Schizandrin is a dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan and a major component ofS. chinensisand has diverse biological activities.^1,2,3,4,5It induces cell cycle arrest at the G₀/G₁phase and inhibits growth of T47D and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells when used at a concentration of 100 μM.¹Schizandrin (10 and 100 μM) prevents glutamate-induced cytotoxicity, inhibits production of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and preserves the mitochondrial membrane potential in isolated rat cortical cells.²It reduces apoptosis induced by cisplatin in HK-2 human kidney cells.³In vivo, schizandrin (1 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.) reverses scopolamine-induced impairment of spatial memory and the passive avoidance response in rats.⁴It enhances oxotremorine-induced tremors in mice. Schizandrin (10 mg/kg) reduces serum levels of IgE, IgG1, IL-4, and IFN-γ in an ovalbumin-sensitized mouse model of allergy.⁵

1.Kim, S.-J., Min, H.-Y., Lee, E.J., et al.Growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 by schizandrin, a dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan isolated from Schisandra chinensis, on T47D human breast cancer cellsPhytother. Res.24(2)193-197(2010) 2.Cheng, H.-Y., Hsieh, M.-T., Wu, C.-R., et al.Schizandrin protects primary cultures of rat cortical cells from glutamate-induced excitotoxicityJ. Pharmacol. Sci.107(1)21-31(2008) 3.Bunel, V., Antoine, M.-H., Nortier, J., et al.Protective effects of schizandrin and schizandrin B towards cisplatin nephrotoxicity in vitroJ. Appl. Toxicol.34(12)1311-1319(2013) 4.Egashira, N., Kurauchi, K., Iwasaki, K., et al.Schizandrin reverses memory impairment in ratsPhytother. Res.22(1)49-52(2008) 5.Han, N.-R., Moon, P.-D., Kim, N.-R., et al.Schisandra chinensis and its main constituent schizandrin attenuate allergic reactions by down-regulating caspase-1 in ovalbumin-sensitized miceAm. J. Chin. Med.45(1)159-172(2017)