Synthesis and microbiological evaluation of honokiol derivatives as new antimicrobial agents.

Honokiol, a major phenolic constituent of Magnolia sp., has various pharmacological activities. To improve the solubility and antibacterial activity of honokiol against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, new honokiol-derivatives (honokiol-acetate, honokiol-succinic acid, honokiol-glycerol, honokiol-glycine, honokiol-glucose and honokiol-mannose) were synthesized and their solubility and antimicrobial activities were investigated. Among the tested compounds, honokiol-glycine showed improved water solubility and antibacterial activities against E. coli and P. aeruginosa when compared to honokiol.