厚朴酚及和厚朴酚是来自于中药厚朴的同分异构体，具有相同的药理活性。它们都可通过保护胰腺β-细胞，促进胰岛素分泌，提高血中胰岛素水平及细胞对葡萄糖的摄取和利用，从而降低胰岛素抵抗和血糖水平；还能通过抑制脂质合成和促进脂质分解，产生调血脂作用。厚朴酚及和厚朴酚可通过降血糖、调血脂及抗氧化作用，从源头上减少氧化低密度脂蛋白（ox-LDL）和晚期糖基化终末产物（AGEs）的生成，还可通过抗氧化、抗炎及细胞保护作用，保护心血管系统、肾脏、肝脏、胰腺等组织器官对抗高血糖、高脂血症诱导并发症的发生和发展。因此厚朴酚及和厚朴酚有开发成为治疗代谢综合征新药的潜力。

Magnolol and honokiol are same structural isomers from Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, and have same pharmacologic activity. Magnolol and honokiol decrease insulin resistance and glycemia level by protecting pancreatic β-cells, promoting secretion of insulin, increasing insulin level in blood and cell ability to take in and utilize glucose. Magnolol and honokiol have the effects of decreasing hyperlipemia by inhibiting lipidic synthesis and accelerating lipidic catabolism. Their mechanisms to prevent and treat for the complications of hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia are: the effects of magnolol and honokiol on hypoglycemia, hypolipemia and antioxidation decrease the products of AGEs and ox-LDL from source; the effects on antioxidation, anti-inflammation and cellar protection of magnolol and honokiol protect the organs of cardiovascullar system, ren, liver and pancreas against development of complications induced by hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia. So magnolol and honokiol have potentiality to become drugs of treating metabolic syndrome.