Magnolia bark
Magnolia bark suppliers and sourcing guide
Magnolia bark is the dried stem, branch and root bark of Magnolia officinalis, a tree grown mainly in central and southern China. It is traded as cut bark and powder, and most supplement use is an extract, often made with ethanol or supercritical carbon dioxide, standardized to the biphenyl compounds honokiol and magnolol by HPLC. Extracts range from low-percentage full-spectrum powders to highly purified grades.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Magnolia officinalis · hou po · Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis · magnolia bark extract
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of magnolia bark
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut bark
Dried bark pieces for traditional preparations and further extraction.
Bark powder
Milled bark, usually not standardized.
Standardized extract
Ethanol or CO2 extract standardized to a combined honokiol and magnolol percentage by HPLC, from low single digits up to 90% or more.
Honokiol-rich grades
Purified fractions sold mainly on honokiol content, used in supplements and oral care.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity (HPTLC/HPLC)
- Fingerprint against a Magnolia officinalis bark reference, to rule out other Magnolia species and other barks.
- Honokiol and magnolol assay (HPLC)
- Each compound and the total by HPLC; the COA should name the method because results differ between methods.
- Residual solvents
- For extracts made with ethanol or other solvents, residual solvent levels against USP <467> or the buyer's spec.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and Prop 65 exposure targets where relevant.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw herb powders carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated, which should be stated on the COA.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen, required for organic claims and commonly requested for conventional material.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
Lots and expiry dates
Honokiol and magnolol levels vary with bark age, source species and extraction, so check each lot's assay against the spec. Record the supplier lot, species, plant part, extraction solvent and retest date.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists Magnolia officinalis (Hou po) under the pharmacopoeial name Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)That monograph requires its ingredients to be prepared according to the most recent edition of an accepted pharmacopoeia.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Magnolia bark suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking magnolia bark suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell magnolia bark? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of magnolia bark can brands buy?
Common forms include cut bark, bark powder, standardized extract and honokiol-rich grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for magnolia bark include?
Expect identity (HPTLC/HPLC), honokiol and magnolol assay (HPLC), residual solvents, heavy metals, microbiology and pesticide residues, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should magnolia bark be stored?
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
What is the regulatory status of magnolia bark?
Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists Magnolia officinalis (Hou po) under the pharmacopoeial name Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis. That monograph requires its ingredients to be prepared according to the most recent edition of an accepted pharmacopoeia.
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