Pollen morphology of the Schisandraceae and its systematic significance

Pollen morphology of 91 samples, representing 23 species, 6 varieties and 1 form of the Schisandraceae, was examined under light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Palynological data of 5 species, 4 varieties and 1 form are reported for the first time. The pollen grains are monads, heteropolar, radiosymmetric and oblate to peroblate in shape. Arrangement of their colpi is unique in angiosperms. The pollen grains can be divided into two types according to the number of their clopi: the tricolpate pollen type and the hexacolpate pollen type. The exine sculpturing is reticulate. The size of luminae and the breadth of muri are correlated with the floral morphology of the hisandraceae to a certain extent. Our results do not support the division of the pollen grains of the Schisandraceae into 4 types according to the size of inae as proposed by Praglowski. There is also still room of discussion about his conclusion that the pole where the three longer colpi converge is the distal pole. The evolutionary trends of the pollen grains of the Schisandraceae seem to be from fewer to more in the number of colpi, and from smaller to larger in the size of luminae. The view that Kadsura is more primitive than Schisnadra is not supported by palynological data; on the contrary, Kadsura seems to be more advanced than Schisandra at the general level of evolution. The two genera may be closely related, and might have originated from a common ancestor and then evolved parallelly along two different routes.     

Morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of the ANA grade angiosperm Schisandra arisanensis (Schisandraceae)

We determined the kind of seed dormancy in Schisandra arisanensis, an ANA grade ([A]mborellales [N]ymphaeales [A]ustrobaileyales) angiosperm with medicinal value. Seeds have small underdeveloped embryos, and following seed maturity their length increased approximately 360% before radicle emergence. Germination was delayed 6–8 weeks, and the percentage and rate were much higher at 15/6, 20/10 and 25/15°C than at 30/20°C. For seeds incubated at 5/5°C (8 weeks) → 15/6°C (4 weeks) → 20/10°C (8 weeks) → 25/15°C (12 weeks) → 20/10°C (5 weeks), embryos grew at 15/6°C → 20/10°C, and almost all seeds that germinated (89%) did so at 20/10°C → 25/15°C. When seeds were incubated in a complementary temperature sequence, 25/15°C (12 weeks) → 20/10°C (8 weeks) → 15/6°C (4 weeks) → 5/5°C (9 weeks) → 15/6°C (4 weeks), embryos grew at 25/15°C → 20/10°C. Nearly all seeds that germinated (93%) did so at 25/15°C → 20/10°C and at 15/6°C following 9 weeks at 5/5°C. Based on the temperature requirements for embryo growth and seed germination, seeds of this species have non‐deep simple morphophysiological dormancy (C_1bB).     

Chemical Constituents of Schisandra rubriflora Rehd. et Wils.

Schisandra rubriflora Rehd. et Wils. is a traditional Chinese medicine. To search for new and bioactive components from traditional Chinese medicines and provide scientific evidence for taxonomy, the chemical constituents of the plant were investigated by various column chromatography methods (silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and RP-18). From the aerial parts of S. rubriflora, three new megastigmane glycosides,namely (3S, 5R, 6S, 9R)-megastigmane-3, 9-diol 3-O-[α-L-arabionfuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside](1), 7-megastigmene-3-ol-9-one 3-O-[α-L-arabionfuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (2), and megastigmane-3α, 4β, 9ξ-tfiol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), along with 14 known compounds, were isolated.The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods.     

Lignans and Terpenoids from the Leaves of Schisandra chinensis

Fifteen constituents, including one new lignan (schisandroside E) and one new terpenoid (schisandenoid A) as well as nine known lignans and four known terpenoids, were isolated from Schisandra chinensis leaves. The structures of schisandroside E and schisandenoid A were established by entirely meticulous spectroscopic analysis (NMR, MS, CD, IR and UV). All compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against MGC‐803, Caco‐2 and Ishikawa cell lines. Some compounds showed strong cytotoxicity against these three cancer cell lines with IC₅₀<1 μm .     

复方五味子提取物对力竭游泳大鼠的抗疲劳作用

五味子、黄芪、丹参、枸杞和马齿苋均具有较好的抗氧化活性和抗疲劳功效。然而,尚不清楚该5种中药材组合的应用效果。本研究将这5种植物药材进行混合提取,得到了复方五味子提取物。然后考察了不同剂量的复方五味子提取物对力竭游泳大鼠的运动能力和生化指标的影响。研究显示,复方五味子提取物以剂量依赖性方式提高大鼠的力竭游泳时间(p<0.05)。复方五味子提取物以剂量依赖性方式降低血清Lac和BUN水平并升高NEFA水平(p<0.05)。复方五味子提取物显著升高大鼠体内SOD和CAT水平,并显著降低MDA水平(p<0.05)。复方五味子提取物显著降低大鼠血清CK、AST和ALT水平(p<0.05),并减弱骨骼肌组织病变程度。本研究表明,复方五味子提取物具有较好的抗疲劳作用,可通过减少乳酸堆积、增加脂肪动员、减弱氧化应激损伤来提高机体运动能力。     

Inhibitory effect of schisandrin on spontaneous contraction of isolated rat colon

This study examined the effect of schisandrin, one of the major lignans isolated from Schisandra chinensis, on spontaneous contraction in rat colon and its possible mechanisms. Schisandrin produced a concentration-dependent inhibition (EC₅₀ = 1.66 μM) on the colonic spontaneous contraction. The relaxant effect of schisandrin could be abolished by the neuronal Na⁺ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 μM) but not affected by propranolol (1 μM), phentolamine (1 μM), atropine (1 μM) or nicotine desensitization, suggesting possible involvement of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) transmitters released from enteric nerves. N^ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (100-300 μM), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, attenuated the schisandrin response. The role of nitric oxide (NO) was confirmed by an increase in colonic NO production after schisandrin incubation, and the inhibition on the schisandrin responses by soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo[4,3-α]-quinoxalin-1-one (1-30 μM). Non-nitrergic NANC components may also be involved in the action of schisandrin, as suggested by the significant inhibition of apamin on the schisandrin-induced responses. Pyridoxal phosphate-6-azo(benzene-2,4-disulfonic acid) tetrasodium salt hydrate (100 μM), a selective P2 purinoceptor antagonist, markedly attenuated the responses to schisandrin. In contrast, neither 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, an antagonist for adenosine A₁ receptors, nor chymotrypsin, a serine endopeptidase, affected the responses. All available results have demonstrated that schisandrin produced NANC relaxation on the rat colon, with the involvement of NO and acting via cGMP-dependent pathways. ATP, but not adenosine and VIP, likely plays a role in the non-nitrergic, apamin-sensitive component of the response.     

秦巴山区五味子的种质资源

秦巴山区共有五味子（KadsuraJuss．和SchisandraMichx．）10种1变种,分布广,资源丰富。五味子果实营养物质丰富,蛋白质、氨基酸、矿质元素的含量明显高于苹果、梨、柑桔。尤其是果实中富含超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和木脂素,具有保健作用,颇有开发利用价值。     

Impact of Chisan (ADAPT-232) on the quality-of-life and its efficacy as an adjuvant in the treatment of acute non-specific pneumonia

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized (simple randomisation), pilot (phase III) study of Chisan^® (ADAPT-232; a standardised fixed combination of extracts of Rhodiola rosea L., Schisandra chinensis Turcz. Baill., and Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim) was carried out on two parallel groups of patients suffering from acute non-specific pneumonia. Sixty patients (males and females; 18–65 years old) received a standard treatment with cephazoline, bromhexine, and theophylline: in addition, one group of 30 patients was given Chisan mixture, whilst the second group of 30 patients received a placebo, each medication being taken twice daily from the beginning of the study for 10–15 days. The primary outcome measurements were the duration of antibiotic therapy associated with the clinical manifestations of the acute phase of the disease, together with an evaluation of mental performance in a psychometric test and the self-evaluation of quality-of-life (QOL) (WHOQOL-Bref questionnaires) before treatment and on the first and fifth days after clinical convalescence. The mean duration of treatment with antibiotics required to bring about recovery from the acute phase of the disease was 2 days shorter in patients treated with Chisan compared with those in the placebo group. With respect to all QOL domains (physical, psychological, social and ecological), patients in the Chisan group scored higher at the beginning of the rehabilitation period, and significantly higher on the fifth day after clinical convalescence, than patients in the control group. Clearly, adjuvant therapy with ADAPT-232 has a positive effect on the recovery of patients by decreasing the duration of the acute phase of the illness, by increasing mental performance of patients in the rehabilitation period, and by improving their QOL. Both the clinical and laboratory results of the present study suggest that Chisan (ADAPT-232) can be recommended in the standard treatment of patients with acute non-specific pneumonia as an adjuvant to increase the QOL and to expedite the recovery of patients.     

Nortriterpenoids and lignans from Schisandra sphenanthera

Nortriterpenoids, sphenadilactone C (1) and sphenasin A (2), together with four known lignans (3-6), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra sphenanthera. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data and compound 2 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 features a partial enol moiety and an acetamide group in its structure. In addition, compounds 1, 3-6 showed weak anti-HIV-1 activity with EC₅₀ values in the range of 15.5-29.5 μg/mL.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the Schisandraceae based on morphology and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences

Cladistic analyses were conducted using morphological and ITS sequence data to examine phylogenetic relationships within the Schisandraceae. The most parsimonious trees obtained from the morphological data consistently show a dichotomy, with clades corresponding with the two currently accepted genera, Kadsura and Schisandra . In the ITS trees S. propinqua consistently groups with the Kadsura clade, and the position of S. glabra is uncertain. The trees resulting from the analysis of combined data are polytomous, due to the variable positions of K. scandens, K. coccinea and S. propinqua . The monophyletic status of Kadsura subgen. Kadsura sect. Kadsura and Schisandra subgen. Pleiostema are strongly supported, although the monophyly of other supraspecific taxa is unclear. Further studies are required before an unambiguous phylogeny is achieved for the family.