Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Chinese Herbs

Saturday 9 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Ho Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis)

Hou Po is also known as Magnolia bark. The bitter, acrid, warm and aromatic herb has been used in TCMn as anti-platelets coagulation, anti-cancer, sedative agent, etc. agent and to treat atherosclerosis, relax muscles, promote the function of diggestive system, etc. as it moves Qi, dries Dampnesse, eliminates accumulation from the Middle Burner, etc., by enhancing the functions of large intestine, lung, spleen and stomach channels
Ingredients
1. Piperitylmagnolol
2. Pipertylhonokiol
3. Dipiperitylmagnolol
4. Bornylmagnolol
5. Eudesmol
6. Alpha-pinene
7. Beta-pinene
8. P-cymene
9. Magnolol
10. Tetrahydromagnolol
11. Isomagnolol
12. Honokiol
13. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Anti-arthritic effects
In the investigation of the anti-arthritic effects of magnolol (5,5′-Diallyl-biphenyl-2,2′-diol), the major bioactive component of the bark of Magnolia officinalis, and testing it on interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated FLS by measuring levels of IL-6, cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E(2), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by ELISA and RT-PCR, found that Magnolol markedly inhibited IL-1β (10 ng/mL)-induced cytokine expression in a concentration-dependent manner (2.5-25 µg/mL). In clarifying the mechanisms involved, magnolol was found to inhibit the IL-1β-induced activation of the IKK/IκB/NF-κB and MAPKs pathways by suppressing the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of both transcription factors. In the animal model, magnolol (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited paw swelling and reduced serum cytokine levels, according to “Anti-arthritic effects of magnolol in human interleukin 1β-stimulated fibroblast-like synoviocytes and in a rat arthritis model” by Wang JH, Shih KS, Liou JP, Wu YW, Chang AS, Wang KL, Tsai CL, Yang CR.(1)
2. Anti skin cancer
In the investigation of studying the effects of honokiol on human epidermoid squamous carcinoma A431 cells and the mechanisms involved in preventing skin cancer, showed that Honokiol down-regulated the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin D2, Cdk2, Cdk4 and Cdk6 proteins and up-regulated the expression of Cdk’s inhibitor proteins p21 and p27. Pretreatment of A431 cells with honokiol leads to induction of apoptosis and DNA fragmentation, according to “Honokiol, a chemopreventive agent against skin cancer, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human epidermoid A431 cells” by Chilampalli C, Guillermo R, Kaushik RS, Young A, Chandrasekher G, Fahmy H, Dwivedi C.(2)
3. Oral health
In the investigation of the effect of magnolia bark extract (MBE) on different variables related to caries and gingivitis administered daily through a sugar-free chewing gum, indicated that thirty-day use of a chewing gum containing MBE showed beneficial effects on oral health, including reduction of salivary MS, plaque acidogenicity and bleeding on probing, according to “Effect of a sugar-free chewing gum containing magnolia bark extract on different variables related to caries and gingivitis: a randomized controlled intervention trial” by Campus G, Cagetti MG, Cocco F, Sale S, Sacco G, Strohmenger L, Lingström P.(3)
4. Osteoporosis
In the evaluation of the effect of Honokiol, a phenolic compound isolated from the bark of Magnolia officinalis on antimycin A-induced dysfunction in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells,
found that Honokiol significantly (P < 0.05) increased cell viability and calcium deposition and decreased the production of ROS in the presence of antimycin A. Moreover, pretreatment with honokiol prior to antimycin A exposure significantly reduced antimycin A-induced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) dissipation, complex IV inactivation, nitrotyrosine formation, and thioredoxin reductase inactivation. Honokiol also induced the activation of PI3K and CREB inhibited by antimycin A, which demonstrates that honokiol utilizes the PI3K and CREB pathway to augment metabolic activity inhibited by antimycin A, according to “Honokiol protects osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells against antimycin A-induced cytotoxicity” by Choi EM.(4)
5. Anti inflammatory effects
In the investigation of how Honokiol (HNK), a phenolic compound isolated from the bark of houpu (Magnolia officinalis), affects lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human monocyte-derived DCs, showed that the anti-inflammatory actions of HNK on LPS-induced DCs are associated with the NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, according to ‘Honokiol inhibits LPS-induced maturation and inflammatory response of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells” by Li CY, Chao LK, Wang SC, Chang HZ, Tsai ML, Fang SH, Liao PC, Ho CL, Chen ST, Cheng WC, Chiang CS, Kuo YH, Hua KF, Hsu IC.(5)
6. Antimicrobial effect
In the investigation of the antimicrobial effect of Magnolia officinalis extract (MOE) against Staphylococcus aureus, showed that the antimicrobial mechanisms of MOE resulted mainly in cell membrane and wall damage, causing increased permeability of cell membranes or lysis of cell walls and loss of cellular constituents, impairment of structural components and changes in bacterial cell morphology, according to ‘Antimicrobial effect of Magnolia officinalis extract against Staphylococcus aureus” by Hu Y, Qiao J, Zhang X, Ge C.(6)
7. Etc.
Side effects
1. Overdoses or prolonged period of using the herb can cause kidney damage
2. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without consulting first with the related field specialist
3. Etc.