Magnolia Flowers Research Articles

Anti-Obesity Effect of Fresh and Browned Magnolia denudata Flowers in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

The major components of magnolia flower extracts (MFEs) were classified into four substances, such as flavonoids, phenylethanoid glycoside derivatives (PhGs), caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), and others, in our previous study. The chemical components of MFEs, including the rutin of flavonoid, acteoside and isoacteoside of PhGs, and caffeyolquinic acids, are reported to have physiological effects on anti-obesity effects. The anti-obesity effect of fresh and browned Magnolia denudata flower extracts (FMFE and BMFE, respectively) was investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The treatment concentrations of FMFE and BMFE were 200 and 400 μg/mL, respectively, as determined with the WST-1 assay. Intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was inhibited with the treatment of MFEs, including FMFE and BMFE, as observed with an image of the culture plate, using an optical microscope and Oil red O staining. The expression of the adipogenic target genes involved in adipocyte differentiation, including PPARγ, C/EBPα, perilipin, FABP4, FAS, HSL, and SREBP-1, was suppressed with the treatment of MFEs. Additionally, the phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC in 3T3-L1 cells was significantly increased following treatment with the MFEs. These results suggest that both MFEs have a potential for physiological effects on anti-obesity activity.

Composition analysis of Magnolia flower and their use for highly bright carbon dots

Colloidal carbon dots (C-dots) have excellent optical properties and they have been widely used for various types of applications. Compared to the C-dots prepared using chemicals, the Biomass-derived C-dots have attracted a great of attention because of their environmental friendliness and biocompatibility. However, currently obtained C-dots using biomass have low quantum yield. In this work, we demonstrated an efficient precursor of Magnolia flower for synthesizing high-quantum yield C-dots via hydrothermal approach. High performance liquid chromatography and Bradford assay were used to analyze the compositions of the Magnolia flower, which determine the quality of the C-dots. The typical emission bands of the as-prepared C-dots cover from 400 to 550 nm at different excitation wavelengths. The C-dots synthesized using violet Magnolia flower have the QY as high as 11.9%, which is higher than that of 10.4% (white Magnolia flower), because the violet color gives the higher content of the N. The as-obtained C-dots have excitation-dependent color and high quantum yield, showing a great potential for the use of the anti-counterfeiting system.

A novel method for preparation of graphene-containing biochar and application to supercapacitors

New carbon-based materials have drawn tremendous attention in several technological applications. Here, the synthesis of graphene-containing biochar was prepared through carbonation and activation processes, using pre-oxidized magnolia flowers. In particular, the activation method was conducted in copper foil under high pressure, which led to the high biochar yield and excellent electrical conductivity of biochar for graphene-containing hybrid. Furthermore, heteroatoms (including nitrogen and oxygen) were successfully doped into the biochar. As a result, the hybrid demonstrated excellent electrical properties, at high nitrogen (1.02 %) and oxygen levels (14.80 %). The as-prepared biochar was used to produce an all solid state symmetric superconductor with a capacitance of 261.8 F g-1 at a specific current of 0.5 A g-1 , and energy density of 6.9 Wh kg-1 at powder density of 20 kW kg-1 .The enhanced electrochemical performance was attributed to the positive effect of synergy between highly conductive graphene-containing biochar and heteroatoms doping

The Antibacterial Activity of Liquid Soap supplemented with Extracts combination of Cyperus rotundus L. and Flowers of Plumeria acuminata, Michelia alba, or Cananga odorata Against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Bacteria

<p>Secondary metabolites found in white Frangipani flowers <em>(Plumeria acuminata)</em>, white tropical Magnolia flowers <em>(Michelia alba)</em>, Ylang flower (<em>Cananga Odorata</em>), and Nutgrass <em>(Cyperus rotundus L.) </em>are thought to be employed as antibacterial active ingredients in detergent. This research aims to create liquid antibacterial soap using an extract mixture of Nutgrass with white Frangipani flower (F1), white tropical Magnolia flower (F2), or Ylang flower (F3). Phytochemical screening tests for the ethanol extracts of Nutgrass and those three flowers, pH tests, total active ingredients tests, and antibacterial activity tests against <em>S. aureus </em>and <em>E. coli </em>bacteria were carried out during the formulation of the liquid soap preparation with the addition of these extracts. The extraction procedure was maceration with a 70% ethanol solvent, yielding extracts of 9.28 percent frangipani flower, 8.12 percent white tropical Magnolia flowers, 9.8 percent Ylang flower, and 8.88 percent Nutgrass. The liquid soap quality testing findings met the established norms (SNI 4085:2017). This research shows that the soap formulas (F0, F1, F2, and F3) can inhibit <em>S. aureus</em> and <em>E. coli</em> germs in antibacterial activity tests using the disc diffusion method. Based on the diameter of the inhibition zone, the antibacterial activity against <em>E. coli</em> of liquid soap with Nutgrass & white tropical Magnolia flower extracts (F2) is not significantly different from liquid soap without extracts (F0). The F2 formula shows to be less effective than both the two liquid soaps containing extracts of Nutgrass & white Frangipani flower (F1) and Nutgrass & Ylang flower (F3). However, the three formulas of liquid soaps (F1, F2, and F3) tend to be more effective in antibacterial activity against <em>S. aureus</em> than a liquid soap that did not contain extracts (F0).</p>

