Taxonomic class

Magnoliaceae

Common Trade Names

None known.

Common Forms

Available as liquid extract and powder.

Source

Indigenous to North America, magnolia’s medicinal parts are derived from the bark of the stem and root. The main active components are obtained from the bark of several magnolia species; the flower bud is also used in Chinese medicine. Drying and age cause its volatile, aromatic properties to be lost.

Chemical components

The active components found in the bark are alkaloids (for example, magnocurarine and tubocurarine) and essential oils (for example, magnolol, tetrahydromagnolol, isomagnolol, machiolol, and honokiol).

Actions

Components of magnolia bark have been studied in vitro and in animals for antimicrobial activity in the treatment of periodontal disease , for antifungal activity and as antitumorigenic promoters . The lignans isolated from the flower buds have been studied for their inhibitory effects on tumor necrosis factor-alpha production . Few, if any, data exist from human clinical trials. Magnolol, the active principle of the herb, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to reduce prostaglandin E 2 and leukotriene-B 4 levels in the pleural fluid of mice and to suppress thromboxane-B 2 formation .

Decoctions made from magnolia have been cited to cause uterine contractions.

Reported Uses

Magnolia has been claimed to be useful as an antasthmatic, an anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxant, and a stimulant. Its use has also been suggested for appetite stimulation, digestive disorders, dysentery, flatulence, nausea, and shortness of breath.

Dosage

No standard dosing is available.

Adverse Reactions

Other: allergic reaction.

Interactions

None reported.

Contraindications and precautions

Magnolia is contraindicated in pregnancy because of empiric uterinestimulating activity (flower buds).

Special considerations

Although primary allergy to magnolia is seldom reported, caution the hypersensitive patient to be wary of allergic reactions to magnolia. One patient, described as having allergies to several sesquiterpene lactone­containing plants, experienced a severe case of chronic lichenfied dermatitis to Magnolia grandiflora .

Advise the patient to consult a health care provider before using herbal preparations because a treatment that has been clinically researched and proved effective may be available.

Advise the pregnant patient not to ingest magnolia.

Points of Interest

A report in an FDA bulletin suggests that a M. stephania preparation may lead to acute renal failure and, possibly, permanent renal dysfunction .

The genus Magnolia is named after Pierre Magnol, a professor of medicine and botany at Montpellier in the early 18th century.

Commentary

Although magnolia is popular in Chinese medicine, scientific information from human trials to support its pharmacologic actions does not exist. Evidence to support claims is lacking. More research is needed before definitive recommendations can be made.