Schisandra

Schisandra, the magnolia vines, is a genus of twining shrubs that generally climb on other vegetation. Various authors have included the plants in the Illiciaceae.Hutchinson, J. 1973. The Families of Flowering Plants, ed. 3. Oxford. Pp. 161-162. Smith, A. C. 1947. The families Illiciaceae and Schisandraceae. Sargentia 7: 1-224.

Schisandra (also spelled Schizandra) is native to Asia and North America, with a center of diversity in China.Flora of North America vol 3Flora of China Vol. 7 Page 41 五味子属 wu wei zi shu Schisandra Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 218. 1803.

Some species are commonly grown in gardens as ornamentals. It is a hardy deciduous climber which thrives in almost any kind of soil; its preferred position is on a sheltered, shady wall. It may be propagated by cuttings of half-matured shoots in August.

Despite its common name "magnolia vine", Schisandra is not closely related to the true magnolias.

Uses Its dried fruit is sometimes used medicinally. In China, the berries of S. chinensis are given the name () because they possess all five basic flavors in Chinese herbal medicine: salty, sweet, sour, pungent (spicy), and bitter. In traditional Chinese medicine it is used as a remedy for many ailments: to resist infections, improve skin health, combat insomnia, and to reduce coughing and thirst.Panossian A., Wikman G. Pharmacology of Schisandra chinensis Bail.: An overview of Russian research and uses in medicine . Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Vol 118/2 pp 183-212.

Taxonomy In 2007, Schisandra was divided into the subgenera Schisandra and Sphaerostema. The subgenus Schisandra is divided into four sections: Maximowiczia, Pleiostema, Schisandra, and Sinoschisandra.

Species Accepted species:

Chemistry The extract of S. rubriflora, a native of the Yunnan province, was found to contain complex and highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids called rubriflorins A-C.Xiao, W.-L. et al.. J. Nat. Prod. 2007, Web release : May 10th.

Schisandra

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