Magnolias Face Extinction

There was a popular short article on the BBC News site and elsewhere today on the impending extinction of the world's medicinal plants. About 400 medicinal plants were identified by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), as being under serious risk of extinction. One of the top plants mentioned was Magnolia. The plant's medicinal use has a tradition about 5,000 years old in China and is known in herbal pharmacies as: Hou Po 厚朴 (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis; the bark of the tree), Xin Yi Hua 辛夷花 (Flos Magnoliae; flower), and Ye He Hua 夜合花 (Magnoliae coconis Flos). Acupuncturists and herbalists of TCM have had a working relationship with these plants for a long time, but modern science and labs have been benefiting from its use as well.

According to expert research of BGCI, due to deforestation, half the world's species of Magnolia is under serious risk of being lost forever, and with it, valuable natural medicines, both ancient and new. The article mentions the plant's active chemical constituent Honokiol, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cancers and slow down the onset of heart disease. Magnolol is another bioactive compound that is found in the bark (or cortex) of the Magnolia officinalis, Hou Po 厚朴.

The BGCI group, which represents botanic gardens across 120 countries, surveyed over 600 of its members as well as leading university experts. They identified 400 plants that were at risk of extinction. To learn more, their site contains a search of the various endangered plants in their database.

They also have their report available in PDF for you to read. As well as outlining the key trade, livelihood and conservation issues surrounding medicinal plants, the report illustrates the many ways in which botanic gardens can and do contribute to protecting the plants that heal us.

Once again, local gardening projects like those with Traditional Chinese Medicine (or Oriental or Asian) Schools run by acupuncturists and herbalists can contribute to a larger and serious goal in conservation and preservation in the world.

BBC Article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7196702.stm

Other, related articles:
http://news.google.com/news?client=internal-uds&ncl=1126562062&hl=en

Organization:
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).

BGCI was founded in 1987 to link botanic gardens as a co-operating global network for effective plant conservation. It now links over 2500 institutions in over 120 countries, all working together to preserve and promote plant diversity for people and the planet. BGCI is a charity registered in England. It is also a registered Company.