• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effects and molecular mechanisms of the Schisandra chinensis fruit extract (SC) and its major compound gomisin A (GA), on the contractility of rabbit penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (PCCSM). MATERIALS/METHODS: PCCSM was exposed to SC or GA after appropriate pretreatment with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blocker, guanylate cyclase blocker, adenylyl cyclase blocker or protein kinase A blocker. Subsequently, we evaluated the cyclic nucleotide in the perfusate by radioimmunoassay, protein expression level of neuronal NOS (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) by western blot, and the interaction of SC or GA with udenafil and rolipram. RESULTS: Both SC and GA induce PCCSM relaxations in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with NOS blocker, guanylate cyclase blocker, adenylyl cyclase blocker or protein kinase A blocker result in significantly decreased relaxation. SC and GA also induce the levels of cyclic nucleotide in the perfusate in a concentration-dependent manner. Perfusion with GA also showed significantly higher levels of eNOS protein. Furthermore, the udenafil and rolipram induced relaxations of PCCSM were enhanced after exposure to SC and GA. Our results indicate that SC and GA induce the relaxation of PCCSM via the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP and cAMP signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The SC and GA are potential alternative treatments for men who want to consume natural products to ameliorate erectile function, or who do not respond to the commercially available medicines.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.166-170
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• 2006

In this study, we investigated whether schizandrin, schizandrin-A, gomisin-A and uridine affect mucin secretion from cultured airway epithelial cells and compared the potential activities of these agents with the inhibitory action on mucin secretion by poly-1-lysine (PLL) and the stimulatory action by adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Confluent primary hamster tracheal surface epithelial (HTSE) cells were metabolically radiolabeled using $^3H-glucosamine$ for 24 h and chased for 30 min in the presence of varying concentrations of each agent to assess the effects on $^3H-mucin$ secretion. The results were as follows: schizandrin-A and uridine increased mucin secretion at the highest concentrations ($2{\times}10^{-4}\;-\;10^{-3}M$). We conclude that schizandrin-A and uridine can stimulate mucin secretion via direct effect on airway mucin-secreting cells and suggest that these agents be further investigated for the potential use as mucoregulators during the treatment of chronic airway diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.389-394
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• 2001

In order to isolate antimicrobial substances from Schizandra chinensis, the dried fruits were extracted with the methanol and the extract showed a strong antimicrobial activity. Also, the methanol exract was further fractionated with hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate and buthanol. The ethyl acetate-soluble fraction showed the strongest antimicrobial activity. These fraction were further separated by using various chromatographic methods including thin layer chromatography, silicagel open column chromatography and prep. HPLC. A major component S-EA-5-T1 and S-EA-5-T3 from the ethyl acetate fraction, which showed a strong antimicrobial activity was identified by Mass and NMR spectrometry. Two compounds were isolated and identified as trimethylcitrate and the essential oil of Schizandra chinensis and was estimated as gomisin C, respectively. The growth of S. typhimurium was also inhibited about 1.65 to 2.86 log cycle in minced pork by the addition 1% of Schizandra chinensis extract for 12 days at $4^{\circ}C$. These results suggested that these compounds have a strong potential as a natual food preservatives.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2013

Objectives : We investigated differances of physiological functionalities in the steamed Schisandrae Fructus. Methods : The samples were extracts of dryed schisandrae fructus without steaming process (S0), extracts of schisandrae fructus with three times steamed (S3), extracts of schisandrae fructus with five times steamed (S5) and extracts of schisandrae fructus with seven times steamed (S7). We analyzed contents of schisandrin, gomisin, total polyphenol and flavonoid and antioxidant activities. We researched antiinflammation effects for Raw264.7 cells. To evaluate liver protective activity, we measured AST, ALT and gamma-GTP in serum of alcoholic mice. Results : As the steaming number of schisandrae fructus increase, the contents of schisandrin and gomisin were more increased. The contents of total polyphenol of S5 and S7 were significantly increased compared to that of S0. DPPH free radical scavenging activities of S5 and S7 were significantly increased compared to that of S0, ABST radical scavenging activities of S3 and S5 were significantly increased compared to that of S0 in vitro. The NO production of all sample was significantly decreased compared to control, PGE2 release of S3, S5 and S7 were significantly decreased compared to control. IL-$1{\beta}$ release of S5 and S7 were significantly decreased. AST, ALT and gamma-GTP of S3, S5 and S7 were significantly decreased compared to control. Conclusions : We think that extracts of schisandrae fructus with steaming process may have more potential efficacy than a schisandrae fructus without steaming process.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.415-420
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• 2018

