Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of a tincture derived from the dried fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (omicha tincture) for poultry, horses, dogs and cats (FEFANA asbl).

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the dried fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (omicha tincture), when used as a sensory additive in feed for horses, cats, dogs, and in feed and in water for drinking for poultry. The product is a water/ethanol (55:45 v/v) solution, with a dry matter content of not more than 4% (w/w) and a content of 0.01%-0.15% (w/w) for the sum of schisandrin and deoxyschisandrin. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that omicha tincture is safe at the following concentrations in complete feed: 16 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening, 12 mg/kg for chickens for fattening and other poultry for fattening or reared for laying/reproduction, 18 mg/kg for laying hens and other laying/reproductive birds, 56 mg/kg for dogs and 47 mg/kg for horses and cats. The additive is considered safe for consumers when used up to the highest safe level in feed for poultry species and horses. Omicha tincture should be considered as irritants to skin and eyes, and as dermal and respiratory sensitisers. The use of omicha tincture as a flavour in feed for poultry species and horses was not considered to be a risk to the environment. Since it was recognised that the fruit of S. chinensis can influence sensory properties of feedingstuffs, no further demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary for the tincture under assessment.

Characterization of lignans in Schisandra chinensis oil with a single analysis process by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS.

Schisandra chinensis is a medicinal and edible plant that contains various bioactive compounds. Among these, lignans are the major functional compounds. Nevertheless, detailed information about lignans in Schisandra chinensis oil remains scarce. A powerful UPLC-Q/TOF-MS method was established for the rapid identification of the lignan constituents of Schisandra chinensis oils. The results showed that 21 lignans have been unambiguously identified, and four lignans have been tentatively identified in the Schisandra chinensis oils. In addition, semi-quantitative analysis indicated that the total lignan content in the Schisandra chinensis oils was distributed from 67.73 ± 0.06 to 87.61 ± 1.83 mg/g. Schisandrin and schisandrin B were the most abundant lignans in the Schisandra chinensis oils, their content ranging from 15.85 ± 0.09 to 20.57 ± 0.38 mg/g. Additionally, this study provided a systematic characterization of lignans in Schisandra chinensis oil and indicated that the oil might be used as lignan-related functional foods.

Schisandra chinensis extract decreases chloroacetaldehyde production in rats and attenuates cyclophosphamide toxicity in liver, kidney and brain.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (S. chinensis) has been used for thousands years in China, and is usually applied in treatment of urinary tract disorders and liver injury. S. chinensis extract (SCE) has board protective effects on liver, kidney and nervous system. Schisandra lignans are generally considered as the bioactive components of SCE. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the pharmacokinetic herb-drug interactions (HDIs) between SCE and cyclophosphamide (CTX). To evaluate the protective effects of SCE against CTX induced damage in rat liver, kidney and brain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pharmacokinetic HDIs between SCE and CTX were investigated by determining plasma concentrations of CTX and three metabolites, namely 4-ketocyclophosphamide (4-Keto), 2-dechloroethylcyclophosphamide (DCCTX) and carboxyphosphamide (CPM) using a previously developed UPLC-MS/MS method. To evaluate the protective effects of SCE pretreatment, toxicity and oxidation stress assessments along with histology investigations were carried out in rat liver, kidney and brain. RESULTS: The equimolar produced metabolite DCCTX was chosen to reflect chloroacetaldehyde (CAA, a toxic metabolite of CTX) production in rats. Single-dose pretreatment of SCE significantly reduced CAA production and decreased the Cmax and AUC0-24h of DCCTX by 69% and 49% respectively (P < 0.05). After pretreated with SCE for 7 consecutive days, the Cmax and AUC0-24h of DCCTX were still decreased (-25% and -37%, P < 0.05) when compared with CTX alone group. Parallel toxicity and oxidation stress investigations showed that single-dose SCE pretreatment significantly decreased plasma BUN and Cr levels (-12% and -46%, respectively) and reduced liver AST activity (-32%). Moreover, SCE pretreatment potently increased the brain GSH content by 7.8-fold, and reduced MDA levels in rat liver, kidney and brain by 39%, 28% and 31%, respectively (compared with CTX alone group). The protective effects of SCE were also supported by histological observations. CONCLUSION: Our experiment results suggest that S. chinensis may find use as a complementary medicine in CTX treatment.

