SCHISANDRA CHINENSIS-DEPENDENT MYOCARDIAL PROTECTIVE ACTION OF SHENG-MAI-SAN IN RATS

Sheng-Mai-San (SMS), a traditional Chinese formulation used for the tr eatment of coronary heart disease, is comprised of Radix Ginseng, Fruc tus Schisandrae and Radix Ophiopogonis. Pretreatment with a lignan-enr iched SMS (17 g/kg/day x 3, p.o.) was found effective in protection ag ainst isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury in rats, and in ischemia -reperfusion injury in isolated perfused hearts prepared from pretreat ed animals. Results obtained from pretreatment studies using extracts prepared by mixing various combinations of the three component herbs i ndicate that the major myocardial protective component in SMS is the l ignan-enriched extract of Fructus Schisandrae.