Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H.Wilson. Bark Extract and Magnolol Alleviate Allergic Rhinitis via Modulating...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Immunology
• Natural Products

Background:

• Magnolia officinalis bark is a traditional remedy for inflammatory conditions.
• Magnolol, a key compound, has known anti-inflammatory properties.
• Mechanisms of Magnolia officinalis in allergic rhinitis (AR) require elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the anti-allergic effects of Magnolia officinalis bark aqueous extract (MOAE) and magnolol.
• Elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying their efficacy in an ovalbumin-induced AR mouse model.

Main Methods:

• Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR mouse model.
• Assessment of nasal symptoms, histopathology, and serum inflammatory mediators (histamine, IgE, IgG1, IgG2a).
• Integrative network pharmacology, RNA sequencing, and molecular docking.

Main Results:

• MOAE and magnolol significantly reduced AR symptoms like nasal rubbing and sneezing.
• Histopathological improvements and decreased eosinophil infiltration were observed.
• Serum histamine and OVA-specific antibodies were markedly reduced.
• NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways were identified as key targets.

Conclusions:

• MOAE and magnolol demonstrate significant protective effects against allergic rhinitis.
• These effects are mediated by the modulation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.
• Provides scientific evidence for the traditional use of Magnolia officinalis bark in treating AR.