Magnolia sinica

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Common products:
Pressed seed oil from Sinomenium acutum is used as an edible oil. Cold-pressed and physically refined oil is consumed as salad oil; solvent-extracted and fully refined oil is used for deep-frying and cooking due to its stability. The defatted meal is a high-protein feed supplement (crude protein ~18–24%) for livestock and aquaculture.

Industrial and craft applications:
Oil is evaluated for biodiesel via transesterification; fatty acid profile supports oxidative stability and cold-flow properties. Oil and resin are reported as drying oils in varnishes and inks. An ethanolic extract is used in industrial applications such as adhesives.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Oil is directly consumed as a food oil; meal/flour is incorporated as a protein and fiber ingredient in animal feeds.

Colorants and tanning:
Roots and stems contain alkaloids and other phenolics used as commercial mordant dyes for protein fibers (wool/silk) and leather. The same constituents form the basis of tannin products for vegetable tanning.

Wood and fiber:
Timber is described as soft, with a fine, uniform grain used for furniture, veneer, and general construction in some regions. Bast fibers are occasionally used for cordage and coarse textiles.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
The essential oil is cited for perfumery. A non-tannin ethanolic extract and an oil-free extract are used in cosmetics and toiletries. Limited odor data are reported; the plant is noted as a perfume ingredient in secondary trade literature.

Properties relevant to use:
The seed oil’s edible quality and oxidative stability correlate with its fatty acid composition (see fatty acid profile in Research Information #3). Drying performance for inks and varnishes derives from its chemical character as a drying oil. Tannins in roots and stems are responsible for leather tanning and mordant dye use.

Standards and regulation:
Edible oil is subject to national food safety and hygiene laws; physically refined oil meets food-grade criteria. Leather tannins must comply with national environmental discharge regulations for tanning effluent (e.g., BOD/COD limits). Cosmetic and fragrance uses are regulated under regional cosmetics legislation (e.g., IFRA/Olfactory Standards) for safety and quality compliance.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Wild-harvested roots pose sustainability risks; cultivation with regenerative soil management is promoted to reduce pressure on wild populations. Oil and feed markets are supported by established production and processing in China, but the trade is relatively small. Tannin production and cosmetics/fragrance applications are treated as niche markets with variable supply.

Distribution and product forms:
The species is used primarily in China. Products include raw seed oil (cold-pressed or solvent-extracted), refined oil, biodiesel, defatted meal, tannin extract, mordant dye, timber, bast fiber, and essential oil.

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