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Content: In samples of magnolia bark from different areas of China, the content of magnolol and honokiol were in the range of 2-11% and 0.3-4.6% respectively (3, 4). Eudesmol (a triterpene) usually comprises just under 1% of the bark. The biphenols and eudesmol are understood to be the main active constituents that confer the desired pharmacological effects. These ingredients are reported to have anxiolytic effects (5), to enhance steroid production by the adrenal cortex (6), inhibit bacteria (4) and pathogenic fungi (7), have antioxidant actions (8), reduce inflammation and pain (9); they may protect against seizures (10) and act as an antidote for intoxication by organophosphorus pesticides (11). The anxiolytic effect of magnolia has been relied upon in production of a commercial product called Sublimiss, made from magnolia bark extract, and described as a substitute for kava (an anxiolytic) and St. John's Wort (an antidepressant). Magnolia bark also contains a small amount of alkaloids, mainly benzylisoquinoline alkaloids-magnoflorine, magnocurarine, and salicifoline, with traces of oxoushinsunine, anonaine, michelabine-but these alkaloids are not considered important to the clinical actions. They make up only about 1% of the bark, with magnocurarine, the most potent of the alkaloids, at less than 0.1% in most commercial samples (12). The alkaloids may confer some of the antispasmodic effect of magnolia bark when used in high dose decoctions to alleviate bronchiole spasms and intestinal spasms. Magnocurarine was investigated as a potential muscle relaxant drug in Japan (13).