Introduction of Wu Wei Zi: Chinese Magnoliavine Fruit

 ✵The article records the herb Chinese Magnoliavine Fruit, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and its botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. and (2) Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils.—along with detailed descriptions of the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the characteristics of the herb; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.

Fructus Schisandrae (Chinese Magnoliavine Fruit)

 Pinyin Name: Wǔ Wèi Zǐ
 English Name: Chinese Magnoliavine Fruit, Schisandra Berry, Schisandra Fruit
 Latin Name: Fructus Schisandrae
 Properties and flavor: warm in nature; sour and sweet in taste

 Brief Introduction: Fructus Schisandrae is the dried, ripe fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. or Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. It is used as an astringent to treat dry cough, asthma, night sweats, seminal emission, and chronic diarrhea, and as a tranquilizer to alleviate palpitations and insomnia. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Schisandrae, Chinese Magnoliavine Fruit, or Wǔ Wèi Zǐ.

 Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Schisandra Berry (Wǔ Wèi Zǐ) as the fruit of plants belonging to the Schisandraceae family—specifically (1) Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Wǔ Wèi Zǐ) and (2) Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. (Huá Zhōng Wǔ Wèi Zǐ). Both are species of the genus Schisandra Michx, family Schisandraceae, order Austrobaileyales (formerly in order Illiciales). The latest official pharmacopoeia specifies Fructus Schisandrae exclusively as the dried, ripe fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. The two commonly used species are introduced below:

(1) Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.

 Botanical Description: Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. is a deciduous woody liana of the Schisandraceae family and the genus Schisandra. It is also known as Kadsura chinensis Turcz. and commonly called Wǔ Wèi Zǐ ("Five-Flavor Fruit"), Běi Wǔ Wèi Zǐ ("Northern Schisandra"), or simply Northern Schisandra. Young shoots (twigs) are russet (reddish-brown); older branches are taupe (grayish-brown), slightly angular, and bear distinct ridges. Petioles are 2–4.5 cm long; leaves are alternate and membranous; leaf blades are obovate or ovate-elliptic, 5–10 cm long and 3–5 cm wide; the apex is acute or acuminate; the base is cuneate; margins bear glandular serrations; the upper surface is smooth and glabrous; in seedlings, the abaxial leaf veins are pubescent.

 Flowers are predominantly unisexual and dioecious, rarely monoecious; they occur singly or in clusters in the leaf axils, are cream-white (milky white) or pink, and possess a perianth of 6–7 sepals (perianth lobes). Stamens usually number five; anthers are clustered at the apex of a cylindrical receptacle, with dehiscence occurring outward; the gynoecium is elliptic, composed of 17–40 free carpels; the receptacle elongates and becomes spicate after flowering, reaching 3–10 cm in length.

 Fruits are small, globose berries that turn red at maturity. Each fruit contains 1–2 reniform, hazel-colored (pale brown), glossy seeds. Flowering occurs from May to June; fruiting, from August to September.

 Ecological Environment: Schisandra chinensis grows at altitudes up to 1,500 meters above sea level, in mixed broadleaf-coniferous forests (shaws or holt), on sunny hillsides or mountain slopes, at forest edges, and in shrublands beside streams.

 Growth Characteristics: Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. is a deciduous woody vine that prefers cool, moist climates, exhibits cold tolerance, is intolerant of waterlogging, and requires partial shade—especially during the seedling stage—to avoid intense direct sunlight. Cultivation is best carried out in loose, fertile, humus-rich loam soil.

 Characteristics of the Herb: The dried fruit is irregularly globose or oblate, 5–8 mm in diameter. The surface is red, violet-red, or dark red (dull red), wrinkled, oily, and delicate; the pulp is soft, and some surfaces may appear blackish-red or glaucous. Each fruit contains 1–2 reniform seeds; the seed surface is brownish-yellow and glossy; the testa (seed coat) is thin and brittle. The pulp has a mild odor and a sour taste; when the seed is broken, it emits a fragrant aroma and tastes pungent and slightly bitter.

