Epimagnolin B has anti-inflammatory activity, it can inhibit the production of NO and PGE(2) and the expression of respective enzyme iNOS and COX-2 through the suppression of I-kappaB-alpha degradation and nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of NF-kappaB. It also exhibits antiallergic effects without affecting the viability of bone marrow-derived mast cells.

The overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) causes neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Four lignans, (+)-eudesmin (1), (+)-magnolin (2), (+)-yangambin (3) and a new structure named as Epimagnolin B (4) were isolated from Magnolia fargesii (Magnoliaceae) as the inhibitors of NO production in LPS-activated microglia[1]