Flos magnoliae oil

Discovery

The dried flower buds of Magnolia biondii Pamp., together with the alternative, but more rarely marketed, M. sprengeri Pamp. and M. denudata Desr. are listed as Xin Yi, 辛夷, (Flos Magnoliae) in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. M. biondii and M. sprengeri are native to central China, whereas M. denudata grows in eastern central and southeast China. The flower buds are collected during late winter and early spring, and the peduncles are removed. The drug is then dried in the shade. Xin Yi is used as a decoction, generally in mixtures together with Radix Asari, Fructus Xanthii Sibirici and other plant drugs in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of nasal obstruction or congestion, nasal discharge, lack of smell due to nasal congestion, sinus problems, or related headache. Xin Yi is not to be confused with Hou Po Hua Flos Magnoliae Officinalis, which is derived from M. officinalis Rehd. et Wils. or M. officinalis Rehd. et Wils. Var. biloba Rehd. Hou Po Hua is morphologically and chemically very different from Xin Yi, as well as in its use.

Uses

The herb is pungent in flavour, warm in nature and acts on the lung and stomach channels. Pungent and warm for dispersion and aromatic for moving about, with its floating effect, the herb is good at dispersing pathogenic wind and clearing nasal passage. It is an important herb to treat rhinorrhea with turbid discharge.

Mechanism of action

Magnoliae Flos essential oil (MFEO) decreased the production of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12p70 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated DCs. It also suppressed the surface markers MHC II, CD80, and CD86 in LPS-stimulated DCs. Animal models demonstrated that the 2,4-Dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB) inducing a contact hypersensitivity response was inhibited following treatment with MFEO.