Fragrant Chemicals in the Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extract of Magnolia kobus DC. Flower Buds Increase the Concentration State of Brain Function

Abstract

In traditional Korean medicine, flower buds of Magnolia kobus DC. plant is widely used for the treatments of various disorders. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of supercritical carbon dioxide extract (SFE) of M. kobus flower buds on electroencephalographic (EEG) changes of human brain. The extract from the flower buds of M. kobus was obtained by SFE and the yield was 0.27% at 40°C and 400 bar pressure. Subsequently, GC-MS analysis revealed that the major components of the SFE were caryophyllene (19.93%) and α-terpineol (12.49%). A large proportion of the oil was composed in the groups of hydrocarbons (55.09%) and alcohols (31.21%). In addition, fragrance evaluation of extract of M. kobus flower buds showed the characteristics of balsamic, floral, herbal, medicinal, minty, oily and spicy. In EEG study, the data were observed before and during the inhalation of M. kobus fragrance. During the inhalation of M. kobus fragrance, the EEG power spectrum values of absolute theta and alpha decreased in all the frontal, temporal and parietal regions. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) of absolute alpha wave was observed at left parietal (P3) region. The results reveal that the changes in EEG values to awaken and increase the concentration states of brain. The present investigation clearly suggested that the fragrance of M. kobus flower buds could be attributed to the enhancement of psychophysiological activities of human.