Abstract: Magnolol,one of the major components of Chinese traditional medicine Magnolia bark,has been proved to have obvious anti-tumor effects and low toxicity for normal cells.As an anti-cancer drug,magnolol can inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of tumor cells,induce tumor cell apoptosis and inhibit tumor metastasis and tumor angiogenesis.Based on the previous studies of magnolol,the antitumor mechanisms of magnolol were reviewed from the aspects of cell cycle arrest,apoptosis,anti-metastasis and anti-angiogensis.

Key words: magnolol, tumor, apoptosis, metastasis