the components responsible for forming amyloid plaque, a substance found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. 
However, the findings need to be further investigated.

Liver disease
An older 2013 animal studyTrusted Source found that pollen extracted from the Schisandra plant had a strong, antioxidant effect against toxic damage that was induced in the livers of mice. 
Schisandrin C was effective against liver damage in people with both acute and chronic hepatitis, a liver disease.

Additionally, a 2021 in vivo study showed that a combination of Schisandrin C and curdione prevented oxidative stress on the cells. 
The authors said this made it a promising potential treatment protocol for advanced liver disease.
While these findings are positive, more research is needed before determining if and how Schisandra can be used for liver disease.

Menopause
A small 2016 studyTrusted Source analyzed the effects of Schisandra extract on people with menopausal symptoms. 
The researchers determined that Schisandra is effective at alleviating some symptoms like hot flashes, sweating, and heart palpitations.

Depression
A 2016 animal studyTrusted Source found that Schisandra extract had an antidepressant effect on mice. 
Additional mouse studiesTrusted Source, run by the same lead researcher, solidified this finding.

However, Schisandra and its potential effect on depression hasn’t been extensively studied in humans. 
You shouldn’t use it as a replacement for antidepressant medication, and always speak with a doctor before trying it — especially if you’re already on medication.

WHY DO PEOPLE TAKE SCHISANDRA?
People take schisandra to try to raise their:
Energy levels
Physical performance
Resistance to stress and disease
They may also take it to treat:
Lung problems and coughing
Digestive system issues
Liver disease

Some people take it to help reduce their sweating.
Concentration, coordination, and endurance do seem to improve when taking schisandra fruit extract.

Another use of schisandra is to attempt to protect the liver from poisons or to treat liver disease (hepatitis). 
Schisandra extract lowers levels of an enzyme that is a marker for liver damage. 
Schisandra Extract appears to improve liver function in people with hepatitis.
More research is needed to confirm whether products containing schisandra or combining schisandra with other herbs are safe and effective.

People also use schisandra to try to maintain normal blood sugar and blood pressure, speed recovery after surgery, prevent motion sickness or infection, or improve vision. 
But there is only anecdotal evidence that this truly works.

Other uses include trying to treat:
High cholesterol
Coughs
Asthma
Sleep problems
Nerve pain
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Night sweats or spontaneous sweating
Sexual dysfunction
Excessive urination or thirst
Depression or irritability
Memory loss

There isn't enough information to know whether schisandra is effective for any of these problems.
Depending upon the condition, people take different dosages of schisandra. 
But optimal doses of schisandra have not been set for any condition.
Quality and active ingredients in supplements may vary widely. 

This makes it hard to set a standard dose.
Can you get schisandra naturally from foods?
Yes, people can eat the fruit of schisandra as food, but the effects may not match what has been shown for specialized extracts.

HOW SCHISANDRA EXTRACT WORKS
Historically in TCM, schisandra was used to promote a balance between yin and yang. 
It’s said to help “calm the heart and quiet the spirit” by positively affecting the brain, kidneys, liver and lungs.
While it’s been used for generations safely and effectively, very few human trials have been performed using schisandra. 

Those that have show it’s powerful at improving liver function, lowering fatty liver disease and fighting chronic hepatitis C virus.
Other studies show that it’s a natural stress reliever, improves performance of cognitive tasks and reduces digestive symptoms associated with liver transplants.

The most important active constituents of schisandra include:
schizandrin
deoxyschizandrin
schisanheno
schizandrol
sesquicarene
citral
stigmasterol
antioxidants, including vitamins C and E

Schisandra is a complex herb, and there are multiple mechanisms by which these constituents might act like phytoadaptogens, affecting the central nervous, sympathetic, endocrine, immune, respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. 
Research has shown that schisandra helps stall the process of oxidative stress, which contributes to nearly every disease there is and results in the loss of healthy cells, tissues and organs.

It also exhibits strong antioxidant activities that positively affect blood vessels, smooth muscles, the release of fatty acids into the bloodstream (such as arachidonic acid) and the biosynthesis of inflammatory compounds. 

This results in healthier blood cells, arteries, blood vessels and improved circulation.
This is one reason why schisandra helps increase endurance, accuracy of movement, mental performance, fertility and working capacity even when someone is under stress.

According to a report published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, a large number of pharmacological and clinical studies conducted over the past five decades suggest that schisandra increases physical working capacity and has strong stress-protective effects against a broad spectrum of harmful factors. 

Among its many uses, studies have found it helps prevent inflammation, reverse heavy metal intoxification, improve loss of mobility — plus treat heat shock, skin burns, frostbite, hormonal disorders and heart disease.

A 2015 study published by the Department of Korean Medicine at Dongguk University found that schisandra fruit positively modulates gut microbiota in a way that helps prevent various metabolic syndrome risk factors, along with potentially weight gain.

After studying markers related to metabolic diseases in 28 obese women as part of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study done over 12 weeks, the researchers found that compared to placebo schisandra had a greater impact on lipid metabolism and modulation of gut microbiota that resulted in a decrease in waist circumference, fat mass, fasting blood glucose and triglycerides levels.

Bacteroides and bacteroidetes were two forms of microbiota increased by schisandra that showed significant negative correlations with fat mass. 
Ruminococcus was another microbiota decreased by schidandra, which resulted in a decrease of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting blood glucose.

HOW TO USE
Traditional methods of using schisandra include:
Mixing the dried fruit extract in water to create a tincture: 
This is made with a 1:6 ratio of liquid (water) to pure extract. 

You might find schisandra in extract/tincture form that’s already prepared, which can be taken in doses of 20–30 drops daily. 
You can split this dosage into two parts if you’d like and take it with a meal.
Eating the powdered schisandra fruit or fruit extract: 
If you find schisandra fruit you can consume up to three grams a day safely.
Taking schisandra pills/capsules: Look for supplements online or health food stores. 
Take one to three grams daily, with meals.

Making schisandra teas, tonic or wine: Look for brewed schisandra wines or teas, or make your own by steeping up to three grams in hot water for 40–60 minutes before drinking. 
Try adding other supportive herbs, including ginger, cinnamon, licorice root or turmeric.

SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT SCHISANDRA EXTRACT
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician. 
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
 
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air. 
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately. 
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
 
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
 
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting. 
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. 
Rinse mouth with water. 
Consult a physician.
 
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
 
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment. 
 
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas. 
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
 
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
 
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste. 
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
 
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
 
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. 
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
 
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
 
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles. 
Faceshield (8-inch minimum). 
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
 
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves. 
Gloves must be inspected prior to use. 
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. 
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. 
Wash and dry hands.
 
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
 
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls. 
 
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator. 
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. 
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
 
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions. 
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
 
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. 
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product.