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.
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.
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.
