Magnolia spp

Leguminosae Magnoliaceae Rutaceae Desmodium cephalotes Desmodium gangeticum Magnolia spp. Fagara spp. Phellodendron amurense Zanthoxylum clava-herculis 36 161, 162 110-113 187, 188 159 170, 171... 

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM MAGNOLIA SPP. 

Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Candida albicans. Davis also stated that (-)anonaine (39) can employ a hypotensive effect in mice and rabbits and was shown to be an inhibitor of dopaminergic response. Also, the toxicity of anonaine HCl was demonstrated in mice at 200 rng kg. A related compound, liriodenine (40), had similar antibacterial activity to anonaine. Liriodenine exhibited fairly potent cytotoxic and cytopathic effects against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) [64], Furthermore, the methylenedioxy functionality of this molecule is beleived to be involved in the observed activity [64], Liriodenine has been isolated from the stem bark of several Magnolia spp. such as M. campbelii, M. mutabilis [24] and the trunk bark of M watsonii and M. obovata [57],... 

Table 3. Biologically Active Compounds from Magnolia spp...

The synergistic activity of sesamin (4), pinoresinol (37), and eudesamin (57) with pyrethrum insecticides was reported as early as 1942 [86]. Only decades later these compounds were isolated and characterized from Magnolia spp. [4, 21, 24, 25, 82]. 

Although resistance of Magnolia spp. to pests is not a topic of this review, the report of the presence of silica in the leaves of M. grandiflora is interesting. It is hypothesized that presence of silica in the leaves may increase the plant s resistance to pathogens, as well as strengthening the leaf and reducing transpiration [87]. 

We have summarized the important biological activities of a variety of compounds isolated from Magnolia spp. for quick reference in Table 3. 

Kelm, M. A., Biologically active extracts from Magnolia spp. and compounds from Magnolia salicifolia (MS Thesis), BNPL, Dept, of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 1996. 

There are very few alkaloids present in wood (75, 152), but they are, of course, found extensively in plants (143, 187, 188). There were many instances of toxic alkaloids in the ancient literature. The most infamous example was the use of coniine from poison hemlock, Conium maculatum, to kill the greatest philosopher of all, Socrates. The hemlock woods of commerce Tsuga spp.) are not related to this species, and they do not contain coniine. Nowadays, more poisoning of livestock, rather than people, occurs as a consequence of alkaloid ingestion. Keeler (93) recently reviewed the many plant toxins and their effects on livestock. Various alkaloids from Magnolia spp. have been shown (152) to possess cytotoxic and antibacterial effects. There are several toxic non-protein amino acids, but only mimosine has been extracted from wood. The effects of this compound have been reported by Keeler (93). The comparative toxicity of some non-protein amino acids has been reviewed (70, 151). 

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