Modulation of disease-associated gut microbiota by Schisandra chinensis: a literature review

Background To clarify the mechanism by which Schisandra chinensis regulates the disease-related gut microbiota and to identify potential directions for future research. Methods Relevant literature published between 2020 and 2025 was retrieved from Google scholar and NCBI PubMed. Two authors screened the literature based on titles and abstracts, followed by full-text screening by another two authors to ensure the inclusion of eligible studies. Results We found in 61 studies that S. chinensis rich in polysaccharides and lignans, which are primary bioactive compounds involved in modulating gut microbiota composition. These compounds have been extensively studied for their ability to rebalance gut microbiota, repair the intestinal barrier function, increase short-chain fatty acids levels, and regulate metabolic pathways. Therefore, S. chinensis alleviates the symptoms caused by ulcerative colitis, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, alcohol-associated liver disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, systemic inflammation, and neurobehavioral alterations associated with mental illness. Additionally, another study suggested that lignans influence bile acid production by modulating gut microbiota. Conclusion Current research on S. chinensis regulate gut microbiota, which have demonstrated therapeutic effects in disease. However, the precis mechanisms of S. chinensis regulated the gut microbiota remain unclear, and high-quality clinical trials are lacking to validate the efficacy of S. chinensis in humans.