Analysis of Chemical Components and Pharmacological Activities of Different Processing Methods in Magnolia denudata...

The dried flower buds of Magnolia denudata are traditionally employed for the treatment of headache and nasal congestion. The present study was designed to compare and contrast three processing methods (sun-drying, shade-drying, and oven-drying) for Magnolia denudata 'Hailuo', specifically investigating their respective influences on the material basis associated with its pharmacological activity.

Volatile components were extracted using both Soxhlet and ultrasonic techniques, and the optimal method was selected based on extraction efficiency. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to identify and quantify the chemical constituents present in materials subjected to different drying methods. Subsequently, network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses were conducted to explore the potential synergistic pharmacological mechanisms of the identified compounds.

Soxhlet extraction proved to be more effective than ultrasonic extraction in comprehensively recovering volatile constituents from Magnolia denudata 'Hailuo'. Among the three drying methods evaluated, sun-drying enabled the identification of 42 compounds and was determined to be the most suitable processing approach. The predominant components identified included eucalyptol, tetracosane, α-terpinyl acetate, α-terpineol, and β-caryophyllene. Network pharmacology indicated that these compounds may exert therapeutic effects by regulating key pathways involved in lipid metabolism, neuronal signaling, nuclear receptor activity, and inflammatory responses. Core targets implicated in these mechanisms included prostaglandinendoperoxide synthases (PTGS1 and PTGS2) and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (CHRM1, CHRM2, and CHRM3).

This study demonstrates that Soxhlet extraction combined with sun-drying optimally enriches the volatile components of Magnolia denudata 'Hailuo'. Furthermore, the application of network pharmacology and molecular docking has provided preliminary insights into the multi-target pharmacological mechanisms underlying its traditional use, thereby offering a scientific basis for its clinical efficacy.

The findings of this study provide valuable references for the further development and utilization of Magnolia denudata 'Hailuo' as a medicinal resource.