 Pharmacological Actions: (1) Hepatoprotective effect; (2) Cardiovascular system modulation; (3) Neuroprotective and central nervous system–tonifying effects; (4) Digestive system regulation; (5) Potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities—inhibiting Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi—and enhancing non-specific immunity.

 Medicinal Efficacy: Astringent; consolidates lung Qi; tonifies Qi and promotes fluid production (supplementing Qi and promoting the production of body fluid); nourishes the kidneys; restrains spontaneous sweating; relieves nocturnal emission; tonifies the kidneys and calms the heart; soothes the mind and spirit (relieve uneasiness of mind and body tranquilization). Indicated for chronic cough and dyspnea due to deficiency; deficiency-type cough and dyspnea; lung-deficiency cough with dyspnea; nocturnal emission (wet dream); enuresis; persistent chronic diarrhea; protracted dysentery; spontaneous sweating; night sweats; dry mouth and thirst; fluid depletion with thirst; internal heat and consumptive thirst; debility and emaciation from overexertion; palpitations; and insomnia.

 Administration of Fructus Schisandrae (Wǔ Wèi Zǐ): 
 

Reference:

Administration Guide of Fructus Schisandrae (Wǔ Wèi Zǐ)

TCM Books:

(1) Internally: 2–6 grams; (2) Internally: water decoction, 0.5–2 qián (≈1.5–6 grams); or prepared as pills or powders. External use: finely powdered herb applied topically or used as a wash in decoction form; (3) Internally: water decoction, 3–6 grams; powdered herb, 1–3 g grams per dose; ointment; or pills, powders. External use: finely powdered herb applied topically or used as a wash in decoction form.  Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions: Fructus Schisandrae is contraindicated in the early stages of exogenous cough syndromes and measles. The herb should not be combined with Polygonatum odoratum (Solomon’s seal).

(2) Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils.

 Botanical Description: Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. is a deciduous woody liana of the Schisandraceae family and the genus Schisandra. It is also known as Huázhōng Wǔ Wèi Zǐ ("Central China Schisandra") or Nán Wǔ Wèi Zǐ ("Southern Schisandra"). Older branches are taupe (grayish-brown), with distinct lenticels; branchlets are purplish-red. Leaves are alternate and chartaceous; petioles are 1–3 cm long and reddish; leaf blades are obovate, broadly ovate, or obovate-oblong-oval, typically widest above the midpoint, 4–10 cm long and 3–6 cm wide; the apex is mucronate or acuminate; the base is cuneate or rounded; margins are sparsely undulate-serrulate; the upper surface is green; the abaxial surface is pale green; lateral veins occur in 4–6 pairs; reticulate venation is conspicuous.

 Flowers are unisexual and dioecious, orange-yellow, ~1.2 cm in diameter, solitary or in clusters of 1–3 in the leaf axils; pedicels are slender, 2–4 cm long; the perianth consists of 5–8 tepals arranged in 2–3 whorls; stamens number 10–19, inserted on an obovate receptacle; filaments are short; the anther apex is truncate. The gynoecium is subglobose, composed of 30–50 free carpels.

 Infructescences are 3.5–10 cm long; fruits are globose berries that ripen to ruby-red (bright red). Each fruit contains two reniform seeds, ~3 mm long; the testa bears sparse, trailing papillae along the raphe. Flowering occurs from April to June; fruiting, from August to September.

 Ecological Environment: Schisandra sphenanthera grows at altitudes of 600–2,400 meters above sea level, in dense forests or along stream banks.

 Characteristics of the Herb: The dried fruits are smaller than those of S. chinensis. The surface is reddish-brown to dark brown, wrinkled, and the pulp often adheres to the seeds.
 

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References:

• 1.Introduction of Wu Wei Zi: Chinese Magnoliavine Fruit

 Edited and last revised: January 5, 2023