The fruit encompasses all the the classic Chinese tastes of sweet, salty, bitter, hot and sour. The Schizandra fruit is rich in trace minerals vitamins and phytochemicals.

The part of the plant utilized for medicinal purposes are the small berries, which are bright red in color. Schisandra is considered to be antibacterial,  a cardiac tonic, antioxidant, and anti-depressant.  The fruit also contains phyto-estrogens which may explain why it is used in TCM (as part of the Shenlai San herbal mixture)  for menopausal women who have cardiac disease. In animal research it has been shown that increases cardiac contractility without affecting blood pressure.

Chinese research suggests that Schisandra and other lignans have a protective effect on the liver and an immunomodulating effect. Two human trials in China (one double-blind and the other preliminary) have shown that Schizandra may help people with chronic viral. Schisandra lignans appear to protect the liver by activating the enzymes that produce glutathione.

Schisandra has been reported to increase two liver enzymes, CPY 450 and CYP3A and may interfere with drugs that are metabolized by these enzymes.  Always consult your physician if you are taking prescription medications before using herbal remedies.

Zhu M, et al. Evaluation of the protective effects of schisandra chinensis on phase I drug metabolism using a CCl4 intoxication model. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;67:61-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10616961?dopt=Citation

Zhu M, et al. Improvement of phase I drug metabolism with schisandra chinensis against CCl4 hepatotoxicity in a rat model. Planta Med

You JS, Pan TL, Hou YC. Schisandra chinensis protects against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Chang Gung Med J 2006; 29(1): 63-70.