Scientific name : Magnolia officinalis

Family : Magnoliaceae

Plant part used : Dried bark of roots or stems

Identification method : HPLC

Extraction solvents : 80 % v/v Grain alcohol.

Solubility : Partially soluble in hydro-alcoholic solutions.

Color : Brownish yellow fine powder.

Odor : Characteristic odor.

Storage : In cool and dry place, avoid light

Shelf life : 2 years if sealed and store away from diect sunlight.

General Description : They have evergreen or deciduous, alternate smooth-margined leaves. The flowers, usually cuplike and fragrant, are located at the branch tips and have three sepals, 6 to 12 petals arranged in two to four series, and many spirally arranged stamens. The numerous simple ovaries in the centre later form a conelike fruit. The seeds, usually reddish, often hang pendulously by slender threads.

Traditional uses: Magnolia bark (Magnolia officinalis) is a traditional Chinese medicine (where it is known in TCM as houpu or hou po) used since 100 A.D. for treating "stagnation of qi" (low energy) as well as a variety of syndromes, such as digestive disturbances caused by emotional distress and emotional turmoil.

Phytochemistry: Magnolia bark is rich in two biphenol compounds, (magnolol and honokiol), which are thought to contribute to the primary anti-stress and cortisol-lowering effects of the plant. The magnolol content of magnolia bark is generally in the range of 2-10 percent, while honokiol tends to occur naturally at 1-5 percent in dried magnolia bark. Magnolia bark also contains a bit less than 1 percent of an essential oil known as eudesmol, which is classified as a triterpene compound, and may provide some additional benefits as an antioxidant. Magnolia bark also contains a small amount of alkaloids, mainly magnoflorine, magnocurarine, and salicifoline, but these are not considered important to the clinical actions.

Pharmacology: The biphenols and eudesmol (a triterpene) are the main active constituents that confer the desired pharmacological effects. These ingredients are reported to have anxiolytic effects, to enhance steroid production by the adrenal cortex, inhibit fungi and bacteria, have antioxidant actions, reduce inflammation and pain; they may protect against seizures and act as an antidote for intoxication by organophosphorus pesticides.

Resisting bacteria and ulcer sedate the central nerves and smooth the muscles. Magnolol resists gram-positive bacterium, acid-fast bacillus and hyphomycetes significantly and inhibits perversive streptococci.

The magnolol and honokiol components of Magnolia officinalis are one thousand times more potent than alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) in their antioxidant activity, thereby offering a potential heart-health benefit.

Marker constituent: Magnolol and Honokiol.

Main Actions (in order): Anti-Germ , calms nervous centralis ,muscle flabbiness, anti- ulcerative.

Main Uses:

1. Antioxidant and anti-stress
2. Weight loss
3. Strong in reducing anxiety
4. Alzheimers Disease
5. Asthma
6. Gastric andabdominal distension of various causes

Specification: