Xin Yi Hua - Magnolia lilliflora

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Xin Yi, Xin Yi Hua
 
 Latin
Flos Magnoliae liliflorae
 Introduction Back to Top
Flos Magnoliae liliflorae is officially listed in the Chinese pharmacopoeia as Biond Magnolia Flower it is the dried flower bud of Magnolia biondii Pamp. Magnolia denudata Desr. or Magnolia sprengeri Pamp. (Fam. Magnoliaceae). The drug is collected in late winter and early spring before flowering, removed from its branchlets, and dried in the shade.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the herb is considered to be a nasal decongestant and indicated for sinusitis. It is used to treat headache, nasal decongestion and purulent nasal discharges due to chronic rhinitis and paranasal sinusitis. It is usually used in combination with the fruit of Xanthium sibiricum, leaf of Mentha hapocalyx or Asarum heteotropoides.

 Western medical Back to Top
Primarily indicated to treat nasal congestion with headache, sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. Has known decongestent and astringent actions.
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Dispel wind cold, warm, acrid exterior releasing, disperses wind, opens cavities.
  • Properties: Pungent flavor; neutral.
  • Channels Entered: Lung & Stomach.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
The volatile oil of M.liliflora contains eugenol, safrole, anethole, and cinnamic aldehyde. The flower of M.liliflora also contains flavonoid glycosides, anthocyanins, capric acid, oleic acid, vitamin A, alkaloids and trace amounts of rutin.
In addition to essential oils the lignans pinoresinol demethyl ether, lirioresinol ? dimethyl ether, magnolin and fargesin have been isolated from the floweres of M.liliflora. The bark of M.liliflora contains the alkaloid D-coclaurine as the active principle.
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Astringent action

Experimental results have shown that the efficacy of M.liliflora in the treatment of inflammation is due to the astringent action which protects the nasal mucosa, and to the capillary dilation which improves local blood circulation resulting in the absorption of secretion, subsidence of inflammation, relief of nasal congestion and amelioration or dissapearance of such symptoms.

Antimicrobial action

In vitro studies have shown that 15-30% decoction of the herb inhibited more than 10 kinds of pathogenic fungi such as Trichophyton interdigitalis. At high concentration, the herb also showed various degrees of inhibitory action against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, beta streptococci, Corynbacterium diphtheriae, Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus anthracis and influenza virus.

Magnalol and honokiol exhibited significant activity against gram-positive bacteria and fungi (5). The ether and methanolic extracts with the active principles magnolol and honokiol showed potent antibacterial action against a cariogenci bacterium Streptococcus mutans. Magnolol and honokiol were bactericidal at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 6.3 mg/ml. The antibacterial action of both compounds was stronger than that of berberine.

Hypotensive action

Both Magnoflorine and salicifoline also exhibited ganglionic blocking and hypotensive actions. Magnoflorine has been identified as being the hypotensive component and salicifoline was observed to have a stronger hypotensive action than hexamethonium although its effect is short lived.
 Clinical Studies Back to Top

None.
 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998