The efficacy and function of Magnolia officinalis

Magnolia officinalis is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. There are precedents of using Magnolia officinalis to treat diseases in ancient times, so we can eat it with confidence. Next, I will mainly introduce to you the effects of Magnolia officinalis.

【Other name】 Magnolia officinalis

[Source] Medicinal material source: The bark of Sichuan Magnolia, a plant of the Magnoliaceae family.

[Original form] Evergreen tree, up to 15m in height. The twigs are stout, initially covered with long light yellow hairs, but later become almost hairless, with hairs remaining only on the nodes. Simple leaves are alternate; petiole is 1.5-2.5cm long, covered with white long hairs; stipule scar is about 9mm long; leaves are leathery; leaf blade is oblanceolate or obovate, 14-20cm long, 3.5-5cm wide, apex is gradually pointed or short-tailed, narrowing to the base below one-third to become cuneate, dark green and glabrous above, light green below, covered with light brown short stiff hairs, covered with light yellow long hairs along the midrib, 13-16 pairs of lateral veins, sparse reticulate veins, raised on both sides after drying. The flowers are solitary, with thick pedicels, 1.2-1.5cm long. There are 9 perianths, arranged in three whorls. The outer whorl is obovate, 4-5.5cm long, about 3cm wide, light green with purple, and covered with sparse long soft hairs. The inner two whorls are nearly the same size as the outer whorl and are both thick and fleshy. The stamens are 1.2-2cm long, and the tip of the connective extends out into a triangular short tip. The pistil group is ovate-elliptical, 2-2.5cm long, and the base carpel is narrowly elliptical, 8-10mm long, and covered with light yellow pubescence. Aggregate fruit dense, ovate, follicles woody, persistent. The flowering period is May-June, and the fruiting period is August-September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in forests at an altitude of 1300-2000m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The bark is rolled, 3-5mm thick. The outer surface is gray-brown or gray-yellow, the cork does not fall off, the inner surface is yellow-brown to purple-brown, and has obvious vertical texture. It is hard and brittle, easy to break, the outer side of the broken surface is granular and thick, and the inner side is fibrous. The smell is weak and the taste is slightly bitter. Microscopic identification of cross-section of bark: more than 10 rows of cork cells, the inner layer of the cork is composed of stone cells forming discontinuous rings. The cortex is relatively thick, with scattered groups of stone cells, and some have stone cell rings on the inner side of the cortex; accompanied by fibers; oil cells are scattered. The phloem is broad, with more stone cell groups on the outside; there are numerous fiber bundles, which are arranged in layers alternately with the phloem parenchyma and sieve tube groups; oil cells are scattered, mostly in the rays.

[Chemical composition] The peel contains magnolol, honokiol, magnocurarine and salicifoline.

[Pharmacological action] The total phenol content of this product is much lower than that of Magnolia officinalis, but the content of magnocurarine is 7 to 8 times higher than that of Magnolia officinalis. According to existing reports, magnocurarine has antihypertensive, muscle relaxant and ganglion blocking effects.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; pungent; warm

【Functions and indications】Regulates Qi and harmonizes the stomach; warms the middle and stops vomiting. Mainly used for abdominal distension and pain; indigestion; vomiting

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-12g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is an introduction to the Chinese medicinal material Magnolia officinalis. For medicinal herbs that we don't understand, we should learn more about them so that we can make full use of them in our lives and not be at a loss.