Honokiol · Honokiol (biphenolic lignan from Magnolia officinalis bark)
A compound from magnolia bark with a long history of anxiolytic use, but for which all supporting evidence — including any longevity-relevant mechanisms — remains preclinical/animal-only.
Short answer
Honokiol (Honokiol (biphenolic lignan from Magnolia officinalis bark)) is a anxiolytic / preclinical longevity compound with evidence grade E, meaning it is only mechanistic evidence so far. We track 0 produkter containing Honokiol. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $0.00 per månad.
What it is
Honokiol is extracted from the bark of the magnolia tree, used in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine (as part of formulas like Saiboku-to) primarily for anxiety and digestive complaints.
Why people take it
In cell and animal studies, honokiol has shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potentially senolytic-adjacent properties, generating interest as a longevity compound, though this interest is based entirely on lab and animal data.
Our verdict
This is one of the least human-validated compounds on this list: every study identified in this research was preclinical (mouse) or in vitro. There is no established human dose, no human RCT, and no direct human safety data specific to isolated honokiol. Any longevity claims are currently speculative extrapolations from animal biology.
Structure & class
Honokiol is a low-molecular-weight biphenolic compound capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier readily in animal models, studied for GABA-A receptor modulation (anxiolytic mechanism) and, separately, for AMPK/mTOR and antioxidant pathways relevant to cellular stress resistance.
Mechanism & clinical data
A foundational mouse study (Kuribara et al. 2000, J Pharm Pharmacol) established honokiol as the active anxiolytic constituent of magnolia bark extract, effective at 0.2 mg/kg in mice. A separate animal study found magnolia bark extract exerts anxiolytic effects via cannabinoid CB1 receptor modulation. Review articles summarize additional preclinical work on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential senescence-modulating properties, but no human clinical trial establishing a safe/effective human dose for any longevity-relevant endpoint was identified in this research.
Pharmacokinetics
No established human pharmacokinetic data; animal studies suggest good blood-brain barrier penetration and relatively rapid metabolism, but this has not been characterized in humans.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
No human clinical dose has been established — commercial produkter' dosing is not derived from human trial data; may have sedative/CNS-depressant effects (based on animal anxiolytic mechanism) that could interact with other sedatives or alcohol; long-term human safety is unknown.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regelverk status
Timeline
Regelverk events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Honokiol, most recent first. Every entry links to its primär source.
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EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in april 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
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EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
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EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
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Kuribara H, et al. (2000). The anxiolytic effect of two oriental herbal drugs in Japan attributed to honokiol from magnolia bark. J Pharm Pharmacol. PMID 11186252.Kuribara H, et al. (2000). The anxiolytic effect of two oriental herbal drugs in Japan attributed to honokiol from magnolia bark. J Pharm Pharmacol. PMID 11186252.
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EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 maj 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
Landmark studies
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Kuribara H, et al. (2000). The anxiolytic effect of two oriental herbal drugs in Japan attributed to honokiol from magnolia bark. J Pharm Pharmacol. PMID 11186252.
Kuribara H, et al. (2000). The anxiolytic effect of two oriental herbal drugs in Japan attributed to honokiol from magnolia bark. J Pharm Pharmacol. PMID 11186252.
Läs studie →
Found in these produkter
Alla produkter in our catalog that contain Honokiol, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
No produkter in our catalog contain this yet.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
Se alla in Anxiolytic / Preclinical longevity compound →Molekyler in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Honokiol in our catalogue.
Nothing else in the database sits close enough to this molecule to list.
Frequently asked questions
What is Honokiol?
Honokiol is extracted from the bark of the magnolia tree, used in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine (as part of formulas like Saiboku-to) primarily for anxiety and digestive complaints.
What dose of Honokiol should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 0 mg per dag, with a range of 0 to 0 mg per dag. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Honokiol safe?
No human clinical dose has been established — commercial produkter' dosing is not derived from human trial data; may have sedative/CNS-depressant effects (based on animal anxiolytic mechanism) that could interact with other sedatives or alcohol; long-term human safety is unknown.
What is the best Honokiol supplement?
We track 0 produkter containing Honokiol. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Honokiol?
Honokiol has evidence grade E, meaning it is only mechanistic evidence so far. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Bevisning grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new produkter are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.