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Magnolia officinalis

Magnolia officinalis is a traditional chinese medicine known for its neuroprotective and relaxing properties, being used to treat depression and anxiety as well as acting as a slight sedative. It may also possess anti-cancer effects in higher doses.

Our evidence-based analysis on magnolia officinalis features 100 unique references to scientific papers.

Kamal Patel
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Summary of Magnolia officinalis

Primary information, health benefits, side effects, usage, and other important details

Magnolia Officinalis is a plant from the Magnolia species of plants which share a set of similar compounds. Two of them, known as Honokiol and Magnolol, are seen as the active ingredients.

Magnolia plants tend to be significantly cancer protective, and show protective effects on the liver and the brain via fighting inflammation and oxidation. They have also been linked to anti-depressant and anxiety reducing effects.

One of the compounds, Honokiol, is currently in trials for usage as an adjunct treatment for cancer therapy.

Benefits can be found with drinking Magnolia teas, known as Saiboku-to, although the tea should be consumed with meals due to the fat-solubility of the active ingredients.

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How to Take

Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details

The dosage of magnolia officinalis to take varies on goal. For those related to GABA (including anxiety, sedation, stress, and epilepsy) an oral dose of 0.2mg/kg in mice appears effective and suggests very lose doses (5-10 mg) are effective in humans.

For those goals related to learning or depression, higher doses may be required. This usually means 15-30mg/kg in rats, and suggests a human dose of:

  • 160-330 mg for a 150lb person

  • 220-440 mg for a 200lb person

  • 270-550 mg for a 250lb person

The above doses refer to the total neolignans (usually magnolol plus honokiol), which are usually at 1-10% of a basic bark extract unless otherwise concentrated.

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Human Effect Matrix

Unlocked for Examine members

The Human Effect Matrix summarizes human studies to tell you what effects Magnolia officinalis has on your body, how much evidence there is, and how strong these effects are.

Full details are available to Examine members.
Grade Level of Evidence
Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials
Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled
Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies
Uncontrolled or observational studies only
Level of Evidence
? The amount of high quality evidence. The more evidence, the more we can trust the results.
Outcome Magnitude of effect
? The direction and size of the supplement's impact on each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
Consistency of research results
? Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
Notes
grade-c
Dental Health
Notable - See study
An improvement in dental health is noted with gum containing magnolia bark, which outperforms that of Xylitol in regards to reducing acid, plaque, and gum bleeding

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Things to Note

Is a Form Of

Primary Function:

Also Known As

Saiboku-to, Magnolia Bark Extract, Honokiol, Magnolol

Do Not Confuse With

Moringa oleifera

Goes Well With

  • Ginger (ginger enhances the antidepressive effects of magnolia officinalis)

  • Pinellia ternata (synergistically antidepressive)

  • Enemas of magnolia officinalis bark appear to result in higher circulating levels of bioactives than oral ingestion[1]

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Research Breakdown on Magnolia officinalis

1Sources and Composition

1.1Sources

1.2Composition

1.3Structure and Properties

2Pharmacology

2.1Serum

2.2Metabolism

2.3Excretion

2.4Neural

3Neurology

3.1Cholinergic Neurotransmission

3.2GABAergic Neurotransmission

3.3Glutaminergic Neurotransmission

3.4Dopaminergic Neurotransmission

3.5Adenosinergic Neurotransmission

3.6Serotonergic Neurotransmission

3.7Sedation

3.8Anxiety

3.9Stress

3.10Depression

3.11Menopausal Symptoms

4Interactions with Glucose Metabolism

4.1Mechanisms

4.2Diabetic Nephropathy

5Obesity and Fat Mass

5.1Mechanisms

5.2Weight Gain

6Skeleton and Bone Mass

6.1Dental Health

7Inflammation and Immunology

7.1Macrophages

8Interactions with Cancer Metabolism

8.1Mechanisms

8.2Tumorogenesis

9Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions

9.1Ginger

9.2Pinelliae Rhizome
Click here to see all 100 references.

This page is regularly updated, to include the most recently available clinical trial evidence.

Each member of our research team is required to have no conflicts of interest, including with supplement manufacturers, food companies, and industry funders. The team includes nutrition researchers, registered dietitians, physicians, and pharmacists. We have a strict editorial process.

This page features 100 references. All factual claims are followed by specifically-applicable references. Click here to see the full set of research information and references for Magnolia officinalis.

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