1) Schisandrin B, a component of Glissandrin, enhances the skin's natural antioxidant defenses and protects against UV damage by increasing glutathione, vitamin E, and antioxidant enzymes. 2) Studies show Schisandrin B suppresses protein-degrading enzymes and MMP-1 expression that are increased by UV exposure and cause photoaging. 3) Glissandrin, of which Schisandrin B is a key component, has been shown in over 100 studies to reverse mitochondrial aging and enhance the skin's ability to fight UV damage.

1.
Schisandrin B: Ushering in a New Era in
UV Protective Skincare
August 2011
Introduction
Schisandrin Bi, a key component of GlissandrinTM, can protect against solar irradiation-induced
oxidative injury in skin tissue and skin cells, according to recent research findings from the
laboratory of Dr. Robert Koii at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technologyiii.
As the largest organ in the human body, the skin serves as an effective barrier for protecting
against various external threats. This includes exposure to harmful solar irradiation – particularly
UV and infrared rays – which research has shown to be a major cause of skin aging. Solar
irradiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is responsible for photo-aging, the
signs of which include wrinkles, coarse skin texture, and reduced skin resilience. Although
human skin tissue possesses non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant defense systems to cope
with the increased oxidative stress caused by solar light radiation, long-term exposure or over-
exposure to solar light can overwhelm the antioxidant system.
But what if there was a way to enhance the skin’s natural antioxidant
defenses to prevent photo-aging entirely? Schisandrin B (Sch B) is able
to do just that, ushering in a new era in UV protective skincare.
Schisandrin B is derived from the Schisandra fruit, an herb commonly
used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This naturally occurring
herbal ingredient has been found to produce tissue non-specific protection
against oxidative injury by enhancing cellular and mitochondrial
glutathione antioxidant status in the heart, liver, kidney, and brain.
Figure 1: Schisandra
berry

2.
Recent studies led by Dr. Robert Ko at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
have shown the promise of Schisandrin B:
• Schisandrin B stimulated both reduced-glutathione and vitamin E levels. These two non-
enzymatic antioxidants can remove excess ROS during oxidative stress in a synergistic
manner.
• Schisandrin B elevated various enzymes involved in the enzymatic antioxidant defense
system, demonstrating that non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant components work
together to protect against solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury in skin tissue.
Figure 2: Effects of Sch B pretreatment on solar irradiation­induced cell
injury in BJ human fibroblasts
• Schisandrin B suppressed the solar irradiation-induced increases in elastases-type protease
activity and matrix-metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-1) expression in skin cells. The
degradation of the extracellular matrix (EM) in skin tissue as a result of solar irradiation is
of prime concern in skincare. This is one of the major biological events that leads to
photo-aging and is mediated by protein-degrading enzymes like elastases-type protease
and MMP-1.

3.
Figure 3: Effects of Sch B pretreatment on cellular elastases­type protease
activity in solar­irradiated BJ human fibroblasts
Figure 4: Effects of Sch B pretreatment on cellular MMP­1 level in
solar­irradiated BJ human fibroblasts

4.
Schisandrin B is a key component of Glissandrin™,
a potent anti-aging skincare ingredient that has been
the subject of over 100 research papers. In-vivo and
in-vitro studies have proven the ability of Glissandrin
to reverse mitochondrial decayiv, the leading cause of
aging, and to simultaneously enhance the cell’s
natural ability to fight oxidative damagev vi vii.
Other studies have shown the ability of Schisandrin Figure 5: Mitochondria
B to suppress collagenase, an enzyme responsible for
the depletion of collagen in skin cellsviii ix. Research has also been conducted on the compound’s
anti-cancer properties, particularly in the skinx.
Conclusion
Given that both spectra of solar light – UV and infrared radiation – are major causes of skin
aging, Schisandrin B’s ability to enhance the skin’s antioxidant defenses against harmful solar
irradiation, thereby offering the prospect of preventing skin photo-aging, is instigating a new era
in skincare.
For more information
More information on Schisandrin B, mitochondrial decay, and theories of aging can be found at
these independent websites:
• National Institutes of Health (http://www.nih.gov/)
• PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/)
• Natural Standard (http://www.naturalstandard.com/)
This article was contributed by Glissandra Skincare.

5.
About Glissandra™
Glissandra Skincare Inc. is committed to providing effective anti-aging skincare through its
holistic approach to skin health. Glissandra products are available through its dedicated team of
independent distributors, using network marketing (also known as multi-level marketing,
MLM, or direct sales). Glissandra’s compensation plan offers one of the most generous payouts
in the industry.
Glissandra’s comprehensive skincare system is the result of almost 20 years of research and
development at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, led by Professor Robert
Ko. Over 100 research papers have been published on Glissandra’s key proprietary ingredient,
Glissandrin™, a suite of natural compounds extracted from the Schisandra berry. In-vivo and in-
vitro studies have proven the ability of Glissandrin to address mitochondrial decay, the leading
cause of aging, and to enhance the cell’s natural ability to fight oxidative damage.
Contact us
http://glissandra.com/
info@glissandra.com
1-877-313-7242
References
i
Schisandrin B is a key component of Glissandrin™, the proprietary ingredient in Glissandra™
products.
ii
Dr. Robert Ko holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He
is currently a Professor in the Division of Life Science at the Hong Kong University of Science
and Technology, and Chief Technology Officer of Glissandra Skincare Inc.
iii
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is ranked 41st among research
universities worldwide by Times Higher Education 2010 (London, UK).
iv
Lam PY, Leong PK, Chen N, Ko KM: Schisandrin B enhances the glutathione redox cycling
and protects against oxidant injury in different types of cultured cells. Biofactors (in press).

6.
v
Chiu, P.Y., and Ko, K.M. (2006). Schisandrin B-induced increase in cellular glutathione level
and protection against oxidant injury are mediated by the enhancement of glutathione synthesis
and regeneration in AML12 and H9c2 cells. Biofactors 26: 221-230.
vi
Chiu, P.Y., Leung, H.Y., and Ko, K.M. (2008). Schisandrin B enhances renal mitochondrial
antioxidant status, functional and structural integrity, and protects against gentamicin-induced
nephrotoxicity in rats. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 31: 602-605.
vii
Chen, N., Chiu, P.Y., and Ko, K.M. (2008). Schisandrin B enhances cerebral mitochondrial
antioxidant status and structural integrity, and protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion
injury in rats. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 31: 1387-1391.
viii
Lam PY, Yan CW, Chiu PY, Leung HY, Ko KM. Schisandrin B protects against solar
irradiation-induced oxidative stress in rat skin tissue. Fitoterapia 2011; 82: 393-400.
ix
Chiu PY, PY Lam, Yan CW, Ko KM. Schisandrin B protects against solar irradiation-induced
oxidative injury in BJ human fibroblasts. Fitoterapia 2011; 82: 682-691.
x Nisida
H, Tatewaki N, Magara T, Nakajima Y, Ko KM, Hamamori Y, Konishi T: Inhibition of
ATR kinase activity by schisandrin B in DNA damage response. Nucleic Acid Res. 2009; 37:
5678-5689.