Description
Medicinal Parts
Medicinal properties are attributed to the fruit and seed of the plant.
Flower and Fruit
The flowers are in clusters with a few blossoms in the axils of the bracts. There are 5 to 8 tepals. The perigone of the male flowers has 5 to 8 sections and 11 to 19 stamens. The female flowers have a similar perigone and 30 to 50 ovaries. The fruit is elongate-elliptical, slim and hangs in aggregate clusters. The individual fruit is round, fleshy, brown-red to dark brown, and berrylike.
Leaves, Stem, and Root
The dioecious Schisandra sphenanthera has leaves that are alternate and arranged like whorls on short shoots. The petiole is 1 to 3 cm long. The lamina is dark green to brown, 5 to 11 cm long, and 3 to 7 cm wide. It is ovate to elliptical, acute at both ends, and serrate to dentate. The young branches are purple.
Habitat
The plant is indigenous to China.
Production
Southern schisandra fruit is the dried, ripe fruit of Schisandra sphenanthera.
Actions & Pharmacology
Compounds
Volatile oil
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Lignans (in the seeds 2 to 10%): dibenzo[a,c]cyclooctene derivatives, including schizandrins A and B, schizandrols A and B, schizantherins A to E, additional lignans with other parent substances, including epigalbacin, anwulignan, and ganschisandrin
Fatty oil (in the seeds)
Effects
Various lignans have been isolated from the drug that are also present in Schisandra chinensis; some of the action mechanisms described there may also apply to Schisandra sphenanthera. (See Schisandra chinensis.)
Indications & Usage
Chinese Medicine
The plant is used for dyspnea, coughs caused by disturbance of lung function, dry mouth, thirst, spontaneous or night sweats, nocturia, insomnia, amnesia, and anxiety states. Efficacy for these indications has not yet been proved.
Precautions & Adverse Reactions
No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.
Dosage
Mode of Administration
Whole drug and preparations for internal use.
Preparation
To prepare Cuwuweizi powder, the drug is evaporated in the ratio of 1:5 with vinegar in closed containers until the surface turns black. The product is then ground to a powder.
Daily Dosage
The literature has no information.
