Magnolia officinalis has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Magnolol, an active component isolated\r\nfrom Magnolia officinalis, is known to be a cardiovascular protector since 1994. The multiplex mechanisms of\r\nmagnolol on cardiovascular protection depends on cell types and dosages, and will be reviewed and discussed in\r\nthis article. Magnolol under low and moderate dosage possesses the ability to protect heart from ischemic/\r\nreperfusion injury, reduces atherosclerotic change, protects endothelial cell against apoptosis and inhibits\r\nneutrophil-endothelial adhesion. The moderate to high concentration of magnolol mainly acts on smooth muscle\r\ncells and platelets. Magnolol induces apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells at moderate concentration and\r\ninhibits proliferation at moderate and high concentration. High concentration of magnolol also abrogates platelet\r\nactivation, aggregation and thrombus formation. Magnolol also serves as an smooth muscle relaxant only upon the\r\nhigh concentration. Oral intake of magnolol to reach the therapeutic level for cardiovascular protection is\r\napplicable, thus makes magnolol an agent of great potential for preventing cardiovascular diseases in high-risk\r\npatients.
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