Effect of Crude Drug Extracts on Trypacidin Production in <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>

We examined the production of fungal metabolites as biological responses to 120 crude drugs by culturing the filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus CBS101355 with crude drugs and analyzing the culture extracts by HPLC. Nine crude drug extracts [Kyokatsu (Notopterygium), Kyonin (apricot kernel), Kujin (Sophora root), Goboshi (Burdock fruit), Goma (sesame), Shokyo (ginger), Shin’i (magnolia flower), Togashi (Benincasa seed), and Bukuryo (Poria sclerotium)] induced the production of trypacidin, which was not produced by culturing in potato dextrose broth without crude drugs.

Profiles of Essential Oils and Correlations with Phenolic Acids and Primary Metabolites in Flower Buds of Magnolia heptapeta and Magnolia denudata var. purpurascens.

Magnolia flower buds are a source of herbal medicines with various active compounds. In this study, differences in the distribution and abundance of major essential oils, phenolic acids, and primary metabolites between white flower buds of Magnolia heptapeta and violet flower buds of Magnolia denudata var. purpurascens were characterised. A multivariate analysis revealed clear separation between the white and violet flower buds with respect to primary and secondary metabolites closely related to metabolic systems. White flower buds contained large amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons (MH), phenolic acids, aromatic amino acids, and monosaccharides, related to the production of isoprenes, as MH precursors, and the activity of MH synthase. However, concentrations of β-myrcene, a major MH compound, were higher in violet flower buds than in white flower buds, possibly due to higher threonine levels and low acidic conditions induced by comparatively low levels of some organic acids. Moreover, levels of stress-related metabolites, such as oxygenated monoterpenes, proline, and glutamic acid, were higher in violet flower buds than in white flower buds. Our results support the feasibility of metabolic profiling for the identification of phytochemical differences and improve our understanding of the correlated biological pathways for primary and secondary metabolites.

Fraternal Fractures: Marriage, Masculinity, and Malicious Menfolk in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” and “Magnolia Flower”

The lack of salvation, or the state of being unsaved, evokes a religious crisis, one in which the body is left outside the gates of deliverance and protection. The unsaved are, fundamentally, defin...

Anti-obesity effect of fresh and browned Magnolia denudata flowers in a high fat diet murine model

Abstract The anti-obesity effect of fresh and browned Magnolia denudata flowers was investigated in obese mice. C57BL/6J male mice were subjected to either a normal diet (ND) or a high fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks and then fed with fresh magnolia flower extracts (FMFE) and browned magnolia flower extracts (BMFE) for 4 weeks. The extent of adipocyte/body weight, histological adipocyte size, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, leptin, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine transaminase were reduced following FMFE and BMFE consumption. Furthermore, we also have found that both magnolia flower extracts (MFEs) induce enhanced phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in liver tissue. Both MFEs inhibited the activity of metabolic enzymes such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, and significantly decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha, and perilipin in adipose tissue. All these results suggested that both MFEs have anti-obesity activity.

Structures and Inhibitory Activities for Interleukin-2 Production of Seasonally Variable Constituents in Flower Parts of Magnolia kobus at Different Growth Stages.

Magnolia Flower is a crude drug used for the treatment of headaches, toothaches, and nasal congestion. Here, we focused on Magnolia kobus, one of the botanical origins of Magnolia Flower, and collected the flower parts at different growth stages to compare chemical compositions and investigate potential inhibitory activities against interleukin-2 (IL-2) production in murine splenic T cells. After determining the structures, we examined the inhibitory effects of the constituents of the bud, the medicinal part of the crude drug, against IL-2 production. We first extracted the flower parts of M. kobus from the bud to fallen bloom stages and analysed the chemical compositions to identify the constituents characteristic to the buds. We found that the inhibitory activity of the buds against IL-2 production was more potent than that of the blooms. We isolated two known compounds, tiliroside (1) and syringin (2), characteristic to the buds from the methanol (MeOH) extract of Magnolia Flower. Moreover, we examined the inhibitory activities of both compounds against IL-2 production and found that tiliroside (1) but not syringin (2), showed strong inhibitory activity against IL-2 production and inhibited its mRNA expression. Thus, our strategy to examine the relationship between chemical compositions and biological activities during plant maturation could not only contribute to the scientific evaluation of medicinal parts of crude drugs but also assist in identifying biologically active constituents that have not yet been reported.

