Phytochemical studies and biological activity of three Chinese Schisandra species (Schisandra sphenanthera, Schisandra henryi and Schisandra rubriflora): current findings and future applications

Schisandra chinensis (Chinese magnolia vine) is the best-known representative of the genus Schisandra, widely used in the official East-Asian, North American and European medicine. The article recalls the healing value of this species and, above all, presents the current state of knowledge on the chemical composition and biological activity of three other species of the Schisandra genus: Schisandra sphenanthera, Schisandra henryi and Schisandra rubriflora. In addition to dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans (the so-called ‘Schisandra chinensis lignans’), they also contain other groups of lignans (e.g. 4-aryltetralin, aryltetralone, tetrahydrofuran and butane-type lignans) as the main compounds responsible for biological activity. The lignans are accompanied by other groups of compounds, including triterpenoids and nortriterpenoids. A review of biological studies, e.g. of empirically confirmed hepatoprotective, cytotoxic and anti-HIV-1 activities, proves that these species have a high therapeutic potential and may constitute a new East-Asian proposition for European medicine. The article also draws attention to the possibility of using the biosynthetic potential of the biomass from in vitro cultures of the described species and biotechnological solutions as an alternative to plant raw materials. Graphical abstract