magnolia-vine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese magnolia-vine
• five-flavor-fruit
• magnolia-vine
• schisandra
• five-flavour berry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Maximowiczia japonica
• Maximowiczia amurensis
• Sphaerostema japonicum
• Schisandra chinensis var. leucocarpa
• Maximowiczia sinensis
• Schisandra chinensis var. glabrata
• Maximowiczia chinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Austrobaileyales and the family Schisandraceae. Ultimately, its scientific identity is defined by its placement within the genus Schisandra.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is distributed across several specific regions within the Russian Far East. It can be found growing in the Amur and Khabarovsk territories. Additionally, its natural range extends into the Primorye and Sakhalin regions. Beyond Russia, the species is also located within the Inner Mongolia province of China. Together, these locations define the primary geographical footprint of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Schisandra chinensis is characterized by its ability to thrive in a diverse range of terrestrial environments, ranging from dense woodlands to more open landscapes. It is frequently found colonizing cut-over forests, established forests, and forest edges, where it can benefit from varying levels of light penetration and structural complexity. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, inhabiting diverse substrates including sandy soils, stony places, and steppe environments. Furthermore, its presence is often associated with riparian zones, as it can be found growing near rivers, suggesting a capacity to manage varying moisture levels within its niche.

Habitat :

cut-over forest, forest, forest edges, rivers, sand, steppe, stony places

Life history

The life history of Schisandra chinensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial woody vine, meaning it lives for many years and maintains its structural presence across multiple growing seasons. As a deciduous climber, it undergoes seasonal cycles of growth, beginning with the emergence of foliage in the spring, followed by the development of small, inconspicuous flowers that facilitate pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces distinctive clusters of bright red berries that mature in late summer or autumn. Because it is a perennial, the plant establishes a robust root system that allows it to endure winter dormancy, storing energy to support vigorous regrowth and continuous reproductive cycles in subsequent years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Schisandra chinensis is characterized by its growth habit as a woody liana, functioning as an obligatory climber that utilizes other structures for support rather than being self-supporting. While its growth form can be associated with tree-like structures in certain contexts, it primarily presents as a climbing vine that reaches a maximum plant height of approximately 8 meters. The plant is an independent organism, meaning it does not function as a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial life cycle rather than being epiphytic. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, providing the necessary strength for its climbing lifestyle.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Schivanra chinensis is characterized by its specialized metabolic and anatomical adaptations suited for life in temperate forest understories. Central to its energy production is its photosynthetic pathway, which functions via the C3 mechanism, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide. This C3 pathway reflects its ecological niche, as the plant is adapted to environments where moderate light intensity and consistent moisture levels allow for efficient carbon fixation without the water-conserving specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. Beyond carbon assimilation, the plant exhibits complex secondary metabolic processes, specifically the biosynthesis of lignans such as schisandrin, which are produced as physiological responses to environmental stressors. Its physiological regulation also involves intricate water relations and nutrient uptake mechanisms that support its woody, perennial growth habit and the development of its characteristic fleshy fruit.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Schisandra chinensis is characterized by a specific flowering window and the production of fleshy fruits containing distinct seeds. The flowering period typically begins in May and concludes in June, although the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that house the seeds. These seeds are relatively small and uniform in volume, with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum seed volume of 10 mm³. In terms of weight, the seeds exhibit slight variations; the mean seed mass is approximately 0.010299 g, with a minimum recorded mass of 0.006878 g and a maximum mass of 0.01372 g.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass max:

0.01372 g

Seed mass mean:

0.010299 g

Seed mass min:

0.006878 g

Seed volume max:

10 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Schisandra chinensis has 5 reported plant parts identified across 43 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, stem, leaf, seed, root.

Fruit

1. Fitoterapia
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Stem

1. Frontiers in microbiology
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
3. Chinese journal of natural medicines
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Leaf

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine
3. Frontiers in microbiology
4. Journal of chromatographic science

Seed

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. Planta medica

Root

1. Frontiers in microbiology
2. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Schisandra chinensis has 220 reported phytochemicals identified across 43 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Lignans, Schisandrin, Schisandrin B, Gomisin A, Schisandrol A.

Lignans

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Nutrients
4. Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)
5. Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry

Schisandrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC genomics
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Schisandrin B

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Chinese journal of natural medicines
4. Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Gomisin A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrients
3. Fitoterapia
4. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
5. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti

Schisandrol A

1. Journal of chromatography. A
2. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine
3. Chinese journal of natural medicines
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Schisantherin A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Gomisin J

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
4. Molecular medicine reports
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Schisandrol B

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
2. Chinese journal of natural medicines
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry

Schisanhenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemico-biological interactions
3. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of chromatography. A

Lignan

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Chinese journal of natural medicines
5. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Activities

Schisandra chinensis has 428 reported activities identified across 43 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Adaptogenic, Neuroprotective, Sedative.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC genomics
3. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
4. International journal of biological macromolecules
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. International journal of biological macromolecules

Adaptogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti
4. Journal of chromatography. A
5. The EPMA journal

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC genomics
3. Nutrients
4. International journal of biological macromolecules

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chinese medicine
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cardioprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC genomics
3. International journal of biological macromolecules

Tonic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Adaptogen

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Medicinal Uses

Schisandra chinensis has 83 reported medicinal uses identified across 43 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, liver diseases, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations