Magnolia bark
Summary
Magnolia bark extract has only been tested in people inside combination products. In a 634-woman menopause trial, adding it to an isoflavone tablet improved insomnia, anxiety and irritability (grade C); small trials of a magnolia-phellodendron blend found lower stress scores (grade D).
Key facts
- Bark of Magnolia officinalis; its main active compounds are the neolignans honokiol and magnolol[5]
- Adding magnolia extract to an isoflavone tablet improved insomnia, anxiety and irritability more than the tablet alone in 634 menopausal women over 12 weeks (grade C)[1]
- A magnolia plus phellodendron blend lowered stress and cortisol in 56 adults over 4 weeks; a 40-woman pilot found less temporary anxiety but no sleep change[3][4]
- A safety review found no genotoxicity and no adverse effects in trials lasting up to a year[5]
- 4 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedHonokiol and magnolol are reported to act on the GABA system, the proposed basis for the bark’s traditional sedative use; this has not been measured in people.[2][5]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep | Grade C | Improved | RCT · n = 634 · 2011 | 2 rows |
| Stress | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 56 · 2013 | 2 rows |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insomnia, anxiety and irritability in menopause | Improved | Grade C | RCT · n = 634 · 2011 Menopausal women with mild mood or sleep complaints at 91 gynecology centers Form: Magnolia bark extract added to an isoflavone + probiotic tablet · Dose: Not stated in the abstract (1 tablet nightly) · Duration: 12 weeks Both tablets eased hot flushes similarly; the magnolia version improved insomnia, irritability, anxiety, low mood and fatigue more. Adverse events were about 1% in each group. | 21311416 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Menopause, sleep and mood symptoms | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 89 · 2006 Menopausal women with sleep or mood complaints Form: Magnolia bark extract 60 mg in a tablet with isoflavones, magnesium, probiotics, calcium and vitamin D · Dose: 60 mg/day magnolia extract (in the combination) · Duration: 24 weeks Hot flushes, insomnia, anxiety and irritability fell more than with calcium plus vitamin D alone. | 16957676 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Cortisol and mood in moderately stressed adults | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 56 · 2013 Moderately stressed adults (35 men, 21 women) Form: Magnolia + phellodendron bark blend (Relora) · Dose: Not stated in the abstract · Duration: 4 weeks Salivary cortisol was 18% lower and stress, tension, fatigue and mood scores were better than with placebo. | 23924268 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Anxiety, cortisol and sleep | Mixed | Grade D | RCT · n = 26 · 2008 Overweight premenopausal women who eat in response to stress Form: Magnolia + phellodendron bark blend (Relora) · Dose: 750 mg/day (250 mg three times daily) · Duration: 6 weeks Temporary (state) anxiety fell compared with placebo; long-standing anxiety, cortisol and sleep quality did not change. | 18426577 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia bark extract (standardized to honokiol and magnolol) | Varies[5] | No head-to-head human absorption data between products in our sources.[5] | Adverse events were about 1% in the 634-woman trial; no adverse effects in trials up to a year per a safety review.[1][5] | Sleep and mood in menopause (in combinations), stress (with phellodendron) |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 60 mg of magnolia extract a day inside a menopause tablet to 750 mg a day of a magnolia-phellodendron blend, for 4 to 24 weeks.[2][4]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Medicines
- Drugs cleared by glucuronidationReviewHonokiol and magnolol are glucuronidated, and a safety review says an interaction with medicines or other herbs cannot be excluded.[5]
Who should be careful
- People using sedatives or alcohol
- Magnolia bark is used for its sedative effects; combining it with sedative medicines has not been studied.[5]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No safety data were found in the trials we cite.[1]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Magnolia bark
Products from brands we partner with that contain Magnolia bark. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkMagnolia Bark Extract2 capsules: 300 mg Magnolia officinalis extract standardized to 90% honokiol and magnolol; 30 servings. A single-ingredient, highly concentrated extract: no human trial has tested magnolia alone or at this dose (the menopause tablet used 60 mg of extract).Shop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Does magnolia bark help sleep?
Only inside combinations: in a 634-woman menopause trial, adding magnolia to an isoflavone tablet improved insomnia more than the tablet alone.[1]
Does magnolia bark lower cortisol?
A magnolia plus phellodendron blend lowered salivary cortisol in one 4-week trial but not in a 6-week pilot.[3][4]
What are honokiol and magnolol?
The two main active compounds in magnolia bark; extracts are often standardized to them.[5]
Is magnolia bark safe?
A safety review found no genotoxicity and no adverse effects in trials up to a year, though drug interactions cannot be ruled out.[5]
Sources
- [1]Randomized controlled study on clinical efficacy of isoflavones plus Lactobacillus sporogenes, associated or not with a natural anxiolytic agent in menopause.. Minerva Ginecol, 2011. RCT
- [2]Soy isoflavones, lactobacilli, Magnolia bark extract, vitamin D3 and calcium. Controlled clinical study in menopause.. Minerva Ginecol, 2006. RCT
- [3]Effect of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (Relora®) on cortisol and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects.. J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 2013. RCT
- [4]Effect of a proprietary Magnolia and Phellodendron extract on stress levels in healthy women: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.. Nutr J, 2008. RCT
- [5]Safety and Toxicology of Magnolol and Honokiol.. Planta Med, 2018. review
What changed
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, year and journal taken from the PubMed record) and abstracts read for each cited row. Product details in Where to buy read from the brand page on the date shown. Self-reviewed in a second strict pass (no independent reviewer yet).