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (omija) is often used in Chinese medicine to treat various human diseases, and is known to possess various bioactive components such as schizandrin and gomisin A. In the present study, we prepared ethanol extracts of pomace of Schisandra chinensis (PSC) and investigated their effects on cell viability and expression changes of pro-apoptotic genes such as ATF3, NAG-1 and p21 in human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells. PSC significantly reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and also dramatically induced the expression of ATF3, NAG-1 and p21 genes, with resveratrol used as a positive control. We also assessed the effects of pure compound schizandrin (SZ) derived from Schisandra chinensis on cell viability and expression of pro-apoptotic genes such as ATF3, NAG-1 and p21. The results showed that SZ also decreased cell viabilities in a dose-dependent manner and increased the expression of ATF3, NAG-1 and p21 genes. In addition, apoptosis was detected in SZ-treated HCT116 cells, which was confirmed with PARP cleavage. PARP cleavage was recovered in part by the transfection of NAG-1 siRNA. The results indicate that NAG-1 is one of the genes responsible for apoptosis induced by SZ. Overall, our findings may contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities mediated by PSC and SZ.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2009

Schizandra chinensis (S. chinensis) exhibits a harmless, 'adaptogen-type' effect leading to improvements in mental performance and learning efficacy in brain. Activated microglia contributes to neuronal injury by releasing neurotoxic products, which make it important to regulate microglial activation to prevent further cytological as well as functional brain damage. However, the effect of S. chinensis on microglial activation has not been examined yet. We have investigated the effects of four compounds (Gomisin A, Gomisin N, Schizandrin and Schizandrol A) from S. chinensis on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation. In this study, BV2 microglial cells were activated with LPS and the microglial activation was assessed by up-regulation of activation markers such as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). The results showed that all four compounds significantly reduced the intracellular level of ROS, the release of NO and MMP-9 as well as LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2. These results strongly suggested that S. chinensis may be useful to modulate inflammation-mediated brain damage by regulating microglial activation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.851-858
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• 2016

The effective components of Schisandra chinensis are lignans (schizandrins and gomisins), which have various physiological functionalities such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. This study was carried out to determine the different parts of fruits in Schisandra chinensis to elevate their usefulness. Schisandra chinensis was separated into skin (epicarp), pulp (mesocarp), and seeds, and raw Omija and hot-dried Omija (HDO) were used as control. The most abundant component was nitrogen free extract (6.88~56.70%) followed by crude lipids (1.65~19.04%). The main mineral was K (383.10~2,024.10 mg/100 g), except in seeds where P was the main mineral. The main lignan in all parts of fruit was schizandrin, and the highest content of schizandrin was 9.46 mg/g in dried seeds. Total lignan content was 25.97 mg/g and 14.97 mg/g in dried seeds and HDO, respectively. A total of 17 components of fatty acids in seeds and HDO were detected, of which linoleic acid (72.66~73.78%), oleic acid (14.78~17.39%), palmitic acid (2.88~3.54%), and capric acid (1.70~4.93%) were determined as the major components. Main lignans and fatty acids of Schisandra chinensis fruit contain mainly seeds. Therefore, it is more efficient to use seeds than pulp and extract of fruit itself to use the components of Omija.