Schisandra lignans production regulated by different bioreactor type.

Schisandra chinensis (Chinese magnolia vine) is a rich source of therapeutically relevant dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans with anticancer, immunostimulant and hepatoprotective activities. In this work, shoot cultures of S. chinensis were grown in different types of bioreactors with the aim to select a system suitable for the large scale in vitro production of schisandra lignans. The cultures were maintained in Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 1mg/l 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Five bioreactors differing with respect to cultivation mode were tested: two liquid-phase systems (baloon-type bioreactor and bubble-column bioreactor with biomass immobilization), the gas-phase spray bioreactor and two commercially available temporary immersion systems: RITA® and Plantform. The experiments were run for 30 and 60 days in batch mode. The harvested shoots were evaluated for growth and lignan content determined by LC-DAD and LC-DAD-ESI-MS. Of the tested bioreactors, temporary immersion systems provided the best results with respect to biomass production and lignan accumulation: RITA® bioreactor yielded 17.86g/l (dry weight) during 60 day growth period whereas shoots grown for 30 days in Plantform bioreactor contained the highest amount of lignans (546.98mg/100g dry weight), with schisandrin, deoxyschisandrin and gomisin A as the major constituents (118.59, 77.66 and 67.86mg/100g dry weight, respectively).

Effects of Deoxyschisandrin on Hemorrheology and Coagulation Function in Ulcerative Colitis Mice / 现代生物医学进展

Objective:To observe the effects of Deoxyschisandrin on hemorrheology and coagulation function in ulcerative colitis (UC)mice.Methods:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)induced UC mice model was prepared.And then UC mice were randomly divided into model group,positive control group,high,medium,and low dose groups of deoxyschisandrin (80,40,20mg/kg),and in addition,a normal control group was set up.There were 10 mice in each group respectively.UC mice were intragastricly administrated with different concentration of deoxyschisandrin in medication group,or with equal volume distilled water in normal group or model group,respectively.The blood viscosity was determined by blood rheometer,and the bleeding time (BT)and the clotting time (CT)were also observed through the methods of tail cutting and blood coagulation in glass plates accordingly.Results:Compared with model group,the BT (P ＜ 0.01)and CT (P ＜ 0.05)were significantly prolonged,and the blood viscosity was decreased obviously (P ＜ 0.05) in UC mice after administrated with different concentration deoxyschisandfin for 14 days.And the effects in high dose group were strongest and similar to those in the positive group.Conclusions:Deoxyschisandrin can improve hemorrheology and coagulation function in UC mice.

Optimization of ethanol extraction technique for Schisandrae Fructus and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix by multi index comprehensive weighted score evaluation / 中草药

Objective: To optimaize the ethanol extraction technique for Schisandrae Fructus and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix and confirm the optimum extraction process parameters by multi index comprehensive weighted score evaluation. Methods: Alone and mixed extraction was carried out by using 90%, 70%, and 50% ethanol relux extraction. Orthogonal test method was uesd to optimize the process with ethanol concentration, solvent ratio, extraction time, and extraction times as detecting factors and schisandrin, schisantherrin A, deoxyschisandrin, schisandrin B, Tanshinone IIA, and salvianolic acid B as examining indexes, the detection was carried out by HPLC and DAD detector. The data were analyzed by multi index comprehensive weighted score evaluation. Results: The effective composition contents of mixed extract from Schisandrae Fructus and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix were more than alone extracting. The best extraction conditions were solvent ratio of 1:8 with 90% ethanol reflux extraction for three times, and 1.5 h each time. Conclusion: The mixed extracting is simple and appropriate, the extraction yield of active ingredients by mixed extracting is more than alone extracting. Different materials with different wavelength can effectively eliminate the interference at the same time, the accuracy is higher.

Molecular mechanisms of antiproliferative effects induced by Schisandra-derived dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans (+)-deoxyschisandrin and (-)-gomisin N in human tumour cell lines.

A different behavior of the two dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans (+)-deoxyschisandrin (1) and (-)-gomisin N (2), from Schisandra chinensis fruits, was observed against two human tumour cell lines, (2008 and LoVo). These lignans inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner on both cell lines, but inducing different types of cell death. In particular, (+)-deoxyschisandrin (1) caused apoptosis in colon adenocarcinoma cells (LoVo) but not in ovarian adenocarcinoma cells (2008), while (-)-gomisin N (2) induced apoptosis on both the cell lines used. Mitochondrial-mediated pathway was not involved in apoptotic stimuli. Both compounds caused G2/M phase cell growth arrest correlated with tubulin polymerization.

Determination of Serum Concentration of Deoxyschisandrin by RP-HPLC / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To determine the serum concentration of Deoxyschisandrin by RP-HPLC.METHODS:The chr-omatographic separation was performed on Phenomenex C18(250mm?4.6mm,5?m) column with column temperature at 30℃.The mobile phase consisted of methanol - water (80∶20) at a flow rate of 1mL?min-1. The detection wavelength was set at 252nm. RESULTS:The calibration curve of Deoxyschisandrin was linear in the concentration range from 0.52 to 33.28?g?mL-1 (r=0.999 6). The average recovery of deoxyschisandrin was (97.27?4.11)%(RSD=4.23%,n=9).CONCLUSION:The method is simple, accurate and sensitive, and it can be used for the determination of serum concentration of Deoxyschisandrin.

Determination of schisandrin, deoxy-schisandrin and ?-schisandrin in Jiangmeiling Capsules by HPLC / 中成药

AIM: To establish a HPLC method for the determination of schisandrin、 deoxy-schisandrin and ?-schisandrin in Jiangmeiling Capsule(extract of Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis). METHODS: The determination was performed by RP-HPLC on Kromasil TM C 18 column(200mm?4.6mm, 5?m) using methanol-H 2O (75∶25) as a mobile phase, flow rate at 1.0mL?min -1, detection wavelength at 224nm. RESULTS: The linear range of schisandrin was 0.02228～0.24508?g,r=0.9996. The average recovery was 101.87%, RSD=1.37% (n=5). The linear range of deoxyschisandrin was 0. 02188～0. 24068?g, r=0.9997. The average recovery was 99.75%, RSD=0.94% (n=5). The linear range of ?-schisandrin was 0.01975～0.2172?g, r=0.9996. The average recovery was 100.90%, RSD=0.99% (n=5). CONCLUSION: The method is convenient, sensitive and accurate. It can be a method for quality control in production of Jiangmeiling capsule.

Preparation and dissolution of Wurenchun Dispersible Tablet / 中成药

AIM:To prepare Wurenchun Dispersible Tablet(Fructus schisandrae Chinensis)and investigate the dissolution of it.METHODS:The optimal formulation of Wurenchun Dispersible Tablets was established by the single factor experiments.The dissolution of deoxyschisandrin from Wurenchun Dispersible Tablets was determined by HPLC.RESULTS:Wurenchun Dispersible Tablets prepared by the mixture of 50 g extraction and 125 g CaHPO_4 plus excipent(MCC∶CMS-Na 3∶1)could disintegrate and disperse well within 3 min in(20?1)℃ water.The dissolution of deoxyschisandrin from Wurenchun Dispersible Tablets was higher than 80% in 15 min.CONCLUSION:Wurenchun Dispersible Tablets were stable,dissolved fast and completely.The preparation could promote the dissolution of total lignans.