Potential use of Magnolia officinalis bark polyphenols in the treatment of cannabis dependence

Pharmacology, Toxicity, Bioavailability, and Formulation of Magnolol: An Update

Magnolol (MG) is one of the primary active components of Magnoliae officinalis cortex, which has been widely used in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine and possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities. In recent years, attention has been drawn to this component due to its potential as an anti-inflammatory and antitumor drug. To summarize the new biological and pharmacological data on MG, we screened the literature from January 2011 to October 2020. In this review, we provide an actualization of already known anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection, antiangiogenesis, antidiabetes, hypoglycemic, antioxidation, neuroprotection, gastrointestinal protection, and antibacterial activities of MG. Besides, results from studies on antitumor activity are presented. We also summarized the molecular mechanisms, toxicity, bioavailability, and formulations of MG. Therefore, we provide a valid cognition of MG.

Magnolol: A Neolignan from the Magnolia Family for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

The past few decades have witnessed widespread research to challenge carcinogenesis; however, it remains one of the most important health concerns with the worst prognosis and diagnosis. Increasing lines of evidence clearly show that the rate of cancer incidence will increase in future and will create global havoc, designating it as an epidemic. Conventional chemotherapeutics and treatment with synthetic disciplines are often associated with adverse side effects and development of chemoresistance. Thus, discovering novel economic and patient friendly drugs that are safe and efficacious is warranted. Several natural compounds have proved their potential against this dreadful disease so far. Magnolol is a hydroxylated biphenyl isolated from the root and stem bark of Magnolia tree. Magnolol can efficiently prevent or inhibit the growth of various cancers originating from different organs such as brain, breast, cervical, colon, liver, lung, prostate, skin, etc. Considering these perspectives, the current review primarily focuses on the fascinating role of magnolol against various types of cancers, and the source and chemistry of magnolol and the molecular mechanism underlying the targets of magnolol are discussed. This review proposes magnolol as a suitable candidate that can be appropriately designed and established into a potent anti-cancer drug.

Is there a potential of misuse for Magnolia officinalis compounds/metabolites?

OBJECTIVE

Magnolia bark contains magnolol, metabolized to tetrahydromagnolol and honokiol, with both GABA-ergic/cannabimimetic activities, hence of possible attraction to vulnerable individuals/recreational misusers.

METHODS

A literature review, assessment of related anecdotal online Magnolia misuse's reports and an overview of Magnolia products' online acquisition possibilities has been here described.

RESULTS

No peer-reviewed papers about Magnolia abuse/misuse/dependence/addiction were identified. Conversely, from a range of websites emerged potentially 3 groups of Magnolia misusers: (a) subjects with a psychiatric history already treated with benzodiazepines, being attracted to Magnolia bark as a "natural sedative"; (b) polydrug misusers, ingesting Magnolia with a range of other herbs/plants, attracted by the GABA-ergic/cannabimimetic activities; (c) subjects naive to the misusing drugs' scenario, perceiving Magnolia as a natural dietary supplement/weight-control compound.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper commenting on the possible Magnolia derivatives' potential of misuse. Magnolia's recent increase in popularity, mainly as a sedative, may be arguably due to its peculiar pharmacological properties/acceptable affordability levels/virtually worldwide favorable legal status and customers' attraction to a product being perceived as "natural" and hence somehow "safe." Future/potent/synthetic magnolol and honokiol structural analogues could however contribute to increasing the number of synthetic GABA-ergic/cannabimimetic misusing compounds.