Facile synthesis of novel carbon quantum dots from biomass waste for highly sensitive detection of iron ions

In this work, some common and inexpensive biomass waste were used as carbon sources including orange peel, ginkgo biloba leaves, paulownia leaves and magnolia flower to prepare biomass carbon quantum dots (CQDs) by using a facile hydrothermal process. These biomass CQDs exhibited the advantages of homogeneous particle size, superior water solubility and stability, similar optical properties and surface functional group. The fluorescence quenching effect was observed when Fe3+ ions were added into CQDs solution. The experiment results showed that the as-prepared CQDs have a sensitive response to Fe3+ ions in the concentration range of 0.2−100 μM, and the limit of detection (LOD) could as low as 0.073 μM. More importantly, practical applications for the detection Fe3+ ions in pond water acquired satisfactory recoveries (94 %–108 %). Therefore, this work not only provided a new way for reusages of biomass waste, but also provided a novel alternative sensor for Fe3+ ions detection in real-world.

Vegetation Structure and Composition on Rafflesia zollingeriana Habitat in Meru Betiri National Park

Meru Betiri National Park (TNMB) has five forest formation, e.g. coastal forest, mangrove forest, swamp forest, rheophyte, and lowland rain forest. The study aims to analyze vegetation structure and composition on Rafflesia zollingeriana habitat and to map the distribution of trees in TNMB. Vegetation data, diameter at breast height, and canopy height obtained by using line-transect method and analyzed using vegetation analysis. The sampling method used purposive sampling. TNMB had 64 trees species with 1,366 seedlings and saplings, 257 poles, and 183 trees. Pancal kidang (Aglaia variegata) had the highest Important Value Index (IVI) amounting to 32.46%. The result showed that the community similarity index (IS) in two sample plots was 86.86%. Tetrastigma spp. is a liana as a host of Rafflesia zollingeriana, and only found pancal kidang, besuleh, welangan, magnolia flower, laban, and rauh trees.

Flavonoid Components of Different Color Magnolia Flowers and Their Relationship to Cultivar Selections

Magnolia (Magnoliaceae) is widely cultivated for its beauty; however, despite this, the components of the different flower colors in Magnolia have not been elucidated. In this study, the color parameters of 10 Magnolia petals with different colors were measured by the Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart (RHSCC) and a color reader CR-10. The composition and content of the flavonoids in the petals were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) as well as HPLC with electrospray ionization and mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS2). All results showed that the 10 petals were divided into four color groups. Regarding the flavonoid composition, four types of anthocyanins, including Cyanidin-glucosyl-rhamnoside (Cy-GR), Cyanidin-glucosyl-rhamnosyl-glucoside (Cy-GRG), Peonidin-glucosyl-rhamnoside (Pn-GR), and Peonidin-glucosyl-rhamnosyl-glucoside (Pn-GRG), were identified, as well as 10 types of flavonols. The flavonols included isorhamnetin, quercetin, kaempferol, and their glycosides, which included rutinoside, rhamnose, and glucoside. Cyanidin and peonidin make Magnolia petals appear red-purple and purple, respectively, and the flavonols perform as evident auxiliary pigments, particularly quercetin. The Magnolia cultivar flower phenotypes sampled in this study differed by changes in their existing flavonoid content rather than by the appearance of new flavonoids. Consequently, this study provides a reference for further revealing the basis of Magnolia flower color and provides clues for color breeding.

