At present, the Chinese or Far Eastern magnolia vine has become quite a common plant, often grown in personal plots and allotments. At the same time, as practice shows, the problems that arise in the economic use of lemongrass are completely unknown to many. Some people prepare jam from fruits, and then experience a sharp increase in pressure, palpitations and vasospasm. As a result, they refuse to use lemongrass as a remedy, therapeutic, and tonic. It should be noted that in Chinese medicine, the bark or young twigs of lemongrass are traditionally used without fruits, but sometimes with leaves and only for medicinal purposes in combination with fruits and seeds.
To assess the biological activity of the CO2 extract of the Schisandra vine, one should take into account the properties of the chemical composition of such a product. The extract contains fairly large amounts of the main lingnans characteristic of lemongrass – schizandrin, schizandrol. The bark also contains the alkaloid ginserol, which gives lemongrass bark extracts a ginger taste. The extract contains vitamin E and beta-carotene (provitamin A). Quercetin-type flavones, which are powerful antioxidants, are abundant. There is also a very wide range of terpenoids that make up the very expensive essential oil of Schisandra chinensis. It is the essential oils that are responsible for the special aromatic range of the products in which this extract is used.
Due to this composition, the CO2 extract of the bark and vine of Schisandra stimulates and strengthens the immune system, increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood, normalizes the functioning of the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Undoubtedly, Schisandra chinensis CO2 extract is quite a powerful tonic that stimulates the nervous system. The extract is shown to be a powerful regenerative for tissue repair.
Oriental medicine recommends using the bark and the vine of Schisandra chinensis primarily for the preparation of tonic drinks. It should be noted that the most intense lemon-ginger taste in such drinks depends on how long the bark and grapevine are infused in hot water; The longer the infusion lasts, the more aromatic and tasty the drink becomes and the lighter it unfolds its medicinal properties. This drink can take up to 8 hours to prepare. All the taste, aromatic and medicinal properties of wine tea depend on its saturation with compounds from the group of terpenoids, flavones, alkaloids and lignans, but all of these compounds are fat-soluble, which is why the bark and branches must be infused in hot water for a very long time to obtain the desired Achieve concentration in tea.
It is quite understandable that the classic technology for preparing such drinks is hardly feasible in the modern world. With the CO2 extract from lemongrass bark and liana, you can use this to produce sufficiently concentrated microemulsions. Such microemulsions retain all the taste and aroma properties, as well as biological activity, but at the same time mix well with water and form transparent pseudo-solutions that can be consumed without spending time for long-term preparation of the drink.
Chart 1. Evaluation of the biological activity of the main components of the CO2 extract of the Schisandra vine
| NAME | CONTENT IN% OF THE AMOUNT OF VOLATILE COMPONENTS | EFFECT |
|---|---|---|
| Pinene alpha and beta | 10,11 | Improves memory, antibacterial, improves bronchial function, anti-inflammatory |
| Gomizin A | 6,45 | Improves the condition of blood vessels, reduces the content of triglycerides in the liver (weakens the pathology of the fatty disease), has a regenerative effect on tissues |
| Trans-nerolidol | 6,45 | Anti-cancer, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant |
| Schisandrol A | 5,28 | Strengthens, increases the excitability of the central nervous system, psychostimulant, increases blood pressure, improves heart function |
| T-cadiol | 4,52 | Relieves inflammation in gout and arthritis, increases blood pressure, improves cognitive abilities, normalizes hearing and vision and helps with the elimination of toxins |
| Ginserol (Gingerol) | 3,02 | Stabilizes the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, accelerates the metabolism |
| Sabinene | 2,78 | Included in perfumery compositions. No data on pharmaceutical activity are available |
| Beta Copaen | 2,53 | Contained in perfumery compositions. No data on pharmaceutical activity are available |
| 2-Udecanon | 2,42 | General tonic, antispasmodic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, hemostatic, antitoxic |
| Alpha-Ylangen | 1,42 | Anti-inflammatory, anti-sclerotic, adaptogenic, antispasmodic |
Schisandra CO2 extracts, both from grapevines and berries, are among the most promising for commercialization towards the manufacture of functional products. Which one should you choose? We recommend lemongrass vine or a mixture of lemongrass and berry extracts.
There are two reasons for this recommendation. Firstly, although schisandra vine extract contains less schisandrol A than berry extract, the composition of other active ingredients is richer. Therefore, the resulting effect of this extract is softer and at the same time wider, which is more suitable for popular products designed for a wide audience. On the other hand, the raw materials themselves for the production of this extract are more accessible and there are practically no interruptions in supply.
Chart 2. Application rates, recommendations for the use and storage of CO2 extract from the Schisandra vine
| Food usage rates | Item А100: 0.001% (10g per ton) Water-soluble microemulsions EMA1: 0.1% (1l per 1000l or 1ml per liter)tem А100: 0.005% (50g per ton) Water-soluble microemulsions EMA1: 0.5% (5l per 1000l or 5ml per liter) |
| Application rates in cosmetics | Item А10: 1-3% Item А100: 0.1-0.3% |
| Recommendations for use | It is recommended to add CO2 extracts in the final stages of preparation, in the cooling phase of the end product. |
| Storage Instructions | Storage advice |
The main basic commercial prospect of Schisandra extract (any of them) is that it is the mildest natural tonic of all existing – its effect on the subjective sensations is almost imperceptible, while the effect is very significant. Regular use of schisandra extract extends active wakefulness by several hours a day, relieves symptoms of fatigue and enables athletes to move more and more actively – the schisandrin contained in the extract helps to remove lactic acid from the muscles, the accumulation that is precisely what makes you feel tired responsible for.
The second important effect, which is in great demand by users and which manifests itself with regular use of lemongrass extract, is the improvement of twilight vision – especially important for drivers. In addition, like all other effects from the use of Schisandra extract, this effect is cumulative – even after you stop using the extract, vision, especially at dusk, remains sharper for a long time.
Finally, the third important fact is that lemongrass is an adaptogenic plant with the ability to activate the body’s defenses and increase its non-specific resistance to a variety of side effects – more than an essential addition to the properties of any lemongrass extract-based product.
Without exaggeration, it can be argued that lemongrass extract-based tonics are much more than just tonic. Not only do they tighten very gently, but they also improve eyesight, digestion, and many other systems and subsystems of the body. And in the end, with regular use, they no less strengthen immunity and increase the body’s resistance to the most diverse harmful effects.
Tonic products based on lemongrass extracts are also difficult to compare with the usual tonics, which are mainly produced on the basis of caffeine and taurine (synthetic) and whose occasional use is of little use and, with regular use, causes noticeable damage to the user’s body.
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Tonics and other functional products based on lemongrass have a number of advantages over conventional products. Currently, the market potential of such products is greatly underestimated, but this is not difficult to fix.
To help the developers, we have recipes for ready-made drinks available – lemongrass-based tonics, which have a balanced taste and the corresponding functional effect described above. Lemongrass Extract Concentrates are also available for personal use to add to beverages of your choice.