In traditional Asian medicinal systems, preparations of the root and stem bark of Magnolia species are widely used to treat anxiety and other nervous disturbances. The biphenyl-type neolignan honokiol together with its isomer magnolol are the main constituents of Magnolia bark extracts. We have previously identified a nitrogen-containing honokiol derivative (3-acetylamino-4'-O-methylhonokiol, AMH) as a high efficient modulator of GABAA receptors. Here we further elucidate the structure-activity relation of a series of nitrogenated biphenyl-neolignan derivatives by analysing allosteric modulation and agonistic effects on α1β2γ2S GABAA receptors. The strongest IGABA enhancement was induced by compound 5 (3-acetamido-4'-ethoxy-3',5-dipropylbiphenyl-2-ol, Emax: 123.4±9.4% of IGABA-max) and 6 (5'-amino-2-ethoxy-3',5-dipropylbiphenyl-4'-ol, Emax: 117.7±13.5% of IGABA-max). Compound 5 displayed, however, a significantly higher potency (EC50=1.8±1.1 μM) than compound 6 (EC50=20.4±4.3 μM). Honokiol, AMH and four of the derivatives induced significant inward currents in the absence of GABA. Strong partial agonists were honokiol (inducing 78±6% of IGABA-max), AMH (63±6%), 5'-amino-2-O-methylhonokiol (1) (59±1%) and 2-methoxy-5'-nitro-3',5-dipropylbiphenyl-4'-ol (3) (52±1%). 3-N-Acetylamino-4'-ethoxy-3',5-dipropyl-biphenyl-4'-ol (5) and 3-amino-4'-ethoxy-3',5-dipropyl-biphenyl-4'-ol (7) were less efficacious but even more potent (5: EC50=6.9±1.0 μM; 7: EC50=33.2±5.1 μM) than the full agonist GABA.