Latin Name: Magnolia officinalis Rehder et Wilson.
Extract Method: Extracted from the bark of Magnolia officinalis by supercritical CO2 extraction.
Active Ingredient: Honokiol .
Appearance: White to yellow brown powder or cream.
Specification: Honokiol 2%-98% (HPLC).
Molecular Structure: C18H18O2
Anti-dental caries and anti-periodontal disease.
Anti-anxiety, improves sleep and relieves insomnia.
Anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-cancer.
Weight loss.
Protects skin against chronic inflammation.
Neutralizes internal aging factors.
Reduces skin redness.
Of particular interest are the herb's anxiolytic effects.
In mouse studies, Hou Po was found to have strong anxiolytic effects due to its honokiol content.
In human clinical trials, an anxiolytic effect was observed with Hou Po in a kampo medicine formula, an effect not achieved when honokiol was removed from the formula.
In other studies, honokiol was compared with diazepam (valium), a well known pharmaceutical anxiolytic.
Honokiol was found to be five times stronger than diazepam in reducing anxiety without the side effects of diazepam.
While diazepam does reduce anxiety, it also induces muscle relaxation, an effect not shared by honokiol.
Mice treated with diazepam, but not those treated with honokiol exhibited withdrawal symptoms characterized by hyperactivity after a 12 day treatment period.
In another study, the prolongation by diazepam of hexobarbital-incduced sleep was not modified by honokiol.
These results suggest that honokiol is less likely than diazepam to induce physical dependence, central nervous system depression, motor nerve disruption, or amnesia at doses eliciting the anxiolytic effect.
Because honokiol reduces anxiety without disruption of motor activity, it is postulated that the mechanism of the anxiolytic effect of honokiol is at least partially different from that of diazepam.