| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Management Pilot RCT (n=28 women, 6 weeks): Placebo group gained significant weight (+1.5 kg, p<0.01), while magnolia+phellodendron group showed no weight change. Marginally significant reduction in evening cortisol (p=0.06) in treatment group. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect |
Supplement
Magnolia bark comes from the Magnolia officinalis tree, and its compounds honokiol and magnolol appear to calm brain signaling through GABA receptors. People look at it for stress, and in a four-week trial, a magnolia and phellodendron blend lowered cortisol and improved mood scores versus placebo, so the evidence is moderate. That trial was small and used a combination product, and the anxiety and sleep findings rest mostly on animal and lab work.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 10 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 5
- Outcomes
- 6
- Graded outcomes
- 0330
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortisol Reduction RCT (n=56, 4 weeks): Relora (magnolia+phellodendron 250mg 3x/day) reduced salivary cortisol exposure by 18% (p<0.05) vs placebo in moderately stressed subjects. Evening cortisol levels particularly reduced. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mood and Stress Parameters RCT (n=56, 4 weeks): Relora significantly improved mood state parameters vs placebo: Overall Stress (-11%), Tension (-13%), Depression (-20%), Anger (-42%), Fatigue (-31%), Confusion (-27%), Global Mood State (+11%), and Vigor (+18%). | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | ||||
| Anxiety Reduction Pilot RCT (n=40 women, 6 weeks): Relora reduced temporary, transitory anxiety on Spielberger STATE anxiety questionnaire vs placebo. Animal studies: Honokiol (0.2 mg/kg) showed anxiolytic effects comparable to diazepam 1 mg/kg without motor dysfunction or sedation. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect |
Body Composition
- Weight Management: improves
Sleep Quality
- Sleep Quality: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Quality Preclinical: Honokiol (10-20 mg/kg) shortened sleep latency to NREM sleep and increased NREM sleep amount by modulating GABAA benzodiazepine site. Clinical evidence limited but mechanism supports sleep promotion without next-day sedation. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect |
Neurological Health
- Neuroprotection (Preclinical): improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neuroprotection (Preclinical) Preclinical studies: Honokiol and magnolol prevented age-related memory deficits in senescence-accelerated mice. Decreased β-amyloid induced neuronal death through reduced ROS, calcium, and caspase-3 inhibition. Preserved cholinergic neurons via Akt pathway activation. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect |
Key findings
- Cortisol ReductionImproves (the measure goes down)
- Mood and Stress ParametersImproves (the measure goes up)
- Anxiety ReductionImproves (the measure goes up)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Magnolia Bark (Magnolia officinalis) products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
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Studies cited
10 studies from PubMed
- Neuropharmacological potential of honokiol and its derivatives from Chinese herb Magnolia species: understandings from therapeutic viewpoint
- Honokiol-Rich Magnolia officinalis Bark Extract Attenuates Trauma-Induced Neuropathic Pain
- A honokiol-enriched Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H. Wilson. bark extract possesses anxiolytic-like activity with neuroprotective effect through the modulation of CB1 receptor
- Effect of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (Relora®) on cortisol and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects
- Neuro-modulating effects of honokiol: a review
- The natural products magnolol and honokiol are positive allosteric modulators of both synaptic and extra-synaptic GABA(A) receptors
- Honokiol promotes non-rapid eye movement sleep via the benzodiazepine site of the GABA(A) receptor in mice
- Effect of a proprietary Magnolia and Phellodendron extract on stress levels in healthy women: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Effect of a proprietary Magnolia and Phellodendron extract on weight management: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Honokiol, a putative anxiolytic agent extracted from magnolia bark, has no diazepam-like side-effects in mice