Abstract: Magnoliidae compounds are made by obtaining parts of Magnoliidae plants. The parts of the Magnoliidae plants are mixed with alcohol and water. The mixture of the parts of the Magnoliidae plants, alcohol and water is heated and the parts of the Magnoliidae plants are removed so that a liquid mixture remains. The liquid mixture is drying to form a solid composition. Alcohol and water are added to the solid composition to reconstitute the solid composition into a liquid composition. The liquid composition is heated to form solid matter. The solid matter is dried to obtain a purified composition of the Magnoliidae compounds. A dose of Magnoliidae compounds promotes weight loss and can be administered in liquid form, sublingually, intravenously, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in combination with a metabolite detoxification agent, in combination with a nutritional or dietary supplement, or in chewing gum.

Abstract: A method for decreasing nicotine and other substance use in humans is disclosed. Tetrahydroberberine (THB) and its analogs, l-Tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) and l-Stepholidine (l-SPD), are present in and can be isolated from several plants in the Magnoliidae superorder. According to the disclosed method, THB and its analogs are used to block nicotine-induced DA release, and modulate heterologous or homoeric expression of human nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in humans. Specifically, THB exhibits bi-directory modulation of ?4?2-nAChR-mediated currents induced by nicotine. THB also shows predominant inhibition on homologously expressed ?7-nAChR function. Thus, according to the disclosed method, THB is used to simultaneous blockade midbrain DA system function, the brain reward center, and neuronal ?4?2- and ?7-nAChR function, the major nicotine targets in the brain. Therefore, THB and its analogs serve as a novel class of natural compounds to decrease nicotine dependence in humans.