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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| image = Schisandra sinensis.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| name = ''Schisandra''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Austrobaileyales]]
| familia = [[Schisandraceae]]
| genus = ''Schisandra''
| subdivision_ranks = Species = ''chinensis''
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''''Schisandra''''' (Magnolia Vine) is a genus of [[shrub]] commonly grown in gardens. It is a hardy [[deciduous]] [[climbing plant|climber]] which thrives in virtually any [[soil]]; its preferred position is on a sheltered shady wall. It may be [[plant propagation|propagated]] by taking [[cutting]]s of half-matured [[shoot]]s in August. Species include ''[[Schisandra chinensis|S. chinensis]]'', ''S. glaucescens'', ''S. rubriflora'' and ''S. rubrifolia''.
It is native to East Asia and its dried fruit is used medicinally. The berries of ''S. chinensis'' are given the name ''wu wei zi'' in Chinese ([[wiktionary:五|五]][[wiktionary:味|味]][[wiktionary:子|子]]; pinyin: wǔ wèi zi), which translates as "five flavor fruit," due to the fact that they possess all five basic flavors in Chinese herbal medicine: salty, sweet, sour, pungent (spicy), and bitter. In traditional Chinese medicine it is used as a remedy for many ailments: to resist infections, increase skin health, and combat insomnia, coughing, and thirst.
Over 19 species of the genus are said to be used in Chinese medicine, mostly as [[Sedative|sedatives]] and tonic agents. Schisandra may also aid in the treatment of [[Irritable Bowel Syndrome]] (IBS) when combined with [[Artemisia (plant)|wormwood]], [[ginger]], buplerum, and dan shen. However, there is insufficient evidence to support this claim at this time.
Modern Chinese research suggests that schisandra and other lignans have a protective effect on the liver and an immunomodulting effect. Two human trials in China (one double-blind and the other preliminary) have shown that schisandra may help people with chronic viral hepatitis reports Liu KT from <i>Studies on fructus Schizandre cinensis</I>. Schisandra lignans appear to protect the liver by activating the enzymes that produce glutathione.
Recently, the extract of ''S. rubriflora'', a native of the [[Yunnan]] province, was found to contain complex and highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids. The discoverers named those molecules '''Rubriflorins A-C'''. <ref>Xiao, W.-L. ''et al.''. ''J. Nat. Prod.'' '''2007''', Web release : May 10th.</ref>
[[Category:Austrobaileyales]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
==References==
<references/>
{{plant-stub}}
| color = lightgreen
| image = Schisandra sinensis.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| name = ''Schisandra''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Austrobaileyales]]
| familia = [[Schisandraceae]]
| genus = ''Schisandra''
| subdivision_ranks = Species = ''chinensis''
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''''Schisandra''''' (Magnolia Vine) is a genus of [[shrub]] commonly grown in gardens. It is a hardy [[deciduous]] [[climbing plant|climber]] which thrives in virtually any [[soil]]; its preferred position is on a sheltered shady wall. It may be [[plant propagation|propagated]] by taking [[cutting]]s of half-matured [[shoot]]s in August. Species include ''[[Schisandra chinensis|S. chinensis]]'', ''S. glaucescens'', ''S. rubriflora'' and ''S. rubrifolia''.
It is native to East Asia and its dried fruit is used medicinally. The berries of ''S. chinensis'' are given the name ''wu wei zi'' in Chinese ([[wiktionary:五|五]][[wiktionary:味|味]][[wiktionary:子|子]]; pinyin: wǔ wèi zi), which translates as "five flavor fruit," due to the fact that they possess all five basic flavors in Chinese herbal medicine: salty, sweet, sour, pungent (spicy), and bitter. In traditional Chinese medicine it is used as a remedy for many ailments: to resist infections, increase skin health, and combat insomnia, coughing, and thirst.
Over 19 species of the genus are said to be used in Chinese medicine, mostly as [[Sedative|sedatives]] and tonic agents. Schisandra may also aid in the treatment of [[Irritable Bowel Syndrome]] (IBS) when combined with [[Artemisia (plant)|wormwood]], [[ginger]], buplerum, and dan shen. However, there is insufficient evidence to support this claim at this time.
Modern Chinese research suggests that schisandra and other lignans have a protective effect on the liver and an immunomodulting effect. Two human trials in China (one double-blind and the other preliminary) have shown that schisandra may help people with chronic viral hepatitis reports Liu KT from <i>Studies on fructus Schizandre cinensis</I>. Schisandra lignans appear to protect the liver by activating the enzymes that produce glutathione.
Recently, the extract of ''S. rubriflora'', a native of the [[Yunnan]] province, was found to contain complex and highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids. The discoverers named those molecules '''Rubriflorins A-C'''. <ref>Xiao, W.-L. ''et al.''. ''J. Nat. Prod.'' '''2007''', Web release : May 10th.</ref>
[[Category:Austrobaileyales]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
==References==
<references/>
{{plant-stub}}
