Ulje cveta magnolije

What magnolia is

Magnolia is a genus of about 210 to 340 flowering plant species. Magnolias are trees or shrubs with large, fragrant flowers that may be bowl-shaped or star-shaped, in shades of white, pink, purple, green or yellow. The constituents of the volatile oils differ among Magnolia genotypes.

Source plants

Magnolia grandiflora, the southern magnolia, is a flowering tree native to the Southeastern United States coastal plain. Its flowers are white, fragrant and up to 30 cm in diameter, and each bloom has six to 12 petals with a waxy texture. Magnolia officinalis, commonly called houpu magnolia, is a species native to the mountains and valleys of China. It is a deciduous tree up to 20 m tall with broad, fragrant white flowers. Magnolia heptapeta bears white flower buds and Magnolia denudata var. purpurascens bears violet ones. Magnolia champaca, formerly classified as Michelia champaca, is a large evergreen tree with strongly fragrant flowers in shades of cream to yellow-orange. Magnolia × alba is a white-flowered hybrid of Magnolia champaca and Magnolia montana. Magnolia × soulangeana, the saucer magnolia, is a hybrid of Magnolia denudata and Magnolia liliiflora. Taxonomists debate merging related genera such as Michelia with Magnolia.

Composition

Monoterpene hydrocarbons accounted for 58% of the compounds in the oil of white Magnolia heptapeta flower buds and 54% in the oil of violet Magnolia denudata var. purpurascens buds. Sabinene made up 15.19% of the white-bud oil and 14.98% of the violet-bud oil. β-Myrcene was more abundant in the violet-bud oil (17.19%) than in the white-bud oil (9.94%). Among the oxygenated monoterpenes, 1,8-cineole was dominant, at 7.59% in the white buds and 11.61% in the violet buds. Such differences in composition are attributed to factors including geographic location, genetic factors, climate, crop stage, harvesting time and processing method.

The aromatic bark of Magnolia contains magnolol, honokiol, 4-O-methylhonokiol and obovatol. Magnolol is a lignan found in the bark of Houpu magnolia (Magnolia officinalis) and in M. grandiflora. Its formula is C₁₈H₁₈O₂.

Culinary use

In some Asian cuisines, magnolia buds are pickled and used to flavor rice and scent tea.

Traditional medicine

The bark and flower buds of Magnolia officinalis have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, where they are known as hou po.

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Related: Magnolia · Magnolia Brooklynensis · Magnolia Leaf · Saucer Magnolia · Star Magnolia