Honokiol and magnolol work through: (1) GABA-A positive allosteric modulation, honokiol binds the benzodiazepine site on GABA-A receptors, increasing chloride conductance (same mechanism as Xanax/Valium), but with selective binding that produces anxiolysis without sedation or addiction at normal doses; (2) cortisol/HPA axis modulation, reduces ACTH-stimulated cortisol release from adrenal glands; (3) endocannabinoid system, magnolol is a CB2 agonist (anti-inflammatory without psychoactive effects); (4) NF-κB inhibition, anti-inflammatory; (5) mitochondrial apoptosis induction in cancer cells, honokiol opens mitochondrial permeability transition pore in cancer cells (Bax/Bcl-2 pathway modulation).
Independently graded against 178,763 indexed supplements and 757 reviewed supplement and medication pairs, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:
Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.