Schisandra
Summary
Schisandra is a berry extract. Two small 12-week Korean trials found 1 g a day improved leg strength in older adults and postmenopausal women (grade D), and a 36-person trial reported fewer menopause symptoms. A related species raised blood levels of the transplant drug tacrolimus.
Key facts
- Leg strength in older adults (D); menopause symptom scores (D); weight and gut bacteria in obese women (no clear effect, D)[1][2][3][4]
- Schisandra sphenanthera extract (a related species) more than doubled tacrolimus exposure in healthy volunteers[5]
- 4 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedSchisandra lignans have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in lab and animal studies; how they might affect muscle strength in people is not established.[1]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 54 · 2021 | 2 rows |
| Healthy aging | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 36 · 2016 | 1 row |
| Metabolic | Grade D | No effect | RCT · n = 28 · 2015 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee extensor strength in older adults with low muscle mass | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 54 · 2021 Adults over 50 with relatively low muscle mass doing low-intensity walking Form: Schisandra fruit extract · Dose: 1 g/day · Duration: 12 weeks Right knee extensor strength rose 10.2 Nm more than with placebo. | 33710261 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Quadriceps strength in postmenopausal women | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 45 · 2020 Healthy postmenopausal women (mean age 62) Form: Schisandra fruit extract · Dose: 1,000 mg/day · Duration: 12 weeks Quadriceps strength rose and resting lactate fell compared with placebo. | 32260466 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Menopause symptoms (Kupperman Index) | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 36 · 2016 Women aged 40–70 with menopausal symptoms Form: Schisandra extract (BMO-30) · Dose: Not stated in the abstract · Duration: 6 weeks, followed to 12 weeks Kupperman Index scores were lower than with placebo over time (p = 0.042). | 27763802 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Body fat and metabolic markers in obese women | No effect | Grade D | RCT · n = 28 · 2015 Obese women Form: Schisandra fruit extract · Dose: Not stated in the abstract · Duration: 12 weeks Waist, fat mass, glucose and triglycerides trended lower but did not differ significantly from placebo; gut bacteria shifted. | 26048342 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
Forms
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 1 g of fruit extract a day for 12 weeks (muscle trials) to an undisclosed amount of a branded extract for 6 weeks (menopause trial).[1][2][3]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Medicines
- TacrolimusPK studySchisandra sphenanthera extract raised tacrolimus blood exposure (AUC) by about 164% in 12 healthy men; Schisandra chinensis may act similarly but was not tested here.[5]
Who should be careful
- Transplant patients and others on tacrolimus
- A related schisandra species sharply raised tacrolimus levels; check with the prescriber first.[5]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No safety data were found in the trials we cite.[1]
- People on many prescription drugs
- Schisandra changed how the body handles tacrolimus, a drug cleared by the CYP3A pathway; other drugs cleared that way could be affected.[5]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Schisandra
Products from brands we partner with that contain Schisandra. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkSchisandra Chinensis3 capsules: 750 mg Schisandra chinensis 10:1 extract standardized to 9% schizandrin; 20 servings (label allows 1 to 3 capsules)Shop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Does schisandra build muscle strength?
Two small 12-week trials of 1 g a day found modest strength gains versus placebo in older adults and postmenopausal women.[1][2]
Does schisandra help menopause symptoms?
One 36-person trial reported lower symptom scores than placebo.[3]
Does schisandra interact with medicines?
A related species more than doubled tacrolimus levels, so people on tacrolimus or similar drugs should ask their prescriber.[5]
Sources
- [1]Effect of Schisandra chinensis Baillon extracts and regular low-intensity exercise on muscle strength and mass in older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.. Am J Clin Nutr, 2021. RCT
- [2]Effect of Schisandra Chinensis Extract Supplementation on Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Fatigue in Adult Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020. RCT
- [3]A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Schisandra chinensis for menopausal symptoms.. Climacteric, 2016. RCT
- [4]Schisandra chinensis fruit modulates the gut microbiota composition in association with metabolic markers in obese women: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study.. Nutr Res, 2015. RCT
- [5]Effects of Schisandra sphenanthera extract on the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus in healthy volunteers.. Br J Clin Pharmacol, 2007. PK-study
What changed
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, year and journal taken from the PubMed record) and abstracts read for each cited row. Product details in Where to buy read from the brand page on the date shown. Self-reviewed in a second strict pass (no independent reviewer yet).