Seven lignans from Schisandra chinensis were investigated for their inhibitory activity on NFAT transcription. Both gomisin N (IC 50 : 1.33 +/- 0.05 microM) and schisandrol A (IC 50 : 1.34 +/- 0.05 microM) showed higher activity than gomisin E (IC 50 : 4.73 +/- 0.09 microM), schisandrin A (IC 50 : 7.23 +/- 0.21 microM), schisandrin C (IC 50 : 7.54 +/- 0.22 microM), benzoylisogomisin O (IC 50 : 11.06 +/- 1.02 microM) and schisandrol B (IC 50 : 16.37 +/- 1.00 microM).