Schisandrae is the dry fruit from Schisandra chinesis or S. sphenanthera. The former is called as Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus

and the latter is often called as Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus. Schisandrae was first contained in the Shennong Bencao Jing

with a history of over one thousand years as a traditional Chinese medicine in various prescriptions. The efficacy differences between Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus and Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus have been recognized by many physicians since Ming dynasty. From the 2000 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia

Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus and Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus have been introduced sepsrately

and their respective quality control standards have been established until continuous improvement in the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The form and origin of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus and Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus were different

with different compositions and functions

but there was a serious phenomenon of mixing use of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus and Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus in clinical application. In order to distinguish Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus and Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus

and more reasonably

safely and effectively apply Schisandrae in modern clinical treatment

the recent studies on Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus and Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus were collected

retrieved

concluded and summarized in this paper

and the differences in variety identification

chemical components (components of volatile oil

total lignans content and polysaccharide efficacy of Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus were better than those in Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus)

and pharmacological action (mainly including the effects of Schisandrae on central nervous system

digestive system

and cardiovascular system) were reviewed

hoping to provide a reference for the research

development and clinical application of Schisandrae

fundamentally distinguish Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus and Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus not only from the forms and achieve safer and more accurate clinical application.