Pharmacological features, health benefits and clinical implications of honokiol

Abstract

Honokiol (HNK) is a natural polyphenolic compound extracted from the bark and leaves of Magnolia grandiflora. It has been traditionally used as a medicinal compound to treat inflammatory diseases. HNK possesses numerous health benefits with a minimal level of toxicity. It can cross the blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid, thus having significant bioavailability in the neurological tissues. HNK is a promising bioactive compound possesses neuroprotective, antimicrobial, anti-tumorigenic, anti-spasmodic, antidepressant, analgesic, and antithrombotic features . HNK can prevent the growth of several cancer types and haematological malignancies. Recent studies suggested its role in COVID-19 therapy. It binds effectively with several molecular targets, including apoptotic factors, chemokines, transcription factors, cell surface adhesion molecules, and kinases. HNK has excellent pharmacological features and a wide range of chemotherapeutic effects, and thus, researchers have increased interest in improving the therapeutic implications of HNK to the clinic as a novel agent. This review focused on the therapeutic implications of HNK, highlighting clinical and pharmacological features and the underlying mechanism of action.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Keywords:

• Anticancer agents
• Alzheimer’s disease
• neurodegenerative diseases
• HNK
• natural products
• pharmacological features
• apoptosis
• diabetes

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

The information supporting this study’s findings is available in this article.

Compliance with ethics guidelines

This article is based on previous studies and contains no new studies with human participants or animals performed by any authors.

Additional information

Funding

MIH expresses gratitude to the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, and Government of India for financial support [Grant No. Z. 18017/187/CSS/R&D/DL-01/2019-20-NMPB-IVA]. Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India (Grant No. F. No. 3-69/2020-CCRUM/Tech).