Research progress on modern pharmacology of magnolol and honokiol in chronic disease

YU Rongrong; DENG Yiping; LIU Ying; LIN Weiting; QIN Xiaojing; YANG Chengzi; HE Longgang; CHEN Jianyu

doi:10.13506/j.cnki.jpr.2025.09.011

Abstract：Magnolia officinalis is often used clinically to treat gastrointestinal and lung diseases.Magnolol and honokiol are the main active ingredients of Magnolia officinalis.In recent years,a large number of studies have shown that they have various pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory,antioxidant and anti-tumor.Inflammation is the comorbidity basis of multiple chronic diseases,indicating that it has the potential to treat multiple diseases,and its clinical application still has room for improvement.This article reviewed the research progress of magnolia officinalis and its main active ingredients mag-nolol and honokiol in the treatment of chronic diseases at home and abroad in the past five years.It is found that they can regulate immune disorders,inflammation and oxidative stress from multiple cellular pathways,thereby achieving anti-inflam-mation and anti-arthritis;In addition,magnolol and honokiol can also lowers blood sugar by stimulating the popular target of diabetes,peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma(PPARγ),and improves diabetic complications,cognitive im-pairment and lipid metabolism disorders.Even in insulin-resistant mouse models,they still have significant blood sugar low-ering effect.This article discussed in detail the role and advantages of magnolol and honokiol in the treatment of various chronic diseases,and provide basis for expanding the application of Magnolia officinalis and its active ingredients(magnolol and honokiol).