Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies the quality, safety requirements and test methods for Magnoliae officinalis cortex that is derived from the dried stem bark, root bark or branch bark of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. or Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. var. biloba Rehd. et Wils.

It is applicable to Magnoliae officinalis cortex that are sold and used as natural medicines in international trade, including Chinese materia medica (medicinal materials) and decoction pieces.

Purpose

Magnoliae officinalis cortex is the dried stem bark, root bark or branch bark of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. or Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. var. biloba Rehd. et Wils. (Fam Magnoliaceae). It is a medicinal herb which has been widely used as crude drug to dry dampness, resolve phlegm, direct qi downward, and disperse fullness in Asian countries for thousands of years.

The products of Magnoliae officinalis cortex are sold all over the world. The global annual import and export trade volume of Magnoliae officinalis cortex is around 2,000,000 kilograms, with an import and export amount of 4,000,000 US dollars. The main import and export countries are China, the United States, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Germany and Australia. Magnoliae officinalis cortex has been recorded by the Chinese pharmacopoeia, Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica standards, the Japanese pharmacopoeia, the Korean pharmacopoeia and European pharmacopoeia. However, the requirements and test methods of Magnoliae officinalis cortex in these national and regional standards are varied and may cause barriers in the international trade.

Factors including producing areas, processing, packaging and storage conditions could affect the quality of Magnoliae officinalis cortex. The quality of Magnoliae officinalis cortex in the market may be unstable. In addition, due to its demand in the global market, trade in Magnoliae officinalis cortex could be complicated by adulteration, and substitution issues.

As an important herb in traditional Chinese medicine, Magnoliae officinalis cortex is ranked the 52 in the ISO/TR 23975 Traditional Chinese medicine — Priority list of single herbal medicines for developing standards. Thus, it is essential to develop the international standard for Magnoliae officinalis cortex to ensure the consistency in quality of Magnoliae officinalis cortex, which is important in the safe use of this herb and also promote the international trade.