Antibacterial Activity Of Shin’iseihaito (Xinyiqingfeitang) And its Components Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objective: Shin’iseihaito (xinyiqingfeitang in Chinese, SSHT), a formula in traditional Japanese Kampo medicine and Chinese medicine comprising nine crude drugs, Gypsum, Ophiopogon Tuber, Scutellaria Root (SR, root of Scutellaria baicalensis), Gardenia Fruit, Anemarrhena Rhizome, Lilium Bulb, Magnolia Flower, Loquat Leaf, and Cimicifuga Rhizome (CR, rhizome of Cimicifuga heracleifolia), is commonly used to treat sinusitis associated with purulent nasal discharge and reddish nasal mucosa. We evaluated anti-bacterial activity of SSHT extract on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one cause of bacterial sinusitis. Materials and Methods: Sterile paper disks impregnated with SSHT extract, the combination of crude drugs composing SSHT according to the traditional pharmacological theory, or each component were placed on Mueller-Hinton agar plates inoculated with several strains of MRSA isolated from the patients. The diameter of inhibitory zone was measured after 18–24 h incubation. Results: SSHT extract showed antibacterial activity against 128/190 (66.8%) MRSA clinical isolates. The effect of the extract of SSHT without heat-clearing drugs (SSHT–HC) or without exterior-releasing drugs (SSHT–ER) were significantly lower than that of SSHT extract. Each water extract of SR, Loquat Leaf, Magnolia Flower and CR showed significant anti-MRSA activity, and SR extract exhibited the largest inhibitory zone. Conclusions: SSHT has antibacterial activity against MRSA clinical isolates, and SR mainly contributes to the antibacterial activity of SSHT against MRSA clinical isolates.

Different water relations between flowering and leaf periods: a case study in flower-before-leaf-emergence Magnolia species.

The differing water relations between flowers and leaves on a plant reflect the lack of co-ordination between reproductive and vegetative organs during the evolution of angiosperm species. The amount of water that flowers consume has been reported to vary across species, and compared with studies of leaves, accurate measurements of flower water relations at the branch level are lacking. Further, the mechanisms by which flowers regulate their hydraulic function and structure to maintain water balance remain unclear. To explore the ecophysiological basis underpinning the differences between flowers and leaves, we measured hydraulic and morphological traits and monitored sap flow in flowers and leaves from the same branches of two Magnoliaceae species that flower before leaf emergence (Magnolia denudata Desr. and Magnolia soulangeana Soul.-Bod.). Sap flux density (JS) of flowers was 22% and 55% of that predicted for leaves in M. denudata and M. soulangeana respectively. JS of flowers commenced before predawn and ceased early in the afternoon, reflecting their night-time flowering pattern and a dramatic decrease of JS with increasing vapour pressure deficit (D) under the high light of midday. Relative to leaves, tepals were thicker and more hydrated, and had bigger but scarcer stomata, leading to lower stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (E), less negative water potential (Ψtepal) and lower hydraulic conductance. This study revealed different hydraulic patterns in the flowers and leaves of the two Magnolia species. Although flowers consumed less than half the water that leaves did, they used different strategies to maintain sufficiently high Ψ to sustain hydraulic safety. Magnolia flowers retained more hydrated tepals by exhibiting less water loss than leaves via lower hydraulic conductance. In contrast, Magnolia leaves maintained high transpiration rates through efficient stomatal responses to environmental changes compared with flowers.

The significance of γ-and λ-dislocations in transient states of phyllotaxis: how to get more from less – sometimes!

In some plants, developmental changes of phyllotaxis are so frequent that the whole spectrum of phyllotactic patterns becomes available for investigation and thus many unknown subtleties of phyllotaxis come to light. Among these, <em>Magnolia acuminata</em> is the most prominent. In a series of experiments performed in silico with application of a simple geometric model of phyllotaxis, we were able to confront the empirical data on phyllotactic transitions occurring in magnolia flowers with the results of computer simulations. They revealed that in addition to the ratio between the sizes of plant organs, the history of developing pattern was also important, especially for the direction of ontogenetic changes. The parameters of size tolerance and vertical tolerance in positioning a new element in the first available space, brought the effects of simulations closer to the real patterns. They helped especially to resolve the enigma of multiplication of parastichies (γ-dislocations) observed sometimes during determined growth of magnolia floral axes. We conclude that ontogenetic changes in phyllotaxis result mainly from changing sizes of organs in the course of development and that the changes do not always occur with mathematical accuracy.

Effect of Shin'iseihaito on murine allergic reaction induced by nasal sensitization

Shin'iseihaito (Magnolia Flower Lung-Clearing Decoction; 辛夷清肺湯 xīn yí qīng fèi tāng), a formula of traditional Japanese kampo medicine (日本漢醫 rì běn hàn yī) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM; 中醫 zhōng yī), has been used for the treatment of chronic sinusitis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-allergic effect of shin'iseihaito on murine allergic reaction induced by nasal sensitization using ovalbumin (OVA) as an antigen. Extract of shin'iseihaito (SSHT) could reduce the eosinophil, serum IgE and interleukin (IL)-4 levels, while increased the interferon (IFN)-γ levels in allergic mouse. Furthermore, allergic-murine serum treated with SSHT could not activate passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in murine model. Thus, our study showed that SSHT may possess anti-allergic activity. We suggested that SSHT may contribute to inhibit the exacerbation of allergic reaction induced by nasal sensitization.

Characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine use for children with allergic rhinitis: A nationwide population-based study

ObjectivesAllergic rhinitis (AR) is a common allergic disorder in children, some of whom seek complementary treatments, including acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Little, however, is known about the treatment of pediatric AR with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). To characterize TCM use in pediatric AR, we conducted a nationwide population-based study. MethodsWe screened one million randomly sampled beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan from 2002 to 2010 to identify children <18 years of age with newly diagnosed allergic rhinitis (ICD-9 code 477.9). The subjects were categorized according to their use of TCM. ResultsWe identified 97,401 children newly diagnosed with AR for inclusion in the study. Among these children, 63.11% (N=61,472) had used TCM. There were significantly more TCM users than non-users among school-age children and adolescents (P<0.001). Most (99.1%) pediatric TCM users received Chinese herbal remedies (99.1%); only 0.9% received acupuncture or manipulative therapies. Xin-Yi-Qing-Fei-Tang (Magnolia Flower Lung-Clearing Decoction) was the most frequently prescribed TCM formulation (23.44%), and the most commonly prescribed single herb was Chan-Tui (Periostracum cicadae; 13.78%). Regarding syndrome differentiation (ZHENG) according to TCM theory, prescriptions for the Cold Syndrome exceeded those for the Hot Syndrome throughout the year in Taiwan. ConclusionsWe found that approximately two-thirds of pediatric AR patients were prescribed TCM treatments in Taiwan. Further research is warranted to examine the efficacy and safety of TCM for pediatric AR patients.

Arabinogalactan proteins mark stigmatic receptivity in the protogynous flowers of Magnolia virginiana (Magnoliaceae).

Factors affecting floral receptivity in angiosperms remain opaque, but recent studies suggest that the acquisition of stigmatic receptivity associated with cell-wall-related arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) may be a widespread feature of flowering plants. Here, the time during which a stigma is receptive is evaluated and related to the secretion of AGPs in Magnolia virginiana, a protogynous member of an early-divergent angiosperm clade (magnoliids) with a clearly discernible female receptive phase. Magnolia virginiana flower phenology was documented, and histochemical changes in the stigma before and after pollination were examined. Stigmatic receptivity was evaluated in relation to the secretion of AGPs detected in whole mounts and immunolocalized in sectioned stigmas. Protogynous Magnolia flowers had a precise window of stigmatic receptivity, which is concomitant with the secretion of two AGPs labeled for different epitopes. After pollen germination and tube growth, these two AGPs could no longer be detected in the stigmas, suggesting that these AGPs interact with the growing male gametophytes and could be markers of stigmatic receptivity. These results show that the period of stigmatic receptivity is finely coordinated with the secretion of two arabinogalactan proteins on stigmas of flowers of M. virginiana. This first report of AGP presence in stigmatic tissues in a member of the magnoliids, together with recently described similar patterns in eudicots, monocots, and members of early-divergent lineages of flowering plants, suggests an ancient and widespread role for AGPs on stigmatic receptivity in angiosperms.

Effects of aging on the phenolic content and antioxidant activities of magnolia (Magnolia denudata) flower extracts

Magnolia contains a large variety of physiologically active compounds, including phenolic compounds, and the magnolia flower is used for preparation of tea. The phenolic content and antioxidant activities of magnolia (Magnolia denudata) flower extracts (MFE) and effects of aging under different conditions were examined. The total phenolic content of MFE was 143.9±2.6 mg of GAE/g of MFE and the rutin content was 54.5±0.1 mg/g of MFE. An aging process for magnolia flowers at 70°C under either 30% or 60% relative humidity values for 24 h significantly (p<0.05) increased the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, the antioxidant capacity, and the rutin content of MFE, compared with controls. An aging process under a relative humidity value of 60% at 70°C was used to maximize the phenolic extraction rate. The amount of physiologically active phenolic compounds in magnolia flower tea can be increased by performing an appropriate aging process.

The importance of new molecules in selective perfumery.

Perfumery can only evolve thanks to new ingredients. We highlight herein some key molecules and their use in 'Selective Perfumery': the violet odorant undecavertol, the floral nerolione and coumarone, the gourmand cappuccino levistamel, the sandalwood notes Sandranol(®) or Bacdanol(®) , the fruity top note Magnolia Flower oil, and finally the woody ambery Ambrocenide(®) .