Some sources document case reports of progressive interstitial renal fibrosis in patients consuming an herbal blend containing M. officinalis .
Numerous documented medicinal properties are associated with 2 major phenolic constituents, magnolol and honokiol, from the stem bark of M. officinalis Rehd. Et Wils. Concentration variations of magnolol and honokiol exist in bark sourced from different provinces in China, as recorded in The Pharmacopoeia of the Peoples Republic of China . The plant is primarily indigenous to China and found at elevations of 200 to 3,000 meters.
History
MBE has been used for over 1,000 years as a folk medicine in Asia. In traditional Asian medicine, MBE has been prescribed for treating acute pain, headaches, diarrhea, allergies, asthma, and gynecological disorders. It has also been used to treat fever, anxiety, nervous disorders, depression, muscular pain, abdominal fullness, constipation, and thrombotic stroke. In Chinese and Japanese folk medicine, MBE has been used to treat bronchitis and emphysema.
Chemistry
Magnolol and honokiol are the 2 primary active phenolic constituents of MBE.
Uses and Pharmacology
Most literature sources are from Japanese and Chinese foreign-language publications, and clinical studies on the efficacy of magnolia bark extract are limited. Documentation on the materials and extracts for several studies is also limited. In vitro and animal studies document potential efficacy as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agent, as well as for use with Alzheimer disease, depression, diabetes, and menopause.