Schisandra chinensis (five flavor fruit) is a fruit-bearing vine. It’s purple-red berries are described as having five tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, pungent, and sour. The seeds of the Schisandra berry contain lignansTrusted Source. These are substances which may have beneficial effects on health. Schisandrins A, B, and C are bioactive chemical compounds. They’re extracted from the berries of the Schisandra plant. These can be taken in powdered, pill, or liquid form. Schisandra can also be purchased as dried whole berries or as juice. Schisandra is also available as a supplement in multiple forms. These include dried powder, pills, extracts, and elixirs.
Schisandrin B protects the liver from toxic substances. It also protects many organs, including the heart, liver, kidneys, brain, and skin, from free radical damage. Schisandrin B not only enhances cellular antioxidant status but has also been found to prevent the degeneration of mitochondrial structure and function—two key factors in cell survival. Furthermore, schisandrin B can increase the formation of heat shock proteins. Heat shock proteins are important proteins in the body with protective functions. These endogenous proteins can respond promptly to stimuli and protect cells. Schisandrin B's ability to enhance the expression of heat shock proteins is crucial for preventing protein denaturation and maintaining biological activity.