Magnolia officinalis
| Magnolia officinalis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Magnolia officinalis[1] | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Magnoliaceae |
| Genus: | Magnolia |
| Subgenus: | Magnolia subg. Magnolia |
| Section: | Magnolia sect. Rhytidospermum |
| Subsection: | Magnolia subsect. Rhytidospermum |
| Species: | M. officinalis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Magnolia officinalis Rehder & Wilson
| |
Magnolia officinalis (commonly called houpu magnolia or magnolia bark) is a species of Magnolia native to the mountains and valleys of China at altitudes of 300–1500 m. It is a deciduous tree up to 20 m tall with broad, fragrant white flowers and two varieties distinguished by leaf shape, differing slightly from Magnolia obovata primarily in fruit base shape.
Its aromatic bark, traditionally used in Chinese medicine as “hou po,” is now primarily sourced from cultivated plants. Magnolol and honokiol, phenolic compounds from Magnolia officinalis, may improve fatty liver and obesity by activating Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma to boost fat metabolism and energy use, and also enhance GABA_A receptor activity with potential anxiolytic and sedative effects but possible side effects.
Identification
[edit]It is a deciduous tree growing to 20 m in height. The bark is thick and brown, but does not fissure. The leaves are broad, ovate, 20–40 cm long, and 11–20 cm broad. The flowers are fragrant and 10–15 cm wide, with 9–12 (rarely to 17) white tepals, and appear from May to June.
The two varieties are:
- Magnolia officinalis var. officinalis has leaves with an acute apex.
- Magnolia officinalis var. biloba has leaves with a notch at the apex. This variety does not appear in the wild, and is only known in cultivation. It is possibly not a true variety at all, but actually a cultigen instead, though this has yet to be determined.
M. officinalis differs very little from Magnolia obovata; the only difference consistently observed between the two is that the fruit aggregate of M. officinalis has a rounded base, while that of M. obovata has an acute base. Further research may or may not eventually determine if M. officinalis should be treated as a subspecies of M. obovata.[3]
Uses
[edit]The highly aromatic bark is stripped from the stems, branches, and roots and used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is known as hou po (厚朴; thus the common name). The traditional use indications are to eliminate damp and phlegm, and relieve distension.[4]
Today, the bulk of bark used for commercial and domestic use is supplied by plants in cultivation.
Pharmaceutical potential
[edit]Phenolic extracts from Magnolia officinalis, specifically magnolol and honokiol, alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obesity in high-fat diet mice by dual activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and gamma (PPARγ) pathways, promoting fatty acid oxidation, adipose tissue browning, and increased energy expenditure.[5]
Magnolol and honokiol, active compounds from Magnolia bark used in traditional medicine, positively modulate various GABA_A receptor subtypes—especially δ-containing ones—enhancing GABAergic neurotransmission and suggesting their potential as anxiolytic, sedative, and anticonvulsant supplements, though with notable risks of side effects and drug interactions.[6]
Gallery
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Bud
References
[edit]- ^ Cirrus Digital: Houpu Magnolia – Magnolia officinalis
- ^ Rivers, M.C. (2015). "Magnolia officinalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T34963A2857694. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T34963A2857694.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Hunt, D. (ed). (1998). Magnolias and their allies. International Dendrology Society and Magnolia Society. ISBN 0-9517234-8-0
- ^ Wang L, Waltenberger B, Pferschy-Wenzig EM, et al. (November 2014). "Natural product agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ): a review". Biochemical Pharmacology. 92 (1): 73–89. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2014.07.018. PMC 4212005. PMID 25083916.
- ^ Chu Y, Gui S, Zheng Y, Zhao J, Zhao Y, Li Y, Chen X. The natural compounds, Magnolol or Honokiol, promote adipose tissue browning and resist obesity through modulating PPARα/γ activity. Eur J Pharmacol. 2024 Apr 15;969:176438. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176438. Epub 2024 Feb 24. PMID: 38402928.
- ^ Alexeev, M; Grosenbaugh, DK; Mott, DD; Fisher, JL (2012). "The natural products magnolol and honokiol are positive allosteric modulators of both synaptic and extra-synaptic GABA_A receptors". Neuropharmacology. 62 (8): 2507–2514. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.02.027. PMC 3652012. PMID 22480732.