$51.00
$61.00 save $10.00 -- applied automatically through this link
When you buy through our links, we earn a small commission -- and that is what funds all the free education here. It never costs you more. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
What it is
A proprietary evening blend of magnolia bark (standardized to honokiol), epimedium, L-theanine from green tea, plant sterols (with beta-sitosterol), and phosphatidylserine, taken with the evening meal. It is built to support the body's normal, healthy stress-response rhythm and steady cortisol handling rather than to sedate you. It contains soy.
Why the evidence supports it
Stress physiology runs through cortisol, and this blend works it from a few angles at once: phosphatidylserine and beta-sitosterol are the ingredients most studied for helping the body manage cortisol around stress and exercise, while L-theanine is the best-supported calming compound here, with human research on relaxed, focused alertness. The honest read is that it is a proprietary blend, so not every per-ingredient amount is disclosed, and the strongest single-active evidence sits with L-theanine. Taken together, that is an evidence-based way to support the nervous system's normal downshift -- the Mind's Regulate function -- through a stressful stretch, not a lever that lowers a lab value.
What it supports
- Supports the body's normal, healthy stress response
- Supports a calm, settled state in the evening
- Provides L-theanine, a calming amino acid found in tea
- Complements good sleep, movement, and everyday stress habits
Which function it supports
Ties to the Mind world's Regulate function -- supporting the nervous system's normal downshift as the day winds down. This is stress-response support only, not a treatment for any condition.
Learn the why behind this pillarHow it relates to your cells and mind
Every product here ties back to a specific job your body does. This one touches the functions below -- follow either link to see the mechanism in full, then dig into the studies.
What it is made of -- and the mechanisms behind it
Each ingredient acts on several of the body's functions. Taken together, this product touches these cell and mind functions -- follow any to see the mechanism in full.
The ingredients
Mechanisms drawn from our ingredient knowledge base (5 profiled ingredients). Structure and function only -- not a treatment claim.
What’s actually in it
Label revision 2018Transcribed from the manufacturer’s official Product Information Page, exactly as printed. Ingredient names that link open our research page for that ingredient, with the studies behind it.
| Amount per 2 capsules | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 58 mg | 4% |
| Magnolia bark ExtractMagnolia officinalis | 19 mg | ** |
| Epimedium herb ExtractEpimedium koreanum | 200 mg | ** |
| L-TheanineTheaPure, fermented Camellia sinensis | 135 mg | ** |
| Plant Sterolswith Beta Sitosterol | 110 mg | ** |
| Phosphatidylserine | 16.6 mg | ** |
- Servings per container:
- 30
- Other ingredients:
- Gelatin, Tricalcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate.
- Allergens:
- Contains Soy
Source: official Product Information Page . Amounts are the manufacturer’s, not ours. Structure and function only -- nothing here is medical advice, and nothing here may be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The science on the ingredients
These studies are research on the ingredients and mechanisms in this product, not on the finished product itself, and they are shown for education. For this ingredient most of the published work is laboratory or animal research rather than human trials, so read it as biology worth knowing rather than proof of an effect in people. Nothing here is medical advice, and nothing here may be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your own provider about what is right for you.
- Anti‐biofilm and bactericidal effects of magnolia bark‐derived magnolol and honokiol on <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>
Microbiology and Immunology · 2016
In cell culture, ABSTRACT Dental caries affects people of all ages and is a worldwide health concern
- Honokiol, a putative anxiolytic agent extracted from magnolia bark, has no diazepam-like side-effects in mice
J Pharm Pharmacol · 1999
Repeated honokiol dosing produced an anxiolytic-type effect in mice without the motor and muscle-relaxant side effects seen with diazepam at an anxiolytic-equivalent dose.
- Studies on the active principles of magnolia bark. Centrally acting muscle relaxant activity of magnolol and honokiol
Jpn J Pharmacol · 1975
Early pharmacology work identified magnolol and honokiol as the magnolia bark compounds behind a centrally-acting, muscle-relaxing calming effect in animal models.
- Honokiol Targeting SIRT3: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Opportunities.
FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology · 2025
Honokiol activates SIRT3, and this review examines the biological functions and signaling pathways of this activation across various disease models.
- EXPRESS: Honokiol and analgesia: a mechanistic review on the current capacities and challenges
2025
In a review, Pain is an unfavorable subjective sensation influencing 20% of the public population, giving rise to substantial health and economic issues
- The Neuropharmacological Effects of Magnolol and Honokiol: A Review of Signal Pathways and Molecular Mechanisms.
Current molecular pharmacology · 2023
This review examines the signal pathways and molecular mechanisms underlying the neuropharmacological effects of magnolol and honokiol compounds.
Displaced minds: ecologies of depressionEmergingExpert review2026
A journal issue collected work on magnolol's antidepressant-like effects in chronic stress models, short-chain fatty acids as biomarkers in major depression, and developmental origins of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome.
Kattner AA -- Biomedical journal
Role of magnolol in gastrointestinal cancers: Recent trends and future perspectives.EmergingExpert review2026
An expert review on Magnolia/honokiol found that these effects are mediated through modulation of key cancer-associated signaling pathways, including PI3K/Akt/NF-κB, MAPK/JNK, ERK, TGF-β/Smad, and caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways.
Tuli HS; Pal D; Chauhan R; Sood A; Mehrotra A; Chauhan A; Bhatia R; Haque S; Sak K; Kaur D -- Seminars in oncology
EXPRESS: Honokiol and analgesia: a mechanistic review on the current capacities and challengesEmergingExpert review2025
In a review, Pain is an unfavorable subjective sensation influencing 20% of the public population, giving rise to substantial health and economic issues
Behrang Nooralishahi; Mehdi Dehghani; Fatemeh Rezaee Tazangi
Antibacterial, Photoprotective, Anti-Inflammatory, and Selected Anticancer Properties of Honokiol Extracted from Plants of the Genus <i>Magnolia</i> and Used in the Treatment of Dermatological Problems-A ReviewEmergingExpert review2025
In a review, honokiol showed antibacterial, photoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity plus suppression of highly metastatic melanoma, with nanocarrier delivery named as the practical obstacle.
Mirosława Chwil; Katarzyna Dzida; Paulina Terlecka; Daniela Gruľová; Renata Matraszek-Gawron; Karol Terlecki; Anna Kasprzyk; Mikołaj Kostryco
Honokiol antagonizes cadmium-induced ultrastructural nuclear variation and mitochondrial dysfunction of hepatocytes through targeting Bax proteinEmerging2026
In day-old broilers given 50 mg/L cadmium for 42 days, 50 mg/kg honokiol preserved hepatocyte nuclear and mitochondrial structure, raised superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, lowered malondialdehyde, and reduced caspase-3 expression.
Aftab Shaukat; Irfan Shaukat; Mohammed Al-Rasheed; Rizwan Shukat; Ghadeer M Albadrani; Amany A Sayed; Mohamed M Abdel-Daim; Ren-Wei Su; Zhiwen Wu
Magnolol suppresses TKI-resistant EGFR-mutant lung cancer by inhibiting EGFR and AXL-cMyc.2026
In EGFR-mutant lung cancer cell models, including osimertinib-resistant lines, magnolol from magnolia bark inhibited EGFR phosphorylation, suppressed AXL-cMyc signaling, and impaired DNA repair by downregulating Rad51.
Chen CC; Wang TH; Leu YL; Chan CW; Chen YX; Chu YD; Chen CY -- European journal of pharmacology
Protocol for Studying Honokiol Regulation of Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1/Smad Signaling in Ultraviolet A-induced Skin Photoaging Models.EmergingTrial registry2026
A trial registry on Magnolia/honokiol found that HNK has the potential to be a drug for ameliorating photo-aging damage by reducing MMP expression through activation of the TGF-β1/Smad pathway, thereby inhibiting UVA-induced photo-aging in HDF cells and mouse skin.
Ma G; Liu Z; Li Y; Tao Y -- Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
Targeting the NAD+-SIRT3 axis to mitigate metabolic memory in diabetic kidney disease.2026
A review found that the NAD+-SIRT3 axis serves as a mechanistic hub linking mitochondrial dysfunction to inflammation and epigenetic changes in diabetic kidney disease, with reduced renal SIRT3 activity driving metabolic memory of injury.
Zhang Y; Wang Y; Qiao Y; Liu L; Zhao H; Jin Q; Peng L; Li P -- Renal failure
Magnolia officinalis (L.) Bark Extract Counteracts Oxidative Brain Injury: A Proteomic Investigation into Neuroprotective Mechanisms.2026
In rat brain cortical slices exposed to hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress, Magnolia officinalis bark extract restored tissue viability, reduced ROS and malondialdehyde levels, and reduced activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9 apoptotic pathways.
Mattioli LB; Stella R; Peggion C; Cagnin S; Pifferi A; Miraldi E; Cappellucci G; Baini G; Camarda L; Budriesi R; Frosini M -- International journal of molecular sciences
Identification of senescence rejuvenation mechanism of Magnolia officinalis extract including honokiol as a core ingredient.2025
Magnolia officinalis extract, with honokiol as its core active ingredient, lowered reactive oxygen species by restoring mitochondrial electron transport function, reversing senescence-associated phenotypes in aging skin fibroblasts.
Lee YH; Jeong EY; Kim YH; Park JH; Yoon JH; Lee YJ; Lee SH; Nam YK; Cha SY; Park JS; Kim SY; Byun Y; Shin SS; Park JT -- Aging
Magnolol protects C6 glioma cells against neurotoxicity of FB1 via modulating PI3K/Akt and mitochondria-associated apoptosis signaling pathways.2025
Magnolol protected C6 glial cells against fumonisin B1-induced neurotoxicity by modulating PI3K/Akt and mitochondria-associated apoptosis signaling, preserving cell viability and mitochondrial morphology under mycotoxin exposure.
Wang Y; Cheng D; He J; Liu S; Wang X; Wang M -- Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
Therapeutic potential of Da Cheng Qi Decoction and its ingredients in regulating ferroptosis via the NOX2-GPX4 signaling pathway to alleviate and predict severe acute pancreatitis.2025
In a pancreatitis mouse model, Da Cheng Qi Decoction containing honokiol and seven other compounds reduced ferroptosis in pancreatic acinar cells by modulating the NOX2-GPX4 pathway, lowering ROS and inflammatory marker levels.
Chen J; Li F; Luo WS; Zhu MF; Zhao NJ; Zhang ZH; Chen YF; Feng DX; Yang SY; Sun WJ -- Cellular signalling
Polymer-Free Electrospinning of β-Cyclodextrin-Oligolactide for Magnolol and Honokiol Pharmaceutical Formulations.2025
A polymer-free electrospinning technique using beta-cyclodextrin-oligolactide derivatives was developed to improve the water solubility of magnolol and honokiol, compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in laboratory testing.
Blaj DA; Peptu CA; Balan-Porcarasu M; Peptu C; Tuchilus CG; Ochiuz L -- Pharmaceutics
Honokiol protects against acute pancreatitis by activating SIRT3 to restore mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and alleviate hyperacetylation.EmergingAnimal study2026
An animal study on Magnolia/honokiol found that these findings suggest a previously unrecognized SIRT3-CYC1 signaling axis underlying honokiol's mitochondrial protective effects in AP.
Miao YF; Yao JQ; Peng Y; Bai D; Fan SH; Li HY; Jin W; Lu Y -- Journal of integrative medicine
Sex-specific hearing loss in Sirt3 knockout mice and attenuation by honokiol.ContestedAnimal study2026
An animal study on Magnolia/honokiol found that this study demonstrates that SIRT3 is required for hearing function and that honokiol attenuates hearing loss and oxidative stress in male Sirt3-/- mice.
Koo C; Zhou Y; Thomas D; Fuentes R; Li J; Kim M; Richter CP; Tan X -- Hearing research
Magnolol mitigates polystyrene microplastic-induced oviductal toxicity in laying hens via immunomodulation and microbiota regulation.EmergingAnimal study2026
An animal study on Magnolia/honokiol found that dietary MAG mitigates PS-induced oviductal damage through immunomodulation and microbiota regulation, ultimately improving reproductive performance in laying hens.
Lv Y; Huang W; Ge C; Wu L; Hu Z; Zhan S; Shen X; Yu D; Liu B -- Poultry science
Laccase-Catalyzed Dimerization of Honokiol and Magnolol for Multitarget Metabolic Enzyme Inhibitors.ContestedPreclinical study2026
A preclinical study on Magnolia/honokiol found that the dimers exhibited more potent inhibitory activity than honokiol and magnolol, with houpulin B showing the strongest inhibition toward all tested enzymes.
Sciacca C; Cardullo N; Pulvirenti L; Varriale S; Vitiello L; Pezzella C; Muccilli V -- Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology
Deciphering the multi-target mechanism of Magnolia officinalis in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea: A combined network pharmacology, machine learning, and in vivo validation studyEmergingAnimal study2026
Computational screening of Magnolia officinalis identified magnolol, honokiol and obovatol acting on eight targets including EGFR and MET, and in mice they reduced anxiety-like behaviour, intestinal hypermotility and serum IL-8.
Xiran Wang; Yuli Wei; Mengze Wang; Yu Zhang; Longfei Liu; Xiaokai Ma; Li Gao; Haixia Ji
The Anti-Glioblastoma Effects of Magnolol Are Mediated through Paradoxical Enhancement of Antioxidant Defenses and Induction of Apoptosis.EmergingPreclinical study2026
A preclinical study on Magnolia/honokiol found that this novel mechanism highlights its potential as a research subject of interest.
Zand M; Latifi SA; Salehi M; Karami H -- Cell journal
Magnolol Ameliorates Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury with Activation of Nrf2-Associated Antioxidant Responses.EmergingAnimal study2026
An animal study on Magnolia/honokiol found that apoptotic damage was mitigated, as shown by the fewer TUNEL-positive cells and lowered expression of pro-apoptotic markers.
Gwon MG; Park MH; Leem J -- Current issues in molecular biology
Synergistic Effects of Honokiol on Camptothecin-triggered Apoptosis of Drug-resistant Glioblastoma Cells via CDK1-mediated G2/M Arrest and Intrinsic ROS-Mitochondrion-dependent Pathway.EmergingAnimal study2026
An animal study on Magnolia/honokiol found that our previous studies showed the benefits of CPT and CPT-containing nanoparticles on suppressing GBM tumorigenesis.
Yang CP; Chen JT; Liu SH; Chen E; Chen RM -- Anticancer research
Honokiol attenuates neuroinflammation and enhances remyelination in mouse models of multiple sclerosis through PPARγ-mediated ERK/AKT signalling.EmergingPreclinical study2026
A preclinical study on Magnolia/honokiol found that honokiol improved myelin restoration and exerted potent anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing glial activation, modulating inflammatory cytokine profiles, and restoring lipid homeostasis.
Yu X; Wei L; Zheng Y; Qi X; Mu X; Wang Q; Hua Y; Chen Q; Zhang Y; Jiang H; Wang Z; Ni P -- Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics
Effect of honokiol on abemaciclib metabolism both in vitro and in vivo.EmergingAnimal study2026
An animal study on Magnolia/honokiol found that honokiol and abemaciclib show significant DDIs in vitro and in vivo and more attention is required when administered synchronously.
Yang T; Song W; Lu Z; Zhou G; Wang Z; Zhou Q; Geng P; Al Mamun A; Wang S; Shi Y -- The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
Targeting YAP-TEAD Interaction with Honokiol to Inhibit Melanoma Progression and Metastasis.EmergingPreclinical study2026
In mouse melanoma models, the honokiol derivative HK03 blocked the YAP-TEAD protein interaction, reduced tumor cell migration and EMT markers, and lowered metastatic tumor burden in the lungs.
Lee C; Do HTT; Fei X; Lee S; Hyun S; Seo SY; Rhee I -- Biomolecules & therapeutics
Balanced by design -- we show supporting and contradicting findings. Search all studies
If you have had labs done
These are lab markers where this product's ingredients have measured evidence in our citation library. This is not a claim that the product will change your results -- the research attaches to the ingredient, and what a marker means depends on the whole picture. Each one links to its full entry, including what typically moves it and how to read it.
- Cortisolsolid evidence
via L-Theanine · 10 studies, 8 in people
What people often notice when this marker sits outside the usual range
Higher: "Wired but tired" -- exhausted all day, then alert the moment the head hits the pillow.
Lower: Profound fatigue that is worst in the morning, and improves slightly through the day -- the reverse of the usual pattern.
via Beta-sitosterol/plant sterols · 6 studies, 3 in people
What people often notice when this marker sits outside the usual range
Higher: The symptoms that actually travel with raised triglycerides belong to the metabolic pattern behind them -- the post-meal crash, central weight, rising blood pressure, fatty liver.
Lower: Very low total cholesterol alongside low albumin and unintended weight loss points at absorption or liver capacity, not at good health.
- LDL-C (LDL Cholesterol)solid evidence
via Beta-sitosterol/plant sterols · 6 studies, 3 in people
What people often notice when this marker sits outside the usual range
Higher: A high LDL-C is an ESTIMATE that a lot of cholesterol cargo is riding in your LDL particles.
Lower: A low LDL-C is generally favourable, but on its own it is a start, not an answer -- pair it with ApoB to know the real particle burden.
- Total Cholesterolsolid evidence
via Beta-sitosterol/plant sterols · 6 studies, 3 in people
What people often notice when this marker sits outside the usual range
Higher: A high total cholesterol is silent and, on its own, can be actively misleading -- it blends favourable HDL and atherogenic LDL/particle cholesterol into one crude figure.
Lower: A low total cholesterol is likewise uninformative alone -- the meaning is entirely in the breakdown.
- Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)solid evidence
via Beta-sitosterol/plant sterols · 1 studies, 1 in people
Competes with cholesterol for intestinal absorption; roughly 5-15% lower LDL-C and ApoB at about 2 g/day.
What people often notice when this marker sits outside the usual range
Higher: Visible lipid deposits -- tendon xanthomas, a corneal arcus before about age 45 -- are rare but meaningful, and they point at inherited familial hypercholesterolaemia rather than at diet.
- Non-HDL Cholesterolemerging evidence
via Beta-sitosterol/plant sterols · 6 studies, 3 in people
What people often notice when this marker sits outside the usual range
Lower: A low non-HDL is favourable and, unlike calculated LDL-C, stays reliable even when triglycerides are high.
- ApoB (Apolipoprotein B)emerging evidence
via Beta-sitosterol/plant sterols · 1 studies, 1 in people
What people often notice when this marker sits outside the usual range
Higher: A high ApoB means a high NUMBER of atherogenic particles in circulation -- the count that actually tracks risk.
Lower: A low ApoB means few atherogenic particles.
Lab results are interpreted by a qualified clinician who knows your history. Nothing here diagnoses anything or replaces that conversation.
No product works in isolation
Every cell function above -- Sense, Exchange, Transform, Build, Maintain, Adapt -- needs the same broad base of optimal micronutrient levels running underneath it, all the time. Cortitrol is not a stand-alone fix; it is one piece that plugs into that larger system. The foundation comes first, and this supports it.
Stacks well with
Pick your goal -- here is what Cortitrol pairs with for each. Nothing works in isolation; these share the same systems.
For Mood & Hormones
For Brain & Sleep
For Gut Health
Ready-made stacks it is part of
Foundational, or targeted?
Not everything in the shop is meant to be taken forever. Some products here are foundational -- a daily nutrient base built for long-term, ongoing use. Others are targeted -- shorter-term support for a specific season, not a lifelong habit. If you are not sure which one this is, that is a fair question to ask us before you buy.
Learn more, on your terms
Do not take our word for it -- go read. Each topic below opens a pre-loaded search so you can explore the nutrient, the mechanism, or the device for yourself.
Search the full studies libraryHow to use it
Take two capsules with the evening meal. The label allows an optional additional capsule with breakfast for some people. Follow the current bottle.
Where to get it
Ready when you are. This link takes you to the official, verified source for this product.
Get CortitrolThe studies
See the research behind the science we point to.
Explore studiesThe blog
Plain-language reads on how it all fits together.
Read the blogOptimal nutrients are the definition of longevity
Long-term cell function depends on having what it needs, at the level it needs it, for as long as it needs it. That is the whole thesis behind everything we point you to here.
When you buy through our links, we earn a small commission -- and that is what funds all the free education here. It never costs you more. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Cortitrol is a modest evening blend of magnolia bark, L-theanine, plant sterols, and phosphatidylserine, taken with the evening meal. It is designed to support the body's normal, healthy stress-response rhythm rather than to sedate you. It suits people looking for gentle support through a stressful stretch.
FAQ
What does Cortitrol support?
It supports the body's normal, healthy stress response and a calm, settled state in the evening, provides L-theanine (a calming amino acid found in tea), and complements good sleep, movement, and everyday stress habits.
How do I take it?
Take two capsules with the evening meal. The label allows an optional additional capsule with breakfast for some people. Follow the current bottle.
What makes it different?
It is a proprietary blend, so the framing stays modest on purpose. The strongest single active is L-theanine, which has calming research behind it, so it is gentle stress-response support rather than anything that lowers a lab number.