[Effects of tree ages and geographic area on quality of bark of Magnolia officinalis and M. officinalis var. biloba].

The effects of tree ages and geographic area on quality of bark of Magnolia officinalis (MO) and M. officinalis var. biloba (MOB) were studied. The volatile oils of samples extracted by a water stream distillation method were analyzed using a GC/MS method. The non-volatile ingredients of samples were determined by an HPLC method. Seven and twenty characteristic peaks were detected in the HPLC and GC fingerprint of MO, respectively, and the similar HPLC and GC fingerprint were showed in MOB. For samples collected in the same geographic area with different ages, the concentrations of active ingredients varied barely, whereas for those samples collected from different geographic area, differences on the concentrations of active ingredients were observed, for example, the concentrations of the amount of magnolol and honokiol in samples collected in Hubei province were higher than those collected in other areas. Big differences on the concentrations of active ingredients were found between MO and MOB, for MO, the ratio of honokiol/ magnolol was more than 0.7, whereas the ratio-was less than 0.7 in the case of MOB, and the concentrations of honokiol in MO were higher than those in MOB.