Identification of Magnolol and Honokiol as Anxiolytic Agents in Extracts of Saiboku-to, an Oriental Herbal Medicine

Abstract

The principal active anxiolytic components in Saiboku-to, an Oriental herbal medicine, have been isolated and identified as magnolol (5,5'-di-2-propenyl-1,1'-biphenyl-2,2'-diol) and honokiol (3',5-di-2-propenyl-1,1'-biphenyl-2,4'-diol). Evaluation by means of an elevated plus-maze test showed that honokiol was at least 5000 times more potent than Saiboku-to when mice were treated orally for 7 days.