Magnolia officinalis
Magnolia officinalis, commonly known as Magnolia bark, is a revered medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine. Renowned for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, its bark contains bioactive compounds like magnolol. It is widely utilized to support digestive health, reduce anxiety, and bolster the body's immune response naturally.
- Scientific name: Magnolia officinalis
- Family: Magnoliaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Magnoliales, falling into the family Magnoliaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Magnolia, specifically the species Magnolia officinalis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Magnoliales | WCVP |
| Family | Magnoliaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Magnolia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Magnolia officinalis, is recognized by various common names across different languages and cultures. In Azerbaijani, it is referred to as Dərman maqnoliyası, while in Hungarian, it is called hasznos liliomfa. It is known as مگنولیا آفیسینالیس in Persian and Магнолия лекарственная in Russian. Finally, in Chinese, the plant is commonly called 凹叶厚朴.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| az | Dərman maqnoliyası | Wikidata |
| hu | hasznos liliomfa | Wikidata |
| fa | مگنولیا آفیسینالیس | Wikidata |
| ru | Магнолия лекарственная | Wikidata |
| zh | 凹叶厚朴 | Wikidata |
| bg | лечебна магнолия | Wikidata |
| ar | مغنولية طبية | Wikidata |
| ja | シナホオノキ | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 凹叶厚朴 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 凹葉厚朴 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad natural range across various regions of the Chinese landscape. It is widely documented to grow throughout China South-Central, thriving in many of its diverse climates. The species also maintains a presence in China North-Central, extending its reach into the heart of the country. Furthermore, its distribution includes the lush environments of China Southeast. Finally, the plant can be found inhabiting the unique high-altitude terrains of Tibet.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Magnolia officinalis, is highly valued in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties derived from specific anatomical components. The primary medicinal substance is the Magnolia bark, which is specifically harvested as the cortex of the tree. This botanical material is obtained by stripping the stem bark from the mature branches and trunk to extract the potent compounds necessary for treatment. Additionally, while the bark is the most common part used, the leaf can also be utilized in various applications, though the concentrated essence of the plant's healing power is most famously found within its protective outer layers.- Total parts
- 20
- Scientific sources
- 29
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bark | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Magnolia bark | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cortex | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cortex | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| whole plant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trunk | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem xylem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seedling cortexes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Magnolia officinalis has 44 reported phytochemicals identified across 93 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include magnolol, honokiol, Magnolol, lignans, Honokiol.
- Total chemicals
- 44
- Scientific sources
- 93
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| magnolol | 22 | ★★★★★ |
| honokiol | 21 | ★★★★★ |
| Magnolol | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| lignans | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Honokiol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| magnatriol B | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4'-methoxymagnaldehyde B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4'-methoxymagnaldehyde E | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Magnolia officinalis has 7 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiangiogenic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anxiolytic.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiangiogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anxiolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cardioprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Magnolia officinalis has 35 reported medicinal uses identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anxiety, asthma, Depression, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease.
- Total uses
- 35
- Scientific sources
- 44
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anxiety | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| asthma | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Depression | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epilepsy | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anger | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Confusion | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fatigue | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Helicobacter pylori | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MRSA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |