lemonwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lemonwood
• schisandra

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Schisandra grandiflora var. rubriflora
• Schisandra chinensis var. rubriflora
• Schisandra flaccidiramosa

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Austrobaileyales and the family Schisandraceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Schisandra.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to several specific regions within China. Its primary distribution includes the areas of China South-Central. Additionally, the species can be found throughout China North-Central. It also extends its range into the regions of China Southeast. Together, these three zones define the core geographical footprint of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Schisandra sphenanthera is characterized by its growth habit as a woody liana, functioning as an obligatory climber that relies on external structures for support rather than being self-supporting. It exhibits a robust, woody stem structure typical of climbing vines, which allows it to ascend through forest canopies. Despite its climbing nature, the plant is an independent organism, meaning it does not function as a parasite on its host plants. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial species, establishing its root system in the soil rather than growing as an epiphyte.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Schisandra sphanthera is characterized by its metabolic processes and structural adaptations suited for its specific ecological niche. A fundamental aspect of its metabolic function is its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism. Under this C3 pathway, the plant utilizes the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stages of the Calvin cycle. This physiological strategy is typical for woody perennial vines inhabiting temperate to subtropical forest understories, where moisture availability and moderate light levels favor the energy efficiency of C3 photosynthesis over more specialized pathways like C4 or CAM. This metabolic framework supports the plant's energy requirements for vegetative growth, the development of its complex woody climbing structure, and the biosynthesis of its secondary metabolites.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Schisandra sphenanthera has 4 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root, stem.

Fruit

1. Food & function
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
3. International journal of biological macromolecules
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Leaf

1. Organic letters
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. BMC genomics

Root

1. BMC genomics

Stem

1. BMC genomics

Chemicals

Schisandra sphenanthera has 31 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Lignans, Schisandrin, Schisantherin A, triterpenoids, Anwulignan.

Lignans

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine
3. BMC genomics

Schisandrin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Schisantherin A

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

triterpenoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)

Anwulignan

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Cedrenol

1. PeerJ

Deoxyschisandrin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Deoxyschizandrin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Galacturonic acid

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Gamma-schizandrin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Schisandra sphenanthera has 7 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antitumor.

Hepatoprotective

1. Food & function
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Chinese medicine

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antiviral

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Neuroprotective

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Medicinal Uses

Schisandra sphenanthera has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, COVID-19, Drug-induced liver injury, hepatitis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations