[MPWG] Magnolia bark

[Michael Schenk]

I wonder how many of our native magnolias have these medicinal properties?  A quick search shows two species commonly associated with magnolol and honokiol: Magnolia officinalis, from China, and Magnolia ovovatum, which I think is European.  It would be great if the bark of tulip trees had some of these properties.

I found a brief mention of magnolol in sweet bay and cucumber tree bark 
( www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr18.pdf ) .

This page says Native Americans used tulip tree for inflammation and infection:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/flowerpower/poplar.html

I have also seen culinary recipes for tulip tree syrup, made from the bark similarly to hickory syrup.

Can anyone expand on this?

Best regards,
Mike Schenk


>Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:46:56 -0500
>From: Patricia_Ford at fws.gov
>Subject: [MPWG] Magnolia bark could take the edge off bad breath
>To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
>Message-ID:
>	<OF7ABB1919.C1DF9B29-ON85257399.005123CE-85257399.005133EC at fws.gov>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
>
>Story from BBC NEWS:
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7103208.stm
>
>Magnolia could sweeten the breath
>Magnolia bark could take the edge off bad breath much more effectively than
>mints alone, US researchers say.
>The extract, already used in the treatment of various disorders, may also
>be effective against the bacteria which causes tooth decay.
>
>Researchers at the Wrigley Company carried out tests on nine volunteers.
>
>Writing in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, they found mints
>laced with magnolia killed 20 times more bacteria than mints without.
>
>After half an hour, the magnolia mint had killed more than 60% of the
>bacteria, compared to just 3.6% among those who had consumed a normal mint.
>
>
>Bad breath or halitosis is a major social and psychological problem that
>affects the majority of the general population
>Researchers
>All the volunteers were healthy, and had just eaten lunch.
>
>Bacteria killed included those responsible for bad breath problems such as
>halitosis, as well as Streptococcus mutans, blamed for tooth decay.
>
>"Bad breath or halitosis is a major social and psychological problem that
>affects the majority of the general population," the researchers wrote.
>
>"Magnolia bark extract demonstrated a significant anti-bacterial activity
>against organisms responsible for oral malodour and can be incorporated
>into mints and chewing gum for improved breath freshening benefits."
>
>Advocates of magnolia have long praised its properties, claiming it can
>alleviate the symptoms of conditions ranging from rheumatism to asthma.
>
>Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation
>said the results of the study looked "very promising".
>
>"Standard mints and mouthwashes only really mask bad breath temporarily and
>while chewing gum can be effective due to its ability to increase the flow
>of saliva, this research might be another step forward in it developing an
>even greater role in good oral health practice."
>
>But he stressed that brushing teeth twice a day remained as important as
>ever for good oral health.
>