Magnolol Bark Exerts Antiepileptic Effects via the GABA/Benzodiazepine Receptor

Magnolol, a major bioactive constituent of the bark of Magnolia officinalis, exerts antiepileptic effects via theGABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex in mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-convulsant effects of magnolol (6, 6', 7, 12-tetramethoxy-2, 2'-dimethyl-1-β-berbaman, C18H18O2) and the mechanisms involved.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH:
Mice were treated with magnolol (20, 40 and 80 mg·kg(-1)) 30 min before injection with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, 60 mg·kg(-1), i.p.). The anti-seizure effects of magnolol were analysed using seizure models of behaviour, EEG and in vitro electrophysiology and c-Fos expression in the hippocampus and cortex.

KEY RESULTS:
Magnolol at doses of 40 and 80 mg·kg(-1) significantly delayed the onset of myoclonic jerks and generalized clonic seizures, and decreased the seizure stage and mortality compared with those of the vehicle-treated animals. EEG recordings showed that magnolol (40 and 80 mg·kg(-1)) prolonged the latency of seizure onset and decreased the number of seizure spikes. The anti-epileptic effect of magnolol was reversed by the GABA(A)/benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil. Pretreatment with flumazenil decreased the effects of magnolol on prolongation of seizure latency and decline of seizure stage. In a Mg(2+)-free model of epileptiform activity, using multi-electrode array recordings in mouse hippocampal slices, magnolol decreased spontaneous epileptiform discharges. Magnolol also significantly decreased seizure-induced Fos immunoreactivity in the piriform cortex, dentate gyrus and hippocampal area CA1. These effects were attenuated by pretreatment with flumazenil.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:
These findings indicate that the inhibitory effects of magnolol on epileptiform activity were mediated by theGABA(A) /benzodiazepine receptor complex.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21518336

Magnolol, a major bioactive constituent of the bark of Magnolia officinalis, induces sleep via the benzodiazepine site of GABA(A) receptor in mice.

Magnolia bark extract has powerful stress busting effects, largely due to “honokiol” a well-studied and potent anxiolytic. It works similarly to prescription medications like alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan). Both magnolia and prescription sedatives work by increasing levels of GABA, a relaxing hormone that helps calm and soothe an overactive brain. The difference is that honokiol is picky and works in specific areas of the brain (raising GABA). The net effect is relaxation. Prescription drugs affect GABA receptors throughout your entire body, causing systemic side effects such morning hangover effect, muscle weakness, daytime fatigue and more. Magnolia, being more selective, should not produce these problems, and should not make you feel doped up.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22771461

 

If the Mechanism of Action is similar to benzodiazepines, there may be potential for withdrawal symptoms/worsening of tinnitus?

 

This has been around for quite some time. Info on drugs.com. Better info on Examine.com.

Supplements on Amazon.com. Sounds like a product worth trying. I have a terrible time staying asleep, and often have difficulty falling asleep since tinnitus onset.

 

Just keep your money.

There is a reason why those supplements are sold freely on Amazon and why benzodiazepines are scheduled drugs.

My rule of thumb: the illegality of substance X is directly proportional to its effectiveness. It should be an axiom really.

 

I don't know if that's always true. Aspirin is incredibly effective for its intended purposes. If it were discovered in modern times, though, Big Pharma would put a $25 price on each pill.

I took the time to read a lot of the reviews for this supplement on Amazon and other sites, as well, just to get an overview of its touted efficacy. Seems like either it works or it doesn't. One reviewer mentioned it helped her mother sleep because her mother had a high nighttime cortisol level. Apparently it affects cortisol, which is interesting. Or maybe it just does for that woman, who knows.

For $15, I'm willing to try it. Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones. I would love to sleep through the night again.

 

Don't be so hasty. I just started using Magnolia extract and I can confirm it works exactly like Valium on me: helps sleep, reduces stress and tinnitus intensity. As the original poster revealed, studies are bearing out the benzo behavior of the chief ingredients, Magnolol and Honokiol.

I'm still trying to find the right dose for me (somewhere under 100 mg) that helps me sleep but also lets me hear the alarm in the morning. Sleep with this stuff is deeper than that under Melatonin for me.

 

Where do you get your extract please? Would a store like Whole Foods have it or is online better?

 

This has good reviews:

https://www.amazon.com/Magnolia-Extract-50-Grams-Honokiol-Magnolol/dp/B00EIQSUKY/

 

Has anybody had any success with this at all? The one poster above made his account on the day of his 1 post, so excuse my scepticism regarding another possible herbal remedy.

EDIT: Heck, I just ordered some. What's money for anyway... I will report back if these bark pills do a damn thing. PS. I doubt they will.

 

Did it work?

 

Not that I really noticed. I took it for about a month

 

Anyone else try Magnolia Bark? I'm curious to see if anyone else has any input, thinking about adding some to my stack.

 

It made a very weak impact on me, personally.

 

Interesting. I am mostly interested in using this as an alternative to Ativan 0.5 mg, which I sparingly use when I am very anxious. I saw that this can have similar effects as benzos so I was kind of interested in that.

 

Subunits and expression in brain areas matter. A benzo which binds with subunit affinity to "those" receptors along the tinnitus path makes the most sense.

Without subunit info and a benzo which "works for you" to compare its subunit binding, this is all pretty crap. It could in fact make things worse, as GABA doesn't just inhibit nerves, it will inhibit "inhibitory" nerve firing paths too. For seizures it's an emergency so a carte blanche method is used which hits all receptors of all types... but about 1/3 of your brain pathways are inhibitory.

I found Zopiclone working amazeballs, but leaves me much worse off later. I think it targets a1 and a5 subunits the most. I know Ativan is NOT the same thing (though it looks the same, binding is different, furthermore I actually get worse on Ativan with random noises that seem like they should be held back).

 

Yes for me it was like 1/20 of a benzo.

 

I was thinking about trying Zopiclone but I didn't want to become dependent on it.

Have you heard of Dayvigo? Apparently it is similar to Ambien but does not have any dependency. Might ask my doc for a script.

 

It might make you sleepy but apparently doesn't work that well. It's a very new drug so who knows (and $$). It targets orexin receptors. Doubt it'll have any effect on tinnitus.

Yah I've heard dependency is low for it too, unavailable in Canada though.

 

@hans799 had a great experience with Dayvigo...

New Sleeping/Insomnia Medicine: Dayvigo (Lemborexant) — Here's My Experience

 

I think I might have to try Dayvigo, I would use it for sleep though, not for tinnitus reduction. I'm also still thinking about buying some Magnolia Bark to see if it has an anti-anxiety effect.

Yeah this thread is part of the reason why I asked. Seems pretty harmless though some people have problems with sleep paralysis. Think I will ask my doctor for a script at one point.