Magnolia Bark Extract for Bad Breath

An extract of the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis has been a traditional Chinese medicine for years: however, it’s only recently that researchers thought of using magnolia bark extract for bad breath. Like many plant extracts, the compound has antibacterial properties against Propionibacterium acne, an organism involved in facial acne; Helicobacter pylori, the cause of stomach and duodenal ulcers; and Streptococcus mutans a bacterium associated with dental decay. It makes sense to investigate whether this compound can reduce the numbers of odor-causing bacteria in the mouth.

The idea of using botanical extracts for halitosis is not new either. In its simplest form, this approach is employed when we chew on a leaf of mint, a clove, or any other aromatic herb in order to impart a fresh scent to the breath. A number of plant essential oils and other compounds have been tested and found to have antibacterial properties. Plant chlorophyll has been used as a breath freshener for a long time, and more recently, tea tree oil has been suggested as a mouth rinse. Preliminary research suggests that using magnolia bark extract for bad breath may be amazingly effective, and that it poses little risk.

Extract of M. officinalis contains two substances that are thought to be important: magnolol and honokiol, with magnolol being present in much higher concentrations than honokiol. In controlled studies where scientists measured the effectiveness of magnolia bark extract for bad breath, results indicated that both magnolol and honokiol, as well as a combination of the two killed odor-producing oral bacteria. In fact the preparation was significantly more effective than other botanical extracts for halitosis, including peppermint oil and thymol (from thyme).

Product development is still ongoing. Thus far food scientists have tested magnolia bark extract for bad breath bacteria in both controlled laboratory culture conditions, and in live subjects who received the compound in gum or mints. Side effects have been relatively few and researchers believe that the substance can be safely added to food items, some of which are already on the market. Best of all, we won’t have to go to the health food store to get these botanical extracts for halitosis: we may finally have a breath freshening mint that does more than just mask the odor.

Source:
Greenberg, Michael. Philip Urnezis and Minmin Tian. “Compressed Mints and Chewing Gum Containing Magnolia Bark Extract Are Effective against Bacteria Responsible for Oral Malodor” J. Agric. Food Chem., 2007, 55 (23), pp 